[ale] LUGNUTS Search for enthusiasm

[wolf at wolfhalton.info]

This is something a lot of us have been thinking about.  I hold events
where students can see Linux working without having to opt in or take a
Linux loyalty oath.  This may not be the best solution, however there
are a couple of things I have learned in Linux evangelism and other
marketing.

1.) Find some issue some large number of people is trying to fix, and
offer Linux as a possible solution for it.
2.) If you have a solution that doesn't match a person's problems, they
will never even hear you, even if it is free.
3.) Do not educate.  If you have to educate people about the solution so
they can start to see its value.  You will never have enough buy-in to
matter.  You will always be frustrated.
4.) Like you mention, Rich, offer a complete package that totally works.
People will not stand for "some assembly required" because they are used
to the proprietary model where they are courted by retailers and
advertisers.  
5,) Expect to do a lot to get a little.  The payoff for Linux
Evangelists is subtle.  One must find a way to enjoy and rejoice in a 5%
buy-in.  Most people will take a free disk and use it for a coaster, 4
or 5 times, maybe.  

Here are some issues I have heard about that are not currently fixed:
     There are a lot of home-based music producers.  
     There are people who are very interested in video editing 
        The tools for both of these are usually proprietary and often
expensive.

-----Original Message-----
From: RRF2525 <rfaulkner at 34thprs.org>
Reply-to: rfaulkner at 34thprs.org, Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts - Yes! We run
Linux! <ale at ale.org>
To: ale at ale.org
Subject: Re: [ale] Ale Digest, Vol 26, Issue 3
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:08:16 -0500


Here's a profile and my thoughts (for whatever that's worth)...

I'm a systems engineer and have been working in the MS world all of my
career (15-years now).  I am making a full transition personally and
professionally to Unix/Linux and leaving MS behind for open-source/free
software and other appropriate technologies.

With that said I've dabbled in Linux over the years but have only now am
making the effort to completely convert my Windows-centric tools to
Linux.  This means that I need to either find suitable replacements for
my tools or port them to Linux (of course...we all know this but this is
what will likely KEEP Windows users from coming into the Linux world).

Ultimately people are driven by what's convenient.  Once something costs
more to maintain than is convenient (or degrading/loss of income forces
them to get rid of extra expenses) people will start to look for
alternatives.

Case-in-point...we just got a 40" LCD and BD player w/NIC and stream
content from Netflix and the web.  We do not have cable or satellite nor
do we want it.  We are in the process of building a Mythbuntu server and
all that goes with it.  I'm also going to build a Vyatta box to replace
my consumer-level router.  

When I show/tell visitors about what I'm doing here and how little it
costs over paying for cable tv they freak-out!  "How do I get in on
this?" is their common response.  

This is where the public can be brought into the Linux world in my
mind...offering educational and supported solutions that bring better
things to life for less money on a monthly basis.  Of course it would
lead to education of all levels and foster participation in any user
group if followed through with which is what I take it you're looking
for.

For others it will be a matter of trying to make their "beloved" Windows
apps run on Linux.  Wine is fine for some things as we know but that
still will likely be the rub.  Interoperability of software.  But
offering a packaged solution for realizing great savings and having an
awesome tool to enjoy on the big screen is a way to grab people's
attention perhaps...

My 2₵...R1₵h

> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:01:50 -0500
> From: jrtroberts <jrtroberts at gmail.com>
> Subject: [ale] The LUG NUTS search for Enthusiasm
> To: ale at ale.org
> Message-ID: <4B8CA9CE.7010306 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Hello ALE members.
> 
> I am Joshua Robert founder and chair of the LTC LUG NUTS.
> 
> At our last meeting the topic came up that we need to find a way to 
> interest more people in our group and what we have to offer.  From the 
> perspective of the geek, hacker, or the computer savvy it is easy--have 
> more meetings that deep dive specific complicated topics relating to 
> Linux.  It is a fun way for those of us who like breaking things, fixing 
> things, tweaking things, etc. to expand our knowledge.
> 
> But what about all the people that don't see computers that way?  How to 
> get the soccer mom, or the nursing student, or the fresh out of high 
> school kid into linux or into our meetings?  Some say that offering it 
> as a free alternative to windows should works.  I guess that might be 
> ok, but for the most part Windows is already free, I mean it comes with 
> the computer, right?  All the other stuff that costs money is to be 
> expected.  People have been trained to accept that as part of the 
> computer culture.  It works most of the time, even if it is not free.  
> It is familiar, although not always user-friendly, and the myth that 
> everything is made to run on Windows is still very powerful.
> 
> So a man in our group offered another solution.  Use its marketing 
> points.  The customer doesn't care if it is free.  They don't care if it 
> is faster.  They want to know what it can do for them and how it can do 
> it better than what they already have.
> 
> AH, the sales routine.  Feature -> Benefit.  But there is another sales 
> gimic, pass the ownership over to the customer.  If they can't see it, 
> touch it, hear it, experience it, it doesn't grab their attention and 
> can be easily ignored.
> 
> So now the question.  What kind of events, activities, and services can 
> the LUG NUTS provide on a regular basis that will get people into 
> Linux?  It would help if it was something non-intrusive.  Bringing that 
> old laptop or desktop back to life as a mp3-server in the house.  An 
> educational computer for the kids is great too.  Not convincing them to 
> format that brand new windows 7 hard drive and slap a completely 
> unfamiliar environment onto it.  People feel attacked, cornered, 
> confused, scared, and insulted when you suggest something like that.  
> Well some, others might just leap at the opportunity; however that is a 
> rough roll of the dice.
> 
> So we have some ideas, but don't know how to implement them. 
> We would like other ideas, yours may be better.
> We would like input on how to implement these ideas.
> I can see us have a Linux Fair once a term where members setup booths at 
> the college and show off the things that linux can do.
> And then we have an install-fest later in the Term.
> 
> Please share any ideas or support that you have with us.  We really need 
> the TLC and Miracle-Grow.
> 
> Thanks,
> Joshua
> 
> 
> ------------------------------


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