http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com guidelines and check if your idea has been posted already! ]]> en-us Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16599/
Due to the time constraint we don't always have time to take these screenshots ourselves.

Therefore I would love to see a serie of screenshots upon the release of each Ubuntu. We did it with Fedora, we did it with OpenSUSE and we would love to do it with Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty.

OpenSUSE is just out of the oven - see their screenplay at http://www.opensuse.org/screenshots.php

Do this and I can promise you get even more public attention.

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16599/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16487/
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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16487/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16516/
This might be a good way to get users more interested in trying out Ubuntu. Also it would be a good way of informing new users on what popular applications exists, because sometime it can take a while to find out about all the different applications.



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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16516/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16374/ for users can use it on their homepages, blogs, social networks, bookmarks and so on...

Some mottos may be: "I'm proud/happy/... Ubuntu user" :)

Look at this guy page:
http://crunchbang.org/archives/2008/01/25/random-ubuntu-advocacy/
But we need banners location on official ubuntu website.

We need Ubuntu become more famous,
and users can really help.

P.S. And maybe we should think about Ubuntu sound logo?

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16374/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16492/ I had a idea that big movie companies are making all the special effects on Linux based OSes, but every time I watch "making of" feature on DVD I'm disappointed when I see Windows XP. The same thing is when I watch some "high-tech" documentary. I thought that motion capture or something like that would demand a Linux, but no there it is again a default look of XP...
In most films and series there is a strict MAC vs. PC world, or they use MAC or PC (Windows) but no Linux.
Or Linux is used by some geek, or something.

So I propose that Ubuntu and Canonical put more force in product placement. Linux has great tools like Blender, which I suppose is engine for all this new Shrek-like cartoons. But producers of such cartoons just install it on Windows...

The biggest reason that Linux is not that wide spread is that it offers nothing that special over Windows and MAC.
Well especially MAC. Which is the whole package. You have the iLife, you have supported hardware and on and on. And Windows which for some is the only OS in the world. Just because everything works to some extent on it, and when something brakes they re-install it or just buy new PC or MAC.
Both of this OSes "interpelates" the user much more then Linux. Ubuntu is trying hard with Linux for human beings, but still this is not enough.
Linux and Ubuntu has to provide something that other OSes can't provide. OK it provides freedom but still it seems this is not enough.

As I said before: take the look at the films, series, news...
I have yet to see Linux on any of above noted format.
I heard that Die Hard 4 had Linux in it, but (unfortunately) I haven't seen it. But still if I know the plot of it correctly the Linux was used by a Geek that fought the cyber-terrorist.
I want to see Ubuntu like MAC OS X used by "normal" characters.
You know snooty rich uptight white kids from some teenage drama... Or by just your regular Joe from some sitcom...
Or at least the next time I see news about Credit crunch and Economic crisis the analyst predicting the outcome shouldn't have a Windows logo on screen-saver of his / hers monitor.
And when I next time watch "making of: Foo-Bar: the movie" I want to hear this movie was made on Linux / Ubuntu with all the wonderful applications it has...

Because as of now the only thing where Linux is (supposedly) in majority is web servers and your general public doesn't care about whats on the net. As long as they come to their YouTube, E-mail and Pr0n...

Let's look at some cases:
My father he thinks that Linux is some kind of game, which is useful for nothing else then just tweaking and doing nothing productive (mostly my fault).
When my mother first saw my Kubuntu (KDE4) desktop she asked me which game is this?
And my sister she thinks that Linux is just for geeks and nerds... But she would give anything to have an MAC. Why? Because they look nice (the laptops) and also because in every third "chick-flick" the main protagonist usually use MAC...

So Linux has to become more reckognized by computer users like my family, users that really don't care how secure, fast or free it is. Only that it works and it has everything that you need to work with computer, and that it looks good...
This can be done by different means:
Promote Ubuntu through lifestlye magazines
Promote with TV series, news films,...
but not only promotion, but also that it's used by this things.

I would like to see something like this film / show / whatever was made entirely on Linux and other FLOSS.

Linux should use "economic crisis" to its advantage, as it's free so the total cost is lower than any other OS.
But Microsoft tries to prove that because you must teach users (they used this to promote their server, but can be used on any other product) the total cost of using Linux is higher than Windows.

That's why Linux and Ubuntu should develop a really "intuitive" GUI, so it's really easy to learn even by a total "newbie".
===========================================================
Sorry for this idea, but I had to get it out of my head...
I know it's too vague, doesn't really propose anything new, or it proposes too much.
Well mainly it proposes that Linux or Ubuntu should be seen more in "public".
And not in a that "creepy" way when some weird geek is trying to shove a Ubuntu CD t you and is blabbing something about being free and no more evil micro$oft...
That's too much "Jehovah witnesses" for me... Please don't take this as an attack on religious feelings, but more as an caricature of what general public thinks, at least here in Slovenia.
Anyway all comments good or bad are welcome!

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16492/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16552/
Hopefully something that doesn't need much interaction from me, but will give the person watching the screen a good demonstration of how the system works and why it is good.

Maybe this could be a screen saver? Maybe it could be something else.

My idea is similar to this situation.

