[Fwd: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu]

[Tim Dobson-2]

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Cheers

Tim

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:19 +0100
From: James Milligan <[hidden email]>
Reply-To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>

Let me just say that I couldn't think of a better title for this, so
please  improve it if you can!

The shop I work in sells desktop computers that are built to order
each time, meaning the OS too. We also sell laptops by ASUS but that's
not really relevant at the moment. Our main thing, though, is
repairing computers in general.

The boss has told me that he's got 2 Ubuntu desktops to be built, and
he wants me to do them. He said this because I'm pretty much the only
person in the company that's knows about Ubuntu enough to install it
and set it up.

I feel that the time is right to suggest moving to Ubuntu as a
mainstream option when people are choosing what OS to have. The only
issues I can see, and what he will see, are the following:

- profitability - how much do you 'charge' for Ubuntu to make it
worthwhile? Also, because of the nature of Windows PCs, we get a lot
of return sales because of the repairs etc. I know Ubuntu computers
break, but not as often or as badly as Windows ones do.

- training - I'm sure he doesn't want to cough up for the official
Canonical training, yet I can't go around teaching the guys who know
more about Windows than I will probably ever do about it. Is there any
training (preferably close to Manchester, but Cheshire would be better).

I hope someone can think of 'solutions' for this - I know that he'd go
for Ubuntu if he could, it's just that there isn't as much profit in
it. Thanks for any help!

James Milligan

--
[hidden email]
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

[jazzyjeph]

Hi
Just a quickie but if the Boss will not invest in training you may be
better off looking for employment elsewhere, ventures like this with no
training involved could end up leaving everybody feeling bad and they
will hold you responsible (being the Ubuntu person)
Because we are talking business and profitability the community may be
less willing to donate free time to it, so you might need to buy in
experience to make up for the lack of training you received.
So much better if the boss invests in his company and reaps the rewards
from the increased sales and profitability that using Ubuntu could bring.

Regards
Geoff
Tim Dobson wrote:

> Anyone got any thoughts on this?
>
> Cheers
>
> Tim
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu
> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:19 +0100
> From: James Milligan <[hidden email]>
> Reply-To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
> To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>
> Let me just say that I couldn't think of a better title for this, so
> please  improve it if you can!
>
> The shop I work in sells desktop computers that are built to order
> each time, meaning the OS too. We also sell laptops by ASUS but that's
> not really relevant at the moment. Our main thing, though, is
> repairing computers in general.
>
> The boss has told me that he's got 2 Ubuntu desktops to be built, and
> he wants me to do them. He said this because I'm pretty much the only
> person in the company that's knows about Ubuntu enough to install it
> and set it up.
>
> I feel that the time is right to suggest moving to Ubuntu as a
> mainstream option when people are choosing what OS to have. The only
> issues I can see, and what he will see, are the following:
>
> - profitability - how much do you 'charge' for Ubuntu to make it
> worthwhile? Also, because of the nature of Windows PCs, we get a lot
> of return sales because of the repairs etc. I know Ubuntu computers
> break, but not as often or as badly as Windows ones do.
>
> - training - I'm sure he doesn't want to cough up for the official
> Canonical training, yet I can't go around teaching the guys who know
> more about Windows than I will probably ever do about it. Is there any
> training (preferably close to Manchester, but Cheshire would be better).
>
> I hope someone can think of 'solutions' for this - I know that he'd go
> for Ubuntu if he could, it's just that there isn't as much profit in
> it. Thanks for any help!
>
> James Milligan
>

[lake54]

Hmm very different to what the Ubuntu UK list has said, so interesting.

I wouldn't say that he's not willing to invest, it's just that it's  
quite a bit of money and from what I understand it's aimed more at the  
end user.

Thanks for the reply though.

