UbuntuIRC / 2008 /01 /22 /#ubuntu-marketing.txt
niansa
Initial commit
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[03:28] <desertc> I tried to create a DVD with the screencasts so I could give it to people and they could just pop it in the home theater systems.
[03:29] <desertc> But, although the DVD played great on my computer, it failed to read on any of the DVD players that I tried.
[03:30] * johnc4510-laptop new russian translation of UWN: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue74/Ru
[07:59] <n2diy> achandrashekar: welcome.
[07:59] <achandrashekar> hey! SWEET!
[07:59] <achandrashekar> yeah..im exicited..
[07:59] <achandrashekar> :)
[08:00] <achandrashekar> So anyhow..I gave up my wonderful (not so wonderful) corporate job to teach kids in a low socioeconomic area of pomona california
[08:00] <achandrashekar> I really like teaching here...and thought that Linux is a great way to help these kids out
[08:01] <achandrashekar> Im busy working on an LTSP method of booting our old p3s but could use some assistance
[08:01] <achandrashekar> any help would be great.
[08:01] <achandrashekar> n2diy: thanks thus far for pointing me in this direction
[08:01] <achandrashekar> our school is - The School of Arts and Enterprise
[08:02] <n2diy> achandrashekar: I'm in the heart of coal country, east-central Pa. The tax base is dying, and the school taxes are skyrocketing. The Tamaqua BOE wants to spend $40k to upgrade their obsolete hardware and software. I wrote a letter to the editor explaining that they can do it nearly for free, if the ditch Windows, but it hasn't been printed yet.
[08:02] <n2diy> *the/they
[08:02] <achandrashekar> wow!
[08:02] <achandrashekar> seems like quite a project
[08:03] <achandrashekar> so along the lines of this.. even if they have old pcs..the ltsp way may be way to go about it
[08:03] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Yes, for 1,000 computers!
[08:03] <achandrashekar> especially with low overhead for admins
[08:03] <achandrashekar> assuming for say every 100 you have 1 powerful server
[08:03] <achandrashekar> with good networking as a basis
[08:04] <achandrashekar> however..i dont see why you couldnt load each of those boxes up
[08:04] <n2diy> achandrashekar: They have three IT types, a Technical Director, a Software guy, and someone eles that I forget.
[08:04] <achandrashekar> with a pxe boot to load up an image and then install..
[08:05] <achandrashekar> sorry..coming with solutions already...lol
[08:05] <achandrashekar> :)
[08:05] <achandrashekar> n2diy: is roger able to help you out??
[08:05] <achandrashekar> and what type of commitment is there or was there??
[08:06] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Who's roger? Edubuntu supports clustering, so you can build the servers from the old hardware.
[08:06] <achandrashekar> haha...okay i re-read the message..i am slow tonight..
[08:07] <achandrashekar> that was "roger" as in affirmative
[08:07] <achandrashekar> not roger will be waiting for you in here...i expected a roger as well...ha ha ha
[08:07] <achandrashekar> ;)
[08:07] <n2diy> achandrashekar: I'm a ham radio operator, so I commonly use roger as an acknowledgement.
[08:08] <achandrashekar> n2diy: i should have caught the roger thing...that was very monty pythonish...sorry
[08:08] <n2diy> achandrashekar: :)
[08:08] <achandrashekar> n2diy: anyhow...I didnt know that edubuntu could be clustered as well
[08:09] <achandrashekar> n2diy: I have a question..in terms of support..is/are there grants available for schools such as ours??
[08:09] <achandrashekar> as well
[08:09] <juliux> morning
[08:09] <achandrashekar> n2diy: sorry..ill ask one question at a time
[08:09] <achandrashekar> morning
[08:10] <n2diy> achandrashekar: well, they say it can, but I've been hanging here for months, and don't know anybody who has actually done it yet. If I had the hardware, I'd try it myself, but that isn't the case.
[08:10] <achandrashekar> n2diy: hmm....so you cluster 2 boxes...and then...use it as an ltsp box??
[08:10] <achandrashekar> hmmmm
[08:12] <achandrashekar> n2diy: I guess the real question considering...it is a marketing channel of sorts..is what help is there for non-profits like ours?
[08:12] <n2diy> achandrashekar: No, not yet, at this point I'm happy to talk to my test/backup box. That is the limit of my current network.
[08:12] <achandrashekar> n2diy: i see
[08:12] <achandrashekar> n2diy: I was able to do some work with some old sun T100 boxes as well. to get it up and running...
[08:13] <achandrashekar> n2diy: I used it to load up a mail server..and such.
[08:13] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Well, supposedly, this channel is one avenue for marketing help. But I suspect nobody is any more active?expierence than we are?