My school has a policy of trust between the students. We very very very very rarely have thefts on our campus.
Our computer science and software engineering department provides laptop docks in our work-labs for the laptops that we have, and allow's us to make use of these while we do our assignments and so on.
Typically I hang around in the work-labs just to socialize, as well as for homework and assignments. While I am there I'm not constantly using my laptop, and typically I will leave it docked into the external monitor and mouse/keyboards that are there. Sometimes I lock it, Sometimes I don't, it depends on a whim.

While I am there, it would be really awesome if I could have it go into advertising mode, instead of just a locked screen with a black background. I carry around install disks with me most of the time, so if it was advertising what Linux can do, and someone was interested, I could just hand them a CD, and introduce someone to Linux without even having to speak to them in the first place.

Maybe it should be a presentation? Maybe it could open a guest session and do some scripted actions with installed programs with the words "TRY ME OUT" displayed on the screen, and would let people interact with the system while I'm away.

Electronics retailers would probably really love that kind of interaction. Typically computers sold at best buy have some kind of presentation application that lets the users try out the computer without really messing with anything.

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16552/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16971/
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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16971/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16357/
Canonical Pc a pc make with an internetational producer (Dell, Toshiba, or an other chineese not famous) with Ubuntu pre-installed.

Advantages:

- total experience for the user
- brand diffusion
- marketing strategy
- diffusion of Ubuntu
- identification with the brand
- zero problem for compatibility

This is only one possibility, Canonical don't produce only pc (as Apple), is an other way, together actual strategy.
The Ubuntu store, will be a good instruments.

bye

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16357/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16981/ ====

Many Ubuntu fanboys, computers geeks and other smart people wrongly believe LTS Ubuntu releases are more stable than normal Ubuntu releases. They think so because they think software that is longer supported will become more stable.


PROBLEM
=======

These smart people install *old* Ubuntu LTS release on the *new* computers of their computer illiterate friends, instead of the latest Ubuntu releases. As a result, their computer illiterate friends will stay associating Linux with poor hardware support, although this is only because their smart friend installed such an old Ubuntu release (their hardware may have superior support in the latest Ubuntu release).

Also, they will get old software. For instance, these people may wonder why they can run Firefox 3.1 (this is an example in the future!) on Windows whilst the Ubuntu version installed by their smart friend only includes an older Firefox version). And lastly, they will run an Ubuntu version that does not includes all usability improvements and new software introduced in the latest version.

In short: smart people do a BAD JOB by promoting Ubuntu LTS for regular home desktop use!! They hurt brand image of Ubuntu and Linux this way.


SOLUTION
========

Find a way to teach geeks and other smart people the LTS concept. What about rebranding "Ubuntu LTS" as "Ubuntu for Organizations" and branding regular Ubuntu releases as "Ubuntu for Human Beings". When "Ubuntu for Organizations" is releases, the same version will be copied and branded at the same time as "Ubuntu for Human Beings"? I'm sure no geek will ever accidentally install "Ubuntu for Organizations" on the computer of their friends because they think it will be more stable, especially if also games are removed from this version ;-)

* LTS release
** Made for organizations that only upgrade the operating system when a computer is replaced by a new one, mostly after about 5 years.
** As hardware of these computers never changes, it is no problem that the LTS release does not add support for newer hardware.
** For organizations, the only important thing is that severe bugs such as security leaks get fixed over the whole lifetime of the computer. This is the only thing that LTS releases provide!

* Regular Ubuntu release are better for home use because:
** Support for the newest hardware is included
** More software is available in the repositories
** The latest software versions are mostly included
** The newest usability improvements are available
** Amazingly sexy groundbreaking state-of-the-art new features are available in here
** You will get more bug fixes, also for less severe bugs

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16981/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16534/ You can do this by approaching your friends, colleagues, family and distribute Ubuntu, explain and let them see what this beautiful Free Operating System can do, compared to their $$ counterparts. As many people are disappointed about some current operating systems, this is the time to show, what Ubuntu can do and is capable of.

Good luck and all the best for the New Year ! Happy Holidays everybody !

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/16534/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/17051/
Anyway, I understand that this idea while probably be voted down quite quickly, I just felt that someone should say this.

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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/17051/ http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/17048/
It's seen as preclusionary. --It's as though having some free software means that all software should be free.

The promotion of free software, (in western-society), is seen as saying that all software must be free. - This is probably because we're all used to the success of predatorial proprietary methodology.
If the mental hurtle that "Free" precludes "proprietary", can be overcome, adoption will follow.

What's the percentage of current, (happy), users who have dual-boot installs featuring Windows or OS-X as well as Gnu/Linux, compared to single OS installs?

Instead of trying to replace Windows as the Pre-load for new gear, how about promoting dual-boot?

Have you noticed how large retailers like Futureshop, or BestBuy always offer extended warranties and various system extras?
Well, they make a lot of money on those little extras, and the service contracts.
Would it be possible to offer Ubuntu as an "Extra" feature?
Might that be a way for retailers to overcome the fact that Ubuntu is free? Offer it as a service. That translates into more jobs, (and profits), instead of less.

Equipment with Ubuntu pre-loaded is worth more than the Windows pre-loaded equivalent. It's the better OS. This could be reflected in the price.
"Cheap" is the Windows catch-phrase, not Linux's.
Note:I'm only suggesting this for new gear because in this case you're only marketing the installation service. Quote: Ubuntu Promise: "Ubuntu will always be free".










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No attachments. ]]> Tue, 06-Jan-2009 00:00:00 UTC http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/17048/