[15:38] <DPic> just 30 more diggs and it could hit the digg top 10 http://digg.com/linux_unix/Dell_FREEDOM_Box_A_Fully_Open_System_for_Home_Users_by_2010
[15:44] <desertc> I am sort of boycotting Digg.  Is it on Reddit?
[15:44] <desertc> Did not Dell already say they wanted to push all their vendors to supporting Linux kernel devices?
[15:45] <desertc> I seem to remember that from the Dell + Ubuntu announcements
[15:52] <DPic> You could post it to reddit if it hasn't already been :)
[15:52] <DPic> dell did say that
[15:52] <DPic> but this is asking for more than jsut drivers
[15:53] <DPic> that's all they said. which is good, but this is just putting pressure on them to take it further
[16:02] <desertc> We should find ways to help Dell sell their existing Ubuntu PCs, too.
[16:08] <DPic> i think the ubuntu pc's sold really well, i don't think ubuntu is *quite* ready for most home users, but i do have high hopes thaat it will be by 8.04 and maybe by then, Dell will be willing to run a cable ad
[16:22] <desertc> I see no reason Ubuntu couldn't be used by every home user, as long as it came with technical support and hardware support.
[16:22] <desertc> Sure beats having someone bring their PC to Best Buy every time their Windows goes haywire.
[16:24] <DPic> that is true
[16:25] <desertc> My thoughts on Idea Storm is Dell gave Ubuntu a chance based on those recommendations, but, instead of embracing that Ubuntu solution, the new Storm linux ideas deviate to "Support all Linux OS" and "Sell Ubuntu Computers for Less" and "Replace the keyboard for Ubuntu computers so they don't have Windows keys"...
[16:26] <DPic> that's one wawy to look at it i guess...
[16:27] <DPic> reddit http://reddit.com/info/61w9l/
[16:27] <desertc> I get a bit disheartened when I look through them all.  I was hoping the people who promoted the idea of the Dell + Ubuntu PC would find a bunch of ways to promote the idea and generate sales, if it is the grand solution.  I am a bit biased because I do a lot of work with Dell.
[16:27] <DPic> i see
[16:27] <desertc> That link does not come up for me.
[16:28] <DPic> http://reddit.com/info/61w9l/comments/
[16:28] <DPic> that work? 
[16:28] <desertc> That worked.  I bumped ya!
[16:29] <DPic> cool, thanks :)
[16:32] <DPic> damn. it's now over 100 away from being on the figg top 10 because they updated the list
[16:32] <DPic> :(
[16:34] <desertc> That social networking is a tricky business.  Everyone wants to get the "Digg Effect"
[16:34] <DPic> yeah... it was so close...we just missed! :(
[16:34] <DPic> maybe if i had woke up an hour earlier i would've had time to spam a bunch of people :P
[16:35] <desertc> I like what Corey said in the mailing list, "I rather suspect it will be well before 2010 that we will see this."  I like his optimism.
[16:41] <desertc> It's funny - I have been staring at the "Ubuntu Highway" marketing poster for several days, debating whether to print out 500 copies and post them around town.
[16:42] <desertc> The only thing stopping me is the fact that I do not completely agree performing an installation from a downloaded ISO or Ship-It CD is the best approach.  At least, I wish there was some mention of vendor systems.  Isn't that strange, that I am seeking to promote corporate entities?
[16:44] <desertc> It's great that we have so many vendors to choose to recommend.  Dell has name-recognition, Walmart has super-cheap desktops with 24/7 support, System76 has great Canonical relations and a great support staff, and plus there are others who are more local to your area.
[16:45] <DPic> oh crap i sent it out twice
[16:45] <desertc> As a marketing group for Ubuntu, I think we should leverage these organizations that do the heavy-lifting for us.  No need to spend hours on the phone troubleshooting a friend's installation -- just recommend a vendor.
[16:46] <desertc> I would personally rather distribute 500 Dell + Ubuntu posters than 500 generic Ubuntu posters.  Know what I mean?
[16:47] <DPic> yeah definitely
[16:48] <DPic> there has to be soemthing we can  do about that
[16:48] <desertc> It's like - yeah - Dell made this great PC with Ubuntu, now that's done, so let's get it moved into our communities.  Sure beats trying to hold an installfest each week and beg to reformat people's PCs.
[16:48] <DPic> you're right.
[16:49] <DPic> but installfests are fun :)
[16:49] <DPic> and they target people who want to install ubuntu on their existing machines
[16:49] <DPic> and who can't do it themselves
[16:49] <desertc> If you can't install Ubuntu yourself, then you need to get tech support for your computer.
[16:49] <DPic> but there are more people who we could reach out to with vendors
[16:50] <DPic> but nobody know who to call for ubuntu
[16:50] <desertc> You can buy an Ubuntu computer from Dell and you will have 24/7 support.
[16:50] <DPic> yeah but we're tlaking about those who are installign it for themselves
[16:51] <desertc> For $200 you can get a new computer from Walmart with 24/7 technical support
[16:51] <DPic> yeah the gPC
[16:51] <desertc> Or, you can have someone at an Installfest install Ubuntu for you, and then you will cry when you have problems.
[16:52] <DPic> well, the frreedom box didn't go so well on reddit
[16:52] <DPic> it went up to at least 4
[16:52] <DPic> now it's down to one
[16:52] <desertc> Maybe the installfest person will have given their number, and when you call in the middle of the night, they say: Look on IRC #ubuntu
[16:53] <DPic> lol
[16:53] <desertc> When you go to IRC #ubuntu, they say, look on Ubuntu Forums
[16:53] <DPic> what a nightmare
[16:53] <desertc> When you go to Ubuntu Forums, you get no response...
[16:53] <desertc> Then you go back to Windows.
[16:54] <desertc> Contrast that with: Buy a computer, GRUB comes up with an error, call tech support, get problem fixed, continue using Ubuntu.
[16:55] <desertc> I'm serious.  In fact, I am getting on the phone with System76 RIGHT NOW to get some posters.
[16:57] <DPic> you can just call and ask for posters? 
[16:57] <DPic> what if ubuntu had vendor teams? 
[16:57] <DPic> would the be too commercial? 
[16:58] <desertc> They actually have a program for LoCos:
[16:58] <desertc> http://system76.com/article_info.php?articles_id=26
[16:59] <desertc> I think it's extremely commercial, yet System76 has the same mission goals as LoCos, so why not work together?
[16:59] <DPic> oh yeah i think my team did that
[17:00] <DPic> yeah and imagine what could get done if there were vendor teams that we could find right from the wiki
[17:00] <desertc> I mean - Dell and System76 have done a good deal for the Ubuntu community, so why should we feel bad helping their commercial efforts, especially when their goals match our own: To get Ubuntu into our communities.
[17:00] <DPic> yeah
[17:02] <DPic> So now lets sayd Dell created the Dell(Vendor?)Team on the wiki. They could give us materials for promoting their ubuntu systems as well as hold a presence here in the ubuntu comminity
[17:02] <DPic> i'm not sure how the teams would be made up tough
[17:03] <DPic> they would just hire a small team i guess? 
[17:03] <DPic> Or maybe ubuntu could have just one VendorsTeam which would act as a got to group for vendors
[17:03] <DPic> that might make more sense
[17:03] <DPic> and be less commercial
[17:09] <desertc> I am participating in a new Ubuntu team that has those goals, let me find the link..
[17:10] <desertc> https://launchpad.net/~hardware-testing  I had a long talk with Marc and he is working toward vendor certification program and such things.
[17:11] <desertc> Let me see if I can invite him to this channel...
[17:16] <DPic> that's a little bit different than what i was thinking of
[17:20] <desertc> Yes, but if he is a vendor liason, then he will have some ideas for us.
[17:23] <DPic> oh yeah
[17:51] <DPic> so is it worth starting this vendors team?
[17:56] <desertc> When I talked with Marc, it sounded like the intention of this hardware-testing team would be working wiht the vendors, so I'd like to hear from him first.
[17:57] <DPic> oh okay
[17:57] <DPic> did you email him or something?
[17:59] <desertc> I sent him a PM on Freenode
[19:43] <desertc> Hmm
[19:44] <desertc> I just thought of a market that I have never seen mentioned for Free Software advocacy.
[19:47] <desertc> ... goes off to #ubuntu-us to discuss