James

On 27 May 2009, at 14:45, jazzyjeph <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi
> Just a quickie but if the Boss will not invest in training you may  
> be better off looking for employment elsewhere, ventures like this  
> with no training involved could end up leaving everybody feeling bad  
> and they will hold you responsible (being the Ubuntu person)
> Because we are talking business and profitability the community may  
> be less willing to donate free time to it, so you might need to buy  
> in experience to make up for the lack of training you received.
> So much better if the boss invests in his company and reaps the  
> rewards from the increased sales and profitability that using Ubuntu  
> could bring.
>
> Regards
> Geoff
> Tim Dobson wrote:
>> Anyone got any thoughts on this?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu
>> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:19 +0100
>> From: James Milligan <[hidden email]>
>> Reply-To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>> To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>>
>> Let me just say that I couldn't think of a better title for this, so
>> please  improve it if you can!
>>
>> The shop I work in sells desktop computers that are built to order
>> each time, meaning the OS too. We also sell laptops by ASUS but  
>> that's
>> not really relevant at the moment. Our main thing, though, is
>> repairing computers in general.
>>
>> The boss has told me that he's got 2 Ubuntu desktops to be built, and
>> he wants me to do them. He said this because I'm pretty much the only
>> person in the company that's knows about Ubuntu enough to install it
>> and set it up.
>>
>> I feel that the time is right to suggest moving to Ubuntu as a
>> mainstream option when people are choosing what OS to have. The only
>> issues I can see, and what he will see, are the following:
>>
>> - profitability - how much do you 'charge' for Ubuntu to make it
>> worthwhile? Also, because of the nature of Windows PCs, we get a lot
>> of return sales because of the repairs etc. I know Ubuntu computers
>> break, but not as often or as badly as Windows ones do.
>>
>> - training - I'm sure he doesn't want to cough up for the official
>> Canonical training, yet I can't go around teaching the guys who know
>> more about Windows than I will probably ever do about it. Is there  
>> any
>> training (preferably close to Manchester, but Cheshire would be  
>> better).
>>
>> I hope someone can think of 'solutions' for this - I know that he'd  
>> go
>> for Ubuntu if he could, it's just that there isn't as much profit in
>> it. Thanks for any help!
>>
>> James Milligan
>>
>
>
>

[Paul Sutton]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

jazzyjeph wrote:

> Hi
> Just a quickie but if the Boss will not invest in training you may be
> better off looking for employment elsewhere, ventures like this with no
> training involved could end up leaving everybody feeling bad and they
> will hold you responsible (being the Ubuntu person)
> Because we are talking business and profitability the community may be
> less willing to donate free time to it, so you might need to buy in
> experience to make up for the lack of training you received.
> So much better if the boss invests in his company and reaps the rewards
> from the increased sales and profitability that using Ubuntu could bring.
>
> Regards
> Geoff
> Tim Dobson wrote:
>> Anyone got any thoughts on this?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu
>> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:19 +0100
>> From: James Milligan <[hidden email]>
>> Reply-To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>> To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>>
>> Let me just say that I couldn't think of a better title for this, so
>> please  improve it if you can!
>>
>> The shop I work in sells desktop computers that are built to order
>> each time, meaning the OS too. We also sell laptops by ASUS but that's
>> not really relevant at the moment. Our main thing, though, is
>> repairing computers in general.
>>
>> The boss has told me that he's got 2 Ubuntu desktops to be built, and
>> he wants me to do them. He said this because I'm pretty much the only
>> person in the company that's knows about Ubuntu enough to install it
>> and set it up.
>>
>> I feel that the time is right to suggest moving to Ubuntu as a
>> mainstream option when people are choosing what OS to have. The only
>> issues I can see, and what he will see, are the following:
>>
>> - profitability - how much do you 'charge' for Ubuntu to make it
>> worthwhile? Also, because of the nature of Windows PCs, we get a lot
>> of return sales because of the repairs etc. I know Ubuntu computers
>> break, but not as often or as badly as Windows ones do.
>>
>> - training - I'm sure he doesn't want to cough up for the official
>> Canonical training, yet I can't go around teaching the guys who know
>> more about Windows than I will probably ever do about it. Is there any
>> training (preferably close to Manchester, but Cheshire would be better).
>>
>> I hope someone can think of 'solutions' for this - I know that he'd go
>> for Ubuntu if he could, it's just that there isn't as much profit in
>> it. Thanks for any help!
>>
>> James Milligan
>>
>
>
>

With regard to training you need to identify training needs for your own
personal / professional development.  There is funding around to help
with this,  esp if your udner 25,
saying that,

1. identify what you need to learn
2. use the net to seek out where the courses are, either online or at
college, perhaps Open university,
3. see what financial support is available
4. see if you can do free courses in the meantime,

if you arrange and do courses off your own back in your own time you
call the shots when it comes to jobs in a way,  if I as an employer
invest in YOU I expect YOU to stay with the company so I can reap the
benefits of training you. If I invest nothing in you, and you learn in
your spare time, then you can go where you want because its your money
and your own investment,

may not always work that way but I am doing this right now,  i am fed up
of can't get a job due to lack of qualification a or experience, when
how do you get both,  by working but I can't work to get the experience
to get the training, its a vicious circle,  only YOU can get out of.

Don't canonical do some training through their website,I saw one course
costng about 50 quid,  probably just desktop but I am sure I have seen
other courses.

may be worth looking in to,  contact local user groups get a list of
people together and then see if a course can be done locally.  but
approach as a group so the demand is there.  A lot of places are so
windows orientated they are blind to the potential income from other
courses let alone blind to the needs of the real world.

worth a shot.

