[Infopoint] Infopoint at Trentham Gardens

[alan c]

Philip Oakley wrote:
> Sunday just gone I ran an Infopoint at Trentham Gardens in Stoke. See below
> for the post I sent to StaffsLUG. Simon Colderley is the best contact at NCM
> and he was very helpful. I got lots of material via the infopoint mailing
> list especially from Alan from Silicon Corridor LUG (many thanks Alan). If I
> can be of any help please let me know.
> 
> Post to StaffsLUG
> 
> Many thanks for all the support David, Stuart and Jason at the
> TrenthamGardens Infopoint and special thanks must go to Zach for an
> excellent
> demonstration of the classic Tux Racer.
> 
> I thought the Infopoint appeared to go well, with over 30 disks given out
> mostly ubuntu but also kubuntu, knoppix and some opencd's. The eeepc
> (version 1) also got a lot of attention and the compiz spinning cube on a
> large monitor impressed a few.
> 
> Some hardware sellers took copies with the intention of installing it on
> machines they were selling which should be a vast improvement on dubious
> windows licenses.
> 
> Northern Computer Markets (www.computermarkets.co.uk) , who run the computer
> fair at Trentham say they are happy to allow a free table at any of their
> events where there is a table available although they have said that they
> have not done an infopoint for a couple of years. They also have fairs at
> many other places including Wolverhampton, Derby and Manchester.
> 
> Whether this is the best use of somebody's time to promote the use of Linux
> to the general public I am not so sure but would happily discuss what other
> options are available. Is there a StaffsLUG meeting in the near future?
> 
> The next Trentham Market is 8th June and now there is a bit more notice I
> would be interested to know if anybody else thinks it is a good idea to go
> along.
> 
> Phil Oakley

Well done Phil! It sounds like it went really well.

 > Whether this is the best use of somebody's time to promote the use 
of Linux
 > to the general public

Yes it absolutely is. Yes!
Our way of life is more dependent on 'marketing' than we realise 
sometimes. The presence of a FOSS or Linux display will help 
crystallise those ideas, motives, and confidence in people who have 
been thinking about it but not yet ventured forth.

The 'I think, therefore I am'  can be transposed to 'I see it 
advertised, therefore it is *real*'!

But of course it depends on the person. It is not everybody's cup of 
tea to be standing around in an alien landscape and answering 
questions you had forgotten you yourself had back in the dawn of time.

I think also that it is not a usual activity for a LUG, with some 
exceptions. Hampshire LUG is strong on advocacy and outreach, there 
may be some others, however, I have come to expect lug related 
Infopoint activity only in exceptional cases.

If you are able to continue with an ongoing presence at the fairs, you 
will find as I do that you soon become a de facto discussion base for 
those (many) souls who are keen to try the refreshing alternative to 
proprietary software but are still not quite ready for a swim yet. It 
can sometimes take several months. People return months later and then 
ask questions. Sometimes they have only just tried the stuff recently 
after having an earlier disk.

I also give out countless leaflets - all of which include my email 
address. I almost *never* get a follow up question via email. However, 
I think such an offer of contact gives a welcomed confidence to the 
beleaguered, escaping windows user.
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391