http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9667184
This girl in the United States ordered an Ubuntu-loaded Dell laptop by accident, expecting it came with Windows. She was confused due to Ubuntu 7.10's inability to load her Verizon Internet CD (which she doesn't actually need) and that Microsoft Office was incompatible with it (even though she could use OpenOffice.org). Now, Ubuntu has already come a long way from 7.10, but I am posting this to the ubuntu-desktop, ubuntu-education and ubuntu-website mailing lists because I believe this story's message is important: How do we ensure that previous Windows users are comfortable using Ubuntu? Maybe post some information on the Ubuntu website how OpenOffice.org can save/edit/read Microsoft Office documents? What about a wizard for installing the Internet (DSL, dial-up, etc.)? As for the educational section of Ubuntu, what about schools giving out more information to their students about alternative operating systems and programs such as Ubuntu, Mac, OpenOffice.org, etc. with Canonical actually provides that information to the IT departments? Maybe an education.ubuntu.com section is in order, where Canonical can explain to high school and college students why Ubuntu is so fantastic for their campus life (security, reliability, lack of viruses, alternate programs, etc.) and how they can use it to fit right in with their Windows counterparts. Maybe in a desktop tour like so: http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/810features/ Please make sure to watch the video as well as read the article as it originally aired as a television broadcast (http://www.wkowtv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3333881&h1=Dell%20computer%20mix-up&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=167833&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=79171153) Read Digg user responses here: http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ubuntu_Causes_Girl_To_Drop_Out_of_College The responses are mostly positive towards Ubuntu and however much I agree, I do believe Ubuntu can do a bit more work in documenting the transition from Windows to Ubuntu a bit better. Maybe even an entire guide, along with the Education section, with a link right on the homepage. (e.g. this means moving the website away from technical details and towards educating new users) Please, everyone, let me know your thoughts. -- Brett Alton http://brettalton.com [email protected] -- ubuntu-desktop mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-desktop
