Ubuntu Marketing
Whilst I was doing my normal morning reading online today I came across and article at PC Plus (here) and started to think about how Ubuntu and Linux could market itself.
I guess many people have talked about this over and over yet I can’t help think we need to spread the word better and promote all the talented people that work so hard to make our world that much better.
What always bewilders me is that when I talk to people and the subject of computers comes up is the sheer number of average people that have never heard of Linux. Yet so many of their devices that they own use it, from their mobile phones to their set-top boxes or media players (where is the “Linux Inside” sticker). Then when I do find someone that knows of Linux, what do they say but “Oh I tried when I was in uni” or ” Oh I tried it but it was all terminal based”. My normal reply to this is “Have you tried it lately”, as you have already guessed their reply is always no!
I find this line of thinking so limited
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re: Unoobtu Marketing
"I can’t help think we need to spread the word better and promote all the talented people that work so hard to make our world that much better..."
Lets see..... Linux is free, yet after years and years and years of trying to GIVE it away you can't, and you think that's a marketing problem?
The average user couldn't care less about Linux. There's absolutely no compelling reason for Joe User to change to Linux.
The OS is no where near ready for Joe User. Printing problems - check. Dual Display problems - check. Sound problems - check. Video problems - check. And many many many more. People don't want an OS that's chock full of problems (fixable after hours of googling or not) - they want something that just works.
Then there's the crappy applications. Joe User takes one look at the Version 0.05.12-34alpahaRC5-ubuntu-auntbetty-123abc.deb and decides that $80 for a Office 2007 Home/Student Edition is not all that much money. And lets not even get started talking about the Stupid/Juvenile naming schemes.
Pricing. Well most people (unlike Linux Fanboys) don't live with their mothers. So spending a few hundred bucks (for something that will last 3+ years) isn't wallet busting. But it's a moot point since most people get their OS when they buy their computer - so the OS cost is perceived by those people to basically be zero. Plus there's ton's of good, polished freeware app's for Windows and MacOS.
And lets not forget that Ubuntu is hardly the one and only Linux. There are many many many (hundreds and hundreds) of distros out there, and Ubuntu by far is not the best, or most polished, or most stable, or most secure, etc etc etc. Joe User has better things to do then install a new flavour of the month distro and tinker, hoping against hope he can get it to do the most basic of things - Joe User wants a computer that works - period.
And stop toting out the FUD about security. Either Joe User just doesn't care, or if he can figure out Linux he can CERTAINLY figure out the basics of securing a Win/Mac box (and use nothing but freeware apps to do so).
Yet lets all run around and wave our arms in the air yelling - Change Now, Unoobtu Unoobtu Unoobtu, Microsoft is Evil. Cause ya know that will convince all those mis-guided Mac/Win users good.
The reason there is NO general Linux/Unoobtu marketing is there is no MONEY to be made from marketing it. If you can't GIVE a product away and gain market share, you certainly can't buy a market for it (Come right up and get your Linux - it's better then free????).
As to the huge payback for getting a larger market share - you're dreaming. The reason commercial software doesn't develop Linux apps (regardless of it's 5% or 8% market share) is they're afraid of having ZERO return on their investment. Linux Fanboys have been raving for years it's all got to be free (free free free - come on, grow your hair long and take off your shoes and chant free free free) - and if it isn't - then we'll either ignore it, bad mouth it, or steal it. Ya that's a big motivation to get people like Adobe and Microsoft to port their products (and you can just imagine the profit margins after porting it to work on 9 bazallion different Linux flavours - and then trying to actually support it on all those platforms).
So blog on Unoobtu fanboys - no one outside your delusional club listens - or believes you have even the slightest bit of knowledge on how the real world works.
With the exception of a
With the exception of a decent CAD app and lack of games Linux does have the easy to use apps, one issues is that some of the best apps are not included in the Distro's repos..
As for the suitability of Linux for the general non technical person, I have installed various forms of Linux (usually easy distros like Mandriva or Ubuntu) and many freinds (over 15 installs) of people who had previously had unusable/bluescreening/malware laden Windows installs (XP + Vista) . These people did not really know Windows in any detailed level, in ever single case there has not been a single issue. They know how to access music/internet/dvd burner, etc
Also in most cases (these non-technical people generally do not have the latest hardware) they say there machine was faster after installing Linux and they no longer get random crashes (or viruses..) - I also stop getting constant phonecalls saying "its blue screened again"#
In my experience a non technical person is far better off (and safer) using Linux rather than Windows.
What a good debate style you have!
Just so you know, I stopped reading at "Unoobtu".
Consider your audience next time you're trying to make a point. More people might get to it.