Is Putting Ubuntu CD's in Magazines affective?

[Omnios]

Doing a lot of thinking recently about the affectiveness of concistantly shipping Ubuntu release CD's in magazines etc. Localy in the Toronto area we have a Toronto computes monthly newbpaper like magazine which regularly enclosed cd's etc for isps and such. They reach a huge audience as it also ships to all the surrounding towns in Southern Ontario.

Anyways Im trying to see how affective this actual is as personaly I think someone is more likely try Ubuntu if they can pick up a cd at the local magazine stand where they are interested but do not want to do a huge download because of connection speed. Even in that regard Canada is a good market as we have the highest percentage of broadband internet. Also I found me included that a lot of people do not like waiting a long time to recieve something in the mail.

Personaly I think putting CD's in magazines is an amazing distribution medium but think it should be extended over a couple months. What is your point of view?

[BWF89]

Unless someone on these forums actually wants to put them in the magazines by hand and risk looseing their job for putting a foreign object into a magazine that isn't theres they'd have to convince the boss to let them write an article about Un*x and include a free CD with it so they could see what it is.

But I think we should wait until the Breezy Badger until we start really distributing Ubuntu cd's. Because Ubuntu claims to be "Linux for human beings" but most human beings would be scared off by the text based installer. I think Breezy is going to inlucde a graphical installer.

[Stormy Eyes]

A British mag, Linux Format, often includes CDs. Why not contact the publishers of Linux Journal in the US about including Ubuntu CDs with an issue of LJ?

[byen]

I remember the days when my access to the internet was limited and I used to buy magazines with these CDs and try every single program! see what was new... there are so many of us who do not have the time or Net access to get something like Ubuntu... so I have to say that would be a great idea!! atleast you might hit some kid who was hungry for something like Ubuntu! I know I was and I can list a dozen who would have tried as well! so I think it is a good idea! but with the limited $$ i dont know how they would do it? Unless someone sponsers it...

[Gsibbery]

It couldn't hurt as long as you can get the magazine to agree.

On a simiolar note, the Baton Rouge Linux User's Group has started a project called FOSSILE. You can read ahbout it here: http://fossile-project.sourceforge.net/ -- the idea is to get open source software into public libraries so that everyone will have easy access to it and become more aware of it. I am working on getting this done at my local library. Does anyone else think it might be a good idea?

[UbuWu]

A British mag, Linux Format, often includes CDs. Why not contact the publishers of Linux Journal in the US about including Ubuntu CDs with an issue of LJ?

Didn't they have a beta version of hoary a few months ago?

[poofyhairguy]

But I think we should wait until the Breezy Badger until we start really distributing Ubuntu cd's. Because Ubuntu claims to be "Linux for human beings" but most human beings would be scared off by the text based installer. I think Breezy is going to inlucde a graphical installer.

I agree. I'm actually a little scared of Breezy. Unless its a dud (any developer reading this please stop and get back to work on fixing the sound problems please), it might be the most popular Linux release ever.

The forum will be washed away....we need more mods....

[jdong]

.we need more mods....

Never mind that, we need more RAM ;)

Hoary's release brought the forum's server to its knees!

[tread]

Magazine distribution is really very effective, especially in slow connection areas.
PC Quest in India was almost single handedly responsible for the spread of Linux in India .. otherwise it was really difficult to get distro cds. I remember waiting eagerly for new versions of Redhat in the magazine .. and I know a lot of my friends did too.

[sapo]

I think its very effective.. my first ubuntu came in a magazine.. it was the warty version... i was afraid in the beggining cause the name "Ubuntu" didnt give me a good first impression.. but man.. when i installed it.. i said WOW! now i can get rid of my windows XP.. and so i did :grin:

Now i dont have windows anymore.. and i m very happy with ubuntu.. thanx to that magazine :grin:

[jarg]

I wonder if we could do what AOL does, a bunch of free CDs in stores?

As for magazines they could be affective if people activly search for them.

[Stormy Eyes]

The forum will be washed away....we need more mods....

I'd volunteer, but actually seeking authority would mark me as unworthy of it.

[Lord Illidan]

Well, I installed nearly all of my linux distros from cover discs given away with PC Plus.

They give out a different Linux distribution with each new edition. Why not get them to include Ubuntu as an extra. Or subscribers to Pc Plus can get Ubuntu as a bonus. Same goes to Pc Format, Linux Format...etc.

[macgyver2]

I think it's wasteful. I would be much more supportive of putting in one of those mailer postcards.

If you put an actual CD in (or in the case of Ubuntu, possibly two CDs), yes, some people will keep the CD and use it and discover Ubuntu. Some may not want the CD themselves but may know someone who does. But then there would be people--and I don't think I'm exaggerating at all when I say the majority) who don't want it, don't consider giving it to (or don't know) someone who does want it, and who then just throw it out.

[somuchfortheafter]

i recieved a cd of hoary in linux format i think a while back here in the states and well here i am lol.

[macgyver2]

i recieved a cd of hoary in linux format i think a while back here in the states and well here i am lol.

Well welcome! :)

I realize the CDs help introduce some people to...whatever is on the CDs. But I really wonder what the distribution is between CDs that find a home with a new user and CDs that find a home in the local trash dump.

Anyway, I'm curious...in your case...do you think you would have still tried Ubuntu if instead of the actual CD you just saw an advertisement portraying the strengths of Ubuntu along with a mailer card to send away for a CD set?

[henrismail]

Well my dad got me my copie in some magazine it was on the dvd as a ext:D ar you had to burn it so my dad did. Sorry about the spelling I am only a kid.

[ComplexNumber]

i got breezy from Linux Format and Linux user & Develoeper magazines. dapper will inevitably be on either one of those.

[Kernel Sanders]

Well my dad got me my copie in some magazine it was on the dvd as a ext:D ar you had to burn it so my dad did. Sorry about the spelling I am only a kid.

Thats quite a bump you've got there...... :mrgreen:

Welcome to the forums :)

[Sukarn]

I happened to try Ubuntu just because of the free CD from shipit. When I saw the website for Ubuntu I thought, it seems to be another below average linux OS (I didn't use linux much at the time. I was still stuck with bad old Windows). When I saw that they were giving free CDs, I thought, what do I stand to lose (having just 16 kb/s connection is a pain) and I ordered a CD from shipit. Wonder of wonders, Ubuntu turned out to be the best OS i had ever used, and i've been using it since then.

[Biltong (Dee)]

I was just getting tired of MS refusing to authenticate my XP, (I wonder why?), and was just idly looking for something new and free.
Somehow I stubbed my virtual toe on a website called 'Ubuntu Shipit' and have thanked my lucky stars ever since... :-)

[catlett]

I guess a thread is never really dead in the world of search engines.:-D