[ILUG] EXPO idea's

[Martin Duffy]

Sorry for the lazy post earlier just a bit to busy to really spend time at
it and only just finished reading the ilug stuff. There are several key
things we need to target at the EXPO regardless of whether it is a techie
EXPO or not. For to long Linux has stayed in the realm of techie,
non-techie is not a dirty word it is the exact area we need to target as
the non-techie's are the one with the checkbooks the people who push the
technology agenda in business not the admins or techie zealots.

Firstly we should have a part of the EXPO aimed at schools catch them young
should be the aim, we need to appeal to the academics show there is load of
support and no pressure hence why a lot of academics would stay away from
Linux. Some area's I would suggest of focus would be:

                  1. Linux ECDL
                  2. Concepts of OSS
                  3. Practical Implementation
                  4. Application Support and Compatibility
                  5. Skill the students will learn on leaving

Now for Item 1 I would replicate that to the business case as well, I was
reading  a post earlier and saw that and thought that was very insightful
and should be something we push. Item 2 is more general background to
understanding why people even support OSS there is a natural distrust out
there lets try and dispel any myths that might be out there about OSS, Also
it's a great way for there kids to get involved as anyone is welcomed to
participate. Item 3 we need to target the computer teacher or the person
who is going to get landed with the implementation go through the area's we
know might be cumbersome such as data transfer, re-education of users,
infrastructure changes and so on we need white papers, implementation
papers and hints and tips give them that assurance of backup with the
community we have here. Item 4 is the next thing that leaves most people
cold what can they do if they have a propriety application that they have
to run on wdose can they run VMWARE and have wdose inside of it or is there
a OSS solution we could recommend. I won't harp on but we need to present
something that is high-level enough to catch non-techie's and deep enough
to be useful as it draws them in or they chuck techie at it.

I believe we should target business with the same as listed above, but also
do role models such as what applications would say someone in sales need
and how does Linux fulfill this requirement equally we should do this for
other areas as well finance,tech support,marketing and management. We can't
anymore just say Linux is better and when they ask how say "because it's
free" or "It's not microsoft" that just isn't good enough, if it was Linux
would be there now. We need to show people not only can it be used in an
office for all the employee's but also that a Linux employee can be more
productive and also a cheaper one as well.

I have may other thoughts on this issues but am a bit pressed today, As I
have said before I would be more that willing to spend time in the
preparation of the expo and also in participation of the same.


M

Aristotle -- All human actions have one or more of these seven causes:
chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.