[08:13] <achandrashekar> anyone from marketing in here/?
[08:13] <n2diy> *?/ /
[08:14] <achandrashekar> hmm...nice and silent..
[08:14] <achandrashekar> for now
[08:14] <n2diy> achandrashekar: No pros, just volunteers like in #ubuntu
[08:14] <achandrashekar> i see
[08:14] <achandrashekar> so I guess what would the marketing angle be in here??
[08:15] <n2diy> achandrashekar: which is sad.
[08:15] <achandrashekar> it is interesting....just trying to see what the original intent was
[08:15] <achandrashekar> what would have been sweet is to help guys like us
[08:15] <achandrashekar> and then form partnerships
[08:15] <n2diy> achandrashekar: to encourage folks like us!
[08:15] <achandrashekar> yeah
[08:15] <achandrashekar> exactly
[08:16] <achandrashekar> such causes in many cases are a matter of resources but a lot of heart
[08:16] <achandrashekar> and that i have..but in terms of resources to get things done..that is ususally tough
[08:17] <achandrashekar> i guess in your case..a nice work force of people taking a look at architecting a smooth solution
[08:17] <achandrashekar> and then finding viable methods for support
[08:17] <Madpilot> the -marketing mailing list is more active than this channel - join & post there
[08:17] <n2diy> achandrashekar: yes, the more traffic we create here, the more noise we make, the more attention we will draw here, and more ideas, doubters, etc...
[08:17] <achandrashekar> i see how it works
[08:17] <achandrashekar> yep agreed
[08:18] <achandrashekar> I guess what Im saying is...id be happy to join the mailing list..but im confused on the intent of the "marketing" portion
[08:18] <achandrashekar> Id be able to sell the use of ubuntu amongst the staff and kids
[08:18] <achandrashekar> but past that im not sure how that transalates to sales.
[08:19] <n2diy> achandrashekar: I have this channel auto load, so when I sign on to IRC, it is always monitored, so if I'm near the computer, I know what/if something is happening here.
[08:19] <achandrashekar> Madpilot: hopefully you understand Im not trying to be difficult but I just need a some sort of expectation of reciprocity
[08:19] <achandrashekar> i see...cool
[08:20] <Madpilot> achandrashekar, not sure what you mean by 'reciprocity' here
[08:20] <achandrashekar> Madpilot: "for our assistance with helping your orginization we expect you to market ubuntu by doing....."
[08:20] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Sales would come from tutoring the student body at home?
[08:20] <Madpilot> this end of ubuntu marketing is run by ordinary users; the 'corporate' side is run entirely by Canonical
[08:21] <achandrashekar> n2diy: there is SO much that can be done...moodle installs, joomla training, contributions via python programs...etc."
[08:21] <Madpilot> achandrashekar, there's no setup like that. Canonical does paid support, the rest is community-driver
[08:21] <Madpilot> driven, rather
[08:21] <achandrashekar> Madpilot: i see the division...it took a while to understand it..
[08:22] <n2diy> Madpilot: yes, but here is where we can brainstorm independent ventures, right?
[08:22] <Madpilot> n2diy, of course
[08:22] <achandrashekar> Madpilot: what im shocked and pleased with is that Mandrake tried to do this..at one time and hell of time..the Ubuntu model works..and the product is SO stable..it really is amazing to be the success that this distro is having
[08:22] <Madpilot> here, the mailing list, the wiki pages, etc
[08:23] <n2diy> Madpilot: are you an op?
[08:23] <Madpilot> n2diy, on this particular channel? don't think so
[08:24] <achandrashekar> :)
[08:24] <Madpilot> ah, I am. wasn't sure :)
[08:24] <n2diy> Madpilot: Ok, I'll behave then. :)
[08:25] <achandrashekar> So in any case...the possibility of ventures are heard.. what I guess I am wondering is how to create a grant type situation
[08:25] <achandrashekar> we are in desperate need of proper assistance in our school
[08:25] <achandrashekar> and having some avenues would help us out greatly
=== Madpilot changed the topic of #ubuntu-marketing to: Welcome to the Ubuntu Marketing Team's IRC channel | We're here to fix Bug #1 | Keep in mind that whatever your LoCo does, any other LoCo can benefit from your work or experience! | Please sign up to the mailing list, ubuntu-marketing at lists.ubuntu.com | UWN #74 is out! UWN #75 in progress, release TBA
[08:26] <n2diy> achandrashekar: what is "proper" assistance?
[08:26] <Madpilot> achandrashekar, I'm not sure Ubuntu or Canonical has a grant program - never heard of one.
[08:26] <achandrashekar> well..it comes down to money as most things do with schools...
[08:27] <n2diy> achandrashekar: yes, but homeschoolers financial needs differ from the "state" needs.
