Hi all, My name is Mark Van den Borre. I'm the Dutch speaking project lead for ubuntu-be.org.
I do think a map would be cool, tho in the thread with Matthew East earlier I realised that a list would be more "accessible" than a map (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-uk/2006-June/000478.html). Matt pointed out that the official Ubuntu support page (http://www.ubuntu.com/support/marketplace) they're doing just fine with a list. But yes, I think a map would be a cool extra. That said, do we really need a map "off-site" when everything else is on the wiki? In other words, I'm not sure with this one! See what other people think?
I'm not entirely sure what ubuntu-uk.org wants to be, but I guess I can summarise it as follows: Gatekeeper: "What is your quest?" Arthur, King of the Britons: "To seek the Holy G^^^to convert my people to Ubuntu!" The target audience of the ubuntu-be.org support points map: * a majority of so called 80 % users: people who want to safely do common things like surfing, mailing, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and net banking on their computers (important subgroup: education, teachers!) * a minority of technical users: developers, engineers, ... What does the ubuntu-be.org support points map offer potential converts: * One unambiguous offer: Only Ubuntu, no mention of Kubuntu or Xubuntu. We are not Gnome fanboys or KDE bashers, but we realise a potential convert needs an unambiguous first step. * familiarity and trust: More than 90% of people in Belgium have a support point within 5 km, a happy Ubuntu user so enthousiastic that he wants to share it with everybody. Both having an enthousiastic user in the neighbourhood, and the realisation that this is the same for the entire country are very comforting. A map makes both very obvious to end users. Add a few Ubuntu promotion photos from volunteers at famous locations in your city adds extra familiarity. * Free Installation sets, demonstrations on demand, first installation help. This is interesting, but the number of requests is somewhat secondary to the _trust and familiarity_ created. The real test for a successful campaign towards end users is press coverage. If you get general non-technical press coverage, you know your message has been packaged the right way. The Ubuntu-be.org launch got, amongst others, press coverage from one of the biggest newspapers in the country... Probably the greatest advantage, and my stealth reason for creating map.ubuntu-be.org, is the critical mass of volunteers it helps create. Think of it as bootstrapping. Right now, there are a _lot_ of people willing to help Ubuntu succeed. They just don't know how to help. The ubuntu-be.org map filled that gap: a well defined volunteer job, in their neighbourhoud, renewable time limited commitment. You would be amazed how many people you can convince to participate if you communicate it well! If it works for Belgium, why wouldn't it work for the UK? Sincerely, Mark Van den Borre ubuntu-be.org NL_BE project lead -- Mark Van den Borre Noormannenstraat 113 3000 Leuven, België +32 486 961726 -- ubuntu-uk mailing list ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
