Comment 677 for bug 1

I switched to Ubuntu from Windows at the beginning of April 2008 and I love it. I also joined the marketing teman today because that is the one area where I feel U can contribute the most to the commubity. You see, unlike most people who use any Linux distribution, I am not a vomputer "wonk" or "geek" or whatever other term you wish to use. The reason I switched to Ubuntu rather than any other Linux distro is that it was recommended to me by the person who owns my web host as a Linux distro that is easy to set up and use and does not require a lot of technical expertise.

I've noticed that there is a lot of emphasis on distributing Ubuntu at LUGs, which to me is like taking coal to Newcastle, to use an old cliche. We need to market Ubuntu to Windows users - people who do not get very much involved in the technical aspects of owning a computer. They want software that works without a lot of fiddling with configuation - which describes Ubunru.

We also need to make it as easy as possible for people to run Windows based software - like the most popular computer games - on Ubuntu distros. I have three other computers in my house - all of them Windows, because I can't figure out how to make those programs - mainly games - that my wife and children use work in Ubunru.

If we can do this, that will help in the short term to convince Windows users to switch to Ubuntu. In the long term we need to break the monopoly that Windows has on what OS computer manufactures install on their new systems. That will not be easy for the same reason that I do not switch my other three computers. The software manufacturers are also being monopolized by Microsoft.

The only way this monopoly can be broken in the USA is political action. We need the same sort of legal results in the US Supreme Court as what happened in the EU Supreme Court. Microsoft is an illegal monopoly but there is little effort on the part of US regulatory agencies to enforce the laws when it coems to Microsoft. We need to somehow motivate the US government to break the stranglehold that MS has on US computer and software manufacturers.

That will be very very difficult and will get more so the longer the monopoly exists. I think our best hope is to start with the independent software manufacturers and help them design Ubintu-friendly and user-friendly versions of their software, especially the manufacturers of the more popular online and computer games. I have a couple in mind as prime targets, but not sure if it is permitted to mention specific manufacturers here.

Peace!

John Botscharow