Ubuntu available Pre-installed from KY Trade!

[JarG0n]

As of April 1st, KY Trade (http://www.KYTrade.com) on Virginia Ave in Lexington, will be offering Ubuntu pre-installed on custom built machines !

Click here for directions to their store. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=KY+Trade+Computers,+Lexington+KY&ie=UTF8&z=15)

KY Trade
373 Virginia Ave
Lexington KY, 40504
(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=KY+Trade+Computers,+Lexington+KY&ie=UTF8&z=15)

A bit of background first. I spoke with the owner, Freddy Peralta, last weekend about the possibility of offering Ubuntu pre-installed on KY Trade PCs, and obtaining the same VAR (Value Added Reseller) deal that Dell has selling the support contracts for those who want it. If it's a viable business model for Dell, then it should work for local businesses as well. Local businesses normally require SLA support contracts in order to adopt any business critical application, and Canonical fits this bill.

With that said, KY Trade has a stellar reputation for offering quality custom built machines, as well as exceptional service. They stand behind their products and service. I can personally vouche for this.

We are going to need volunteers to come up with an appropriate flyer to advertise the Ubuntu LoCo Team & BGLUG. Please contact me if you have the skillset needed to advertise this group effectively through print media.

I urge everyone to call or email Freddy (freddy AT KYTrade.com) thanking him for working with us to promote Ubuntu. No, really, I mean it. Please do this. He needs to know there exists users out there that value open source choices. Also, be sure to let all your friends know of this development for Ubuntu in the Central Kentucky area. This is an excellent opportunity to get Ubuntu & open source adopted at a local level. I believe it is critical for Canonical/Ubuntu to form partnerships in our area with local VARs in order to gain acceptance through the local business and user community.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to let everyone know that this is a great starting point for those who wish to become an Ubuntu Certified Professional through Savoir-faire Linux in Montreal Canada (http://ubuntu.savoirfairelinux.com/elearning/). Supporting this group can serve as a learning opportunity to launch into a career managing GNU/Linux solutions for KY Trade, or other businesses.

Below is the email received from Freddy Peralta accepting our partnership with our group (Ubuntu LoCo & BGLUG). Please contact me if you have any questions.


Hello there all,

We at KyTrade will be more than glad to work with BGLUG to give customers the choice of getting their systems with Ubuntu preinstalled. Even before we sign any agreement with Canonical we can start offering Ubuntu installed machine right away. We also are willing to display some BGLUG/Ubuntu information (such as a nice 8.5 x 11 flyer) and provide BGLUG literature to anybody who buys an Ubuntu machine.

So to move forward:
- we will go ahead and start working to have Ubuntu ready machines
immediately;
- we would like a BGLUG color flyer promoting Ubuntu and the local support;
- we would like to include BGLUG membership information with all customers
who purchase an Ubuntu computer;
- after I return from my next trip (I'll leave tomorrow) I would check
which type of relationship we want to establish with Canonical

Thanks for your interest and for thinking of us as a potential partner on this endeavor.

Freddy E. Peralta
Kentucky Trade Company, Inc.
373 Virginia Ave., Lexington, KY 40504
Phone 859-225-9872 Fax 859-225-1702

More than 200,000 computers products available on our
KyTrade OnLine store ... from a place that you trust!
www.kytrade.com

[JarG0n]

Here's the reply to Freddy, accepting the offer.

######################################

Freddy,

I want to thank you for accepting our proposal. While we are new, and
our numbers relatively low, our group is committed to seeing open source
adoption in our area, especially with the Canonical/Ubuntu distribution.
With time, I'm confident this partnership will grow in size and scope.

We look forward to working with KY Trade to support our mission
statement, and to provide KY Trade with additional exposure in this
expanding market.

We should have a flyer available to you by sometime next week. I will
be in contact with you.

- signed

[etank]

This is something that has the potential to be very exciting for the Linux community here in the Lexington area. I feel that if KY Trade wants to make a move like this then we as a team need to support that.

Can someone make a flyer for the teams (the LoCo and BGLUG) for them to put up at their shop.

[Nursing Jobs]

I have met in person with Freddy (the owner) at KY Trade in Lexington.
KY Trade has an incredibly reputable business here in Lexington. I
offered him the Canonical Reseller Program for GNU\Ubuntu Linux as an
additional product offering for his customers. After I left, apparently
others came in asking something about Ubuntu, although I'm not certain
to what context the inquiry was about. Since I obviously didn't stage
this, this shows us that there is a demand for an alternative operating
system here in our area, Ubuntu!

In fact, to my utter surprise, he indicated that he will be building an
Ubuntu PC by the end of this week! If you are interested in local PC
support, and a vendor that may consider offering Ubuntu preinstalled on
a quality custom built PC, please contact KY Trade at your leisure and
specifically indicate your interest in Ubuntu preinstalled. You need to
call, email, or visit in person, please. I can attest that KY Trade is
both reputable as a company, and known for building quality computers in
the Central Kentucky area.