1. It demystifies Linux. The perception that it's too technical, nerdy, command line driven, probably ugly, etc is probably the biggest barrier to adoption today.
2. Eyecandy matters and Linux has an edge right now. People have to see it in action to appreciate it. If you've played with Xgl on a laptop you've probably noticed the reactions it gets. It makes people want to switch - all the other concerns (most of them myths) go out the window.
3. Myth Busting - Don't just tell people Linux can run games. Show them World of Warcraft running well on just one of your many virtual desktops. Show them multiple video sources playing in overlapped semi-transparent windows. Pull up OpenOffice and edit some Microsoft Office documents. Plug in a handful of USB devices while they watch. There are tons of myths and irrational fears to be addressed.
4. Web 2.0 - Make content, package it in the right format (YouTube - Google Video), and people will share it. I think rolling out many official Ubuntu videos - all short, similar in style, and with a dedicated host (I'd prefer a hostess - more myth busting) would be tremendously effective. Push them out through both official Ubuntu sites and the online hubs like YouTube and Google. Bloggers love to talk about Ubuntu and having a library of cool videos at their disposal will fuel more discussion.
5. Encouraging others, empowering them, to create their own Ubuntu videos will be even more effective. Make these short demos, tutorials, and testimonials an official part of the community. Drive it by recognizing standout content creators with prizes. Round up the best videos at a central hub so that they become not only a PR-marketing force but also a source of technical support for new users.
Anyway I could ramble on. To test out some of these ideas that I created UbuntuVideo.com. (http://www.ubuntuvideo.com) It's nothing special, just what I could toss together in a day. But it hints (only hints unfortunately) at some of these concepts. I'll likely maintain it in it's current format but the main goal was to share some ideas and maybe spark some discussion. I'm new to the marketing team so if I've stepped on any toes it was completely unintentional. Apologies in advance :)
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