Paul
- --
Paul Sutton
www.zleap.net
Support Open and ISO standard file formats ISO 26300 odf
http://www.odfalliance.org
Next Linux User Group meet :Saturday ** June 6th ** : 3pm,  Shoreline
Cafe Paignton

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Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

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=Gl08
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[lake54]

I kind of see where you're coming from.

I'll contact an LUG and see what they can do.

Good luck in finding a job as well.

James

On 27 May 2009, at 16:45, Paul Sutton <[hidden email]> wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> jazzyjeph wrote:
>> Hi
>> Just a quickie but if the Boss will not invest in training you may be
>> better off looking for employment elsewhere, ventures like this  
>> with no
>> training involved could end up leaving everybody feeling bad and they
>> will hold you responsible (being the Ubuntu person)
>> Because we are talking business and profitability the community may  
>> be
>> less willing to donate free time to it, so you might need to buy in
>> experience to make up for the lack of training you received.
>> So much better if the boss invests in his company and reaps the  
>> rewards
>> from the increased sales and profitability that using Ubuntu could  
>> bring.
>>
>> Regards
>> Geoff
>> Tim Dobson wrote:
>>> Anyone got any thoughts on this?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Tim
>>>
>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Business with Ubuntu
>>> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:19 +0100
>>> From: James Milligan <[hidden email]>
>>> Reply-To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>>> To: British Ubuntu Talk <[hidden email]>
>>>
>>> Let me just say that I couldn't think of a better title for this, so
>>> please  improve it if you can!
>>>
>>> The shop I work in sells desktop computers that are built to order
>>> each time, meaning the OS too. We also sell laptops by ASUS but  
>>> that's
>>> not really relevant at the moment. Our main thing, though, is
>>> repairing computers in general.
>>>
>>> The boss has told me that he's got 2 Ubuntu desktops to be built,  
>>> and
>>> he wants me to do them. He said this because I'm pretty much the  
>>> only
>>> person in the company that's knows about Ubuntu enough to install it
>>> and set it up.
>>>
>>> I feel that the time is right to suggest moving to Ubuntu as a
>>> mainstream option when people are choosing what OS to have. The only
>>> issues I can see, and what he will see, are the following:
>>>
>>> - profitability - how much do you 'charge' for Ubuntu to make it
>>> worthwhile? Also, because of the nature of Windows PCs, we get a lot
>>> of return sales because of the repairs etc. I know Ubuntu computers
>>> break, but not as often or as badly as Windows ones do.
>>>
>>> - training - I'm sure he doesn't want to cough up for the official
>>> Canonical training, yet I can't go around teaching the guys who know
>>> more about Windows than I will probably ever do about it. Is there  
>>> any
>>> training (preferably close to Manchester, but Cheshire would be  
>>> better).
>>>
>>> I hope someone can think of 'solutions' for this - I know that  
>>> he'd go
>>> for Ubuntu if he could, it's just that there isn't as much profit in
>>> it. Thanks for any help!
>>>
>>> James Milligan
>>>
>>
>>
>>
> With regard to training you need to identify training needs for your  
> own
> personal / professional development.  There is funding around to help
> with this,  esp if your udner 25,
> saying that,
>
> 1. identify what you need to learn
> 2. use the net to seek out where the courses are, either online or at
> college, perhaps Open university,
> 3. see what financial support is available
> 4. see if you can do free courses in the meantime,
>
> if you arrange and do courses off your own back in your own time you
> call the shots when it comes to jobs in a way,  if I as an employer
> invest in YOU I expect YOU to stay with the company so I can reap the
> benefits of training you. If I invest nothing in you, and you learn in
> your spare time, then you can go where you want because its your money
> and your own investment,
>
> may not always work that way but I am doing this right now,  i am  
> fed up
> of can't get a job due to lack of qualification a or experience, when
> how do you get both,  by working but I can't work to get the  
> experience
> to get the training, its a vicious circle,  only YOU can get out of.
>
> Don't canonical do some training through their website,I saw one  
> course
> costng about 50 quid,  probably just desktop but I am sure I have seen
> other courses.
>
> may be worth looking in to,  contact local user groups get a list of
> people together and then see if a course can be done locally.  but
> approach as a group so the demand is there.  A lot of places are so
> windows orientated they are blind to the potential income from other
> courses let alone blind to the needs of the real world.
>
> worth a shot.
>
> Paul
> - --
> Paul Sutton
> www.zleap.net
> Support Open and ISO standard file formats ISO 26300 odf
> http://www.odfalliance.org
> Next Linux User Group meet :Saturday ** June 6th ** : 3pm,  Shoreline
> Cafe Paignton
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
> Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
>
> iEYEARECAAYFAkodYBUACgkQaggq1k2FJq35RQCcCb8V4v8aFUu1rr9LOED1ODCU
> UegAn1ZIxesCGJ1CySzRGrvpV8vdWhMf
> =Gl08
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>
>