[Linux-aus] Australian Ubuntu Local Community Team

[Brent Wallis]

Blah...well it's out now!

But from mistakes come opportunity... :)

The points here on Visually impared users may be of interest to some and are
a sticking point from me.....

Does anyone have some comments to make on Linux Desktops functionality for
the disabled?

BW

On 3/23/06, Brent Wallis <brent.wallis at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Geoff,
> Talk about timing!
>
> Have just started on a job with a client that has been running RH9 for
> almost 4 years
> on 150 PCs. They run a call centre and are in the process of a takeover of
> their final competitor in this country.
>
> They need to upgrade in the not too distant future, and at the same time ,
> almost double their number of desktops.
>
> The client also has 12 odd Windows boxes for those that "have" to have
> it.... He has clear evidence (IT support invoices) to show that those 12
> boxes cost him more in maintenance over the last 3 years than what the 150
> Linux boxen did, and, he is quite willing to tell the world about it.... He
> has said more than once that he would not have made it this far so fast if
> he had to run Windows in his call centre. HE puts it down to reliability. He
> has given us a mandate to remove all of the Windows PCs providing we can
> convince the users (with some help and pushing from him).
>
> We were considering RH Desktops, the apps they use are all browser based
> so it really doesn;t matter what they use.... I had started down the road of
> RH because of the support...... but your announcement here changes things
> from a business perspective for the client. It means that we can offer
> Ubuntu as a choice because we won;t be slinging him with something that
> requires an individual to maintain. If I amnd my team get hit by a bus....he
> can come to you guys for help if he ever needs it!
>
> They also run a few RHEL and Windows Servers.....we were going to go for a
> big press release when the desktops and servers were finished being
> upgraded..... this could be a great opp all round.
>
> The only thing that I have trouble with it all, is support for visually
> impaired users. A couple of his gun sales people have varying degrees of
> impairment, and they get "sweaty" when we start talking about moving them
> away from windows. This I understand....the re-learning for such an
> individual would be a massive task.... so, there is a first prob to be
> solved and it is maybe the first thing that the Ubuntu team could help with.
>
>
> The other thing to note is that they have started using Asterisk to run 30
> of their 90 phone lines....and are absolutely chuffed with what it can do.
> All future offices will use Asterisk!
> If it wasn;t for the fact that he had spent $50,000 on a PABX the entire
> 90 lines would be running on Asterisk....
>
> What can we do? Do you think the group can get involved? If so, how? Would
> you like to meet these guys with us? We could organise for their office in
> Sydney or Melbourne...both CBD based.
>
> For the moment, would like to keep this off list, the client needs to keep
> a low profile the next couple of weeks while he is on market doing his
> competitor buyout....
> Regards
>
> Brent Wallis
> Mobile: 0408 576 779
>
>
>
> On 3/22/06, Jeff Waugh <jdub at perkypants.org> wrote:
> >
> > Good morning freedom lovers!
> >
> > Today we are very pleased to announce the formation of the Australian
> > Ubuntu
> > Local Community Team. We're working on distributing, advertising and
> > demoing
> > Ubuntu within Australia, focusing on schools, business and home users.
> >
> > A number of communications tools have been established for discussion
> > about
> > local issues and projects:
> >
> > Mail list: ubuntu-au at lists.ubuntu.com
> > Subscribe: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
> >   IRC chat: #ubuntu-au on irc.freenode.net
> >
> > Please check our team's wiki page for more info:
> >
> >   https://wiki.ubuntu.com/AustralianTeam
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >   (I figured this may be of interest to linux-aus folks and my LUG
> > comrades
> >   here in Sydney - please pass it on to other LUGs as you see fit!)
> >
> > - Jeff
> >
> > --
> > GUADEC 2006: Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
> > http://2006.