[08:27] <achandrashekar> but I was thinking of helping to show/create how ubuntu could be used as part of the curicullum at a school and the impact it could have amongs a low socio-economic strata of students in pomona
[08:28] <n2diy> achandrashekar: do you have a local LUG?
[08:28] <achandrashekar> that requires some sort of donation/and or grant available for hardware, and effort to set up such an environment
[08:28] <achandrashekar> n2diy: yep..OC lug...orange county
[08:28] <achandrashekar> n2diy: and a lot of guys also involved in education sector have the same issue.
[08:29] <achandrashekar> lets say for example setting up two parts
[08:29] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Linux is perfect for old hardware, promote that. This box was built in 1997.
[08:29] <achandrashekar> 1 infrastructure related-- fw (iptables), web, mail, vpn, samba file server
[08:30] <achandrashekar> and the second making sure there is an env for supporting student boxes
[08:30] <achandrashekar> and then making sure that you have it all monitored etc
[08:30] <achandrashekar> it takes a bit more work...and having some hardware to do the job
[08:30] <n2diy> achandrashekar: student boxes?
[08:30] <achandrashekar> as well as creation of content for kids to learn this stuff
[08:30] <achandrashekar> yep the p3's and such
[08:30] <achandrashekar> for now
[08:31] <achandrashekar> but we are arts school per se..
[08:31] <achandrashekar> and such things as learning gimp, blender, etc have to have slightly better systems
[08:31] <n2diy> achandrashekar: so the kids bring there on CPUs to school?
[08:32] <achandrashekar> no..the p3s were there when we first started
[08:32] <achandrashekar> donated by a bank
[08:32] <achandrashekar> with 300MB of ram on each
[08:32] <n2diy> achandrashekar: ok, so boxes the students have access to?
[08:32] <achandrashekar> right
[08:33] <achandrashekar> and there is alot of curicullar need for them
[08:33] <achandrashekar> ie..a newspaper station....video editing.....photo editing...etc
[08:33] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Is computer repair done in house, or contracted out?
[08:34] <achandrashekar> n2diy: That is a huge weakness in the school..its all handled by one person that has limited computer skills...ie "reboot" is their friend
[08:34] <achandrashekar> what needs to happen is kids getting involved to do such things
[08:35] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Maybe, or maybe not? One person can be easily trained, an external company will scream and resist a new operating system.
[08:36] <achandrashekar> yep.....the principal is a bit open to ideas...considering that windows virus management in and of itself is a bloody nightmare
[08:36] <achandrashekar> but since the kids are NOT using the PC's for super computing...its a good idea to switch over
[08:37] <achandrashekar> at least first in the lab..
[08:37] <achandrashekar> and see how kids "warm" up to the idea.
[08:37] <achandrashekar> the first switch is to have them learn GIMP
[08:37] <achandrashekar> and see how well they can manipulate their pictures and such
[08:37] <achandrashekar> then move on to blender
[08:38] <achandrashekar> n2diy: do you think we can carry on this conversation tomorrow?? Its 12:37AM and I have to get some Zzzzzzs
[08:39] <n2diy> achandrashekar: Gimp, is a pain, but I don't play with pictures, so what do I know? As far as the other programs go, same thing.
[08:40] <achandrashekar> n2diy: well its time for me to go..and get some sleep.
[08:40] <achandrashekar> brb
[08:40] <n2diy> achandrashekar: I think the trick is to hook the IT folks on linux security. Yes, let's call it quites, it is 03:29 here, 73.
[08:40] <achandrashekar> see you l8r
[08:40] <n2diy> achandrashekar: 73
=== bordy_laptop is now known as bordy
[16:13] <desertc> Anyone have suggestions on software to make a poster?
[16:14] <desertc> There is a funny link on the DIYMarketing wiki : http://diy.devubuntu.com/
[16:18] <desertc> Most people use Scribus ?
[16:53] <Flannel> desertc: Unfortunately, yes, I believe so. It makes for horrible PDFs
[16:54] <desertc> Is there a graphic format that does layers? I would like to make a #marketing poster that others can modify later easily.
[16:54] <Flannel> desertc: use SVG
[16:55] <desertc> Is this something I can do with GIMP ?
[16:55] <Flannel> Inkscape
[16:56] <Flannel> GIMP is all raster based
[16:56] <Flannel> Or, well, not all. but primarily
[16:56] <desertc> Inkscape. Good. I will install that one, thank you for your advice! :-)
[16:56] <desertc> I am going to work on producing some posters today. Is it okay to use the word "Microsoft" and or "Windows" in our posters?
[16:59] <desertc> How about Ubuntu? Can I say Ubuntu? ;)