FYI
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jeremy Malcolm <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 5:14 PM Subject: [ubuntu-my] New project to promote Ubuntu on OEM PCs in Malaysia To: [email protected] Largely reposting from the foss.org.my list (so please excuse me if you have read it already), I'm announcing the launch of a project to promote the distribution of Ubuntu on low-spec OEM PCs in place of FreeDOS. It is funded and will be led by FOMCA, the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Organisations, in partnership with local FOSS people, including I hope the Ubuntu Malaysia group! The objective of the project is to convince the OEMs and computer retailers who are distributing PCs and laptops with FreeDOS (or, less commonly, with a version of LInux that boots to the command line), to ship them with Ubuntu instead. I have nothing against FreeDOS, but it is obviously not remotely useful for most people. In reality the only reason why such a useless operating system is preloaded is because users are expected to replace it with a pirated copy of Windows immediately. Instead if these units were shipped with Ubuntu, users booting it up for the first time or playing with it at the dealer would be struck by the fact that, actually here is a really damned good operating system and maybe there is no need to replace it with a pirated version of Windows at all. What is needed is for a person or team from the FOSS community to make a project of liaising with OEMs and retailers to explain how easy it is to preload Ubuntu, to present their customers with an attractive, useable computer right out of the box, at no cost to the OEM or the user, and at the same time discouraging piracy of Windows. As I mentioned, FOMCA will be leading a project along these lines and would be keen to cooperate very closely with Ubuntu Malaysia volunteers. We do have some funding for project expenses. So please contact me on or off list if you are interested in participating, and I will send more information. By the way, if your first question is "who the hell are you", well I'm a Debian developer and Ubuntero working in Kuala Lumpur for Consumers International leading its global campaign on Access to Knowledge (A2K - which includes FOSS advocacy). My desktop here at Consumers International runs Natty and last year I printed off a thousand Maverick DVDs to distribute with a book on A2K. I look forward to working with some of you on this project! -- Dr Jeremy Malcolm Project Coordinator Consumers International Kuala Lumpur Office for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60 3 7726 1599 Consumers International (CI) is the world federation of consumer groups that, working together with its members, serves as the only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers. With over 220 member organisations in 115 countries, we are building a powerful international movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere. www.consumersinternational.org Twitter @ConsumersInt Read our email confidentiality notice. Don't print this email unless necessary. -- Ubuntu-my mailing list [email protected] Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-my -- Malaysia Open Source Software Conference 2011 MOSC2011 http://www.mosc.my/ Milking the Cloud Competition for MOSC2011 http://www.mosc.my/articles/item/7-milking-the-cloud-competition-for-mosc2011 LinuxMalaysia Network http://www.facebook.com/Bukan.Sekadar.Internet.Sahaja Harisfazillah Jamel -- To unsubscribe from and detail about this group http://portal.mosc.my/osdc-my-mailing-list-information MOSC2011 http://fb.me/mosc2011 and http://www.mosc.my/ Milking the Cloud Competition for MOSC2011 http://www.mosc.my/articles/item/7-milking-the-cloud-competition-for-mosc2011
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