[Infopoint] Report from Sunday's InfoPoint?

[alan c]

Tony Whitmore wrote:
>  Hi, message for Alan Cocks really. Can you let us know how your
>  InfoPoint went on Sunday? It would be good if you could add a report
>  to the wiki.
>
>  Also, an update on BCF negotiations would be appreciated.
>  Cheers,
>  Tony

Hi Tony
I did get a table. Leon was the BCF liaison on the day, although he was 
too busy to make it practical to continue negotiations during the day. 
The event did seem fully booked, so I felt lucky to be given a table. 
The trader adjacent was doing it as a hobby, and had (happily) covered 
the cost of his 2 tables (70 ukp) by lunchtime, and was initially peeved 
that BCF would give a table away. He soon warmed though, and it was 
clear I was not trading (and I gave a few inches of table space for him 
to expand, which worked wonders). He had purchased a 3ukp CD from a 
Southampton area fair (Ubuntu?)  but interestingly had not yet had time 
to use it. I hope I encouraged him a bit.  A trader nearby with a pile 
em high and shift 'em approach had reportedly taken 500 ukp by lunchtime.

It was a busy event generally and some of my information leaflets were 
taken. The people who I was able to engage in conversation turned out to 
be a mix of existing users of open source or linux/bsd with a few 
genuine newcomers. One, I noticed, timidly joined the Bracknell local 
group and downloaded suse as I had given a link. I had pointed out the 
LUGs but I think that was a step too far at that stage.

It was not too busy for me and single handed operation was ok on this 
first event. I did not openly advertise free CDs and only offered them 
to those who were interested enough to talk or ask, which meant about a 
dozen, mostly Open CD3.1

I used an old desktop PII 400 MHz 384 RAM dual booting xp and suse 10 
for demo. It was easier for security than a recent laptop, with me being 
there alone, although heavy and inconvenient to carry in and out.

I think it is likely that BCF will accept a charge 'at cost' for CDs, 
but I will not be charging until there is explicit agreement for this.

My original letter/fax to BCF can be sent on request to whoever is 
interested by email if wished but it is probably discrete to avoid open 
publication here on the semi public board.

BCF normal (trader) procedure would have been to confirm by phone when 
they committed. I was naturally a lowish priority in a busy life for 
them, and found it necessary to call them  on the Friday to check the 
situation, and they tentatively committed to ' working something out', 
and they did, which I am grateful for.

I am pleased with the day. It did actually happen :-) , and it was 
obvious that a lot of people had a passing curiosity with the display, 
but did not have enough interest (yet) to stop etc., or maybe simply did 
not trust something which was strange to them. Hopefully it can become 
regular and people may become more confident as they hear more about 
open source in the media, as is happening more now.

On my arrival, Leon 'recognised' me (Infopoint) because I was wearing a 
Tux baseball hat, so Leon is at least Tux-aware.

I expect to soon be uploading to the Infopoint wiki, the information 
sheets I used, largely A4 laminated, on the stand, and maybe a photo.
-- 
alan c