Ubuntu Commercial, School Project

[DanSchnell]

Hey guys,

I'm in a Digital Communication class in school right now, and our newest project is to design a commercial for a product. I decided to do my commercial on Ubuntu (Promoting it, etc.)

I'm just looking for a few ideas from the whole community as to what I should put in my commercial. Keep in mind that commercials only last 30-45 seconds on normal. I'm developing the storyboard for it right now, and requires at least 20 frames on my storyboard.

At this point, my thoughts are really messy but this is what I can remember:

Beginning: Man sitting at computer with Win Blue Screen of Death "Are you tired of Windows?"

Your help is much appreciated.

[tonyr1988]

Don't know if it will help a lot, but for me the killer points of Ubuntu are:

1) Cost
2) Security

They're simple points, nothing fancy, but don't forget about them. Lots of people are used to ignoring pop-ups, cluttered system tray icons, and running anti-virus programs overnight.

...not to mention that beryl screenshots are awful pretty ;)

[IYY]

I think you should focus on the power of Ubuntu rather than the weakness of Windows. You may want to mention how most of the world's servers run Unix or Linux systems, to prove its stability. You certainly should show a video of Beryl in action. Mention that there is no need to install a firewall, antivirus or antispyware software.

[DanSchnell]

Both awesome points.

So what you're saying is ubuntu's customizability?

[tonyr1988]

There (http://linuxplanet.com/graphics/screenshots/gnome_osx.png) are (http://www.xpde.com/shots/startmenu.png) a (http://www.alleslinux.com/prog_pics/ubuntu-****.png) few (http://www.linuxedge.org/images/Compiz/2.png) customization (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/pre1/37395-1.jpg) options (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/pre1/39873-1.png)

And that's just for graphics, not to mention customizing functionality.

[RChickenMan]

Also remember to include the social aspect (community vs. corporate, free/open source vs. locked down, etc.)

[tonyr1988]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8333280591924223277

and

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4444798273768475649

are some IBM Linux ads. IBM ads have always kinda freaked me out, but they're interesting.

[djlyx]

Perhaps you've seen this already

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_C0oajdPXQ

Just some food for thought

[xopher]

And that Ubuntu is not only Ubuntu - there are lots of different versions of it, eg. Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu etc.

Oh, and be sure to have Compiz/Beryl enabled at all times when showing the ubuntu desktop, people would sell their grandmothers for effects like that ;) Just make it look like it improves usability, don't focus on the eye-candy as such. Make it look like 'it's just there'.

You could mention the support too. Community driven, fast, extensive, and above all, works. Free - allthough if I recall correctly you can dial a number and get phone support too? LTS?

Customizability was already mentioned, graphical effects, different versions of the distro, tons of applications.. The power of apt-get and the repositories (no need to surf hundreds of websites searching for a download link), the kernel.. (ok this might be a bit too technical for a commercial but you could squeeze in that you don't need to download device driver's separately, they already work. (well most of them do anyway).

Security was also mentioned. A virus-free environment could be worth mentioning.

And maybe you should leave the 'price tag' for the end? Like a big finish :) 'This can all be yours for only *drumroll* 0$'

Remember to include TUX somewhere too ;)

EDIT:

By the way, don't try to squeeze too much information into the commercial. You wan't to awake interest in the viewers - so they can have a look for themselves.

[djlyx]

Maybe you could do a spoof of one of those Mac commercials. I'd like to see one with Ubuntu

[Rodneyck]

All the previously mentioned focuses are great, but many also raise more questions which can lead to confusion on the consumers part. For example, if you start naming all the different ubuntu flavors, KDE, Gnome, etc., people are going to get even more confused, quickly, especially if you are coming from another OS and no nothing about Linux. What's the difference, which is better, which has fewer bugs, which is more like xxx??? ...etc, etc.

The thing with marketing is, keep it a) simple and b) focus on one or two main concerns. I am guessing those would probably be how easy is it to install and will it work with all my applications? Maybe ending with a plug for open source, it's all free!!

Those selling points will draw in the users and at the same time ease their fears. Switching to a new way of life (OS) is always scary, so THAT is your biggest hurdle.

Good luck! Sounds like a fun project.

[xopher]

Maybe you could do a spoof of one of those Mac commercials. I'd like to see one with Ubuntu

Linux is appearing in those (spoof)commercials ;) It's the small nerdy guy with the backpack - that look exactly like BSD :rolleyes:

[ngch]

You may also want to focus on open-source alternatives to Windows programs such as Openoffice, Firefox, Evolution, etc. available on Ubuntu. Many people who wanted to abandon Windows did not do so because they were daunted by the task of relearning new programs for daily tasks. You may want to show them how user-friendly and similar to Windows programs they really are, so that they have more compelling reasons to "step out of the cave".

All the best for your project! I personally would love to see the finished video!

[djlyx]

Linux is appearing in those (spoof)commercials ;) It's the small nerdy guy with the backpack - that look exactly like BSD :rolleyes:

Yea i just came across those ads on youtube. They can say whatever they want, but i think the amount of cursing is disgusting, very immature and low class.

[sweemeng]

don't bash windows.

but instead show the strength of linux, which can include:
- flexibility
- security

bust myth on linux.

you can also show alternative applications.

it is also nice that you are able to boot linux in an old machine that otherwise hard to run windows

just my 2 cent.

p.s does anyone here remember a thread where someone try to promote ubuntu in a funny, you can use that.

[tynen]

Did you ever get the comercial done? I'd love to see it :)

[zmjjmz]

I'd hope so...
At least you had a good reason to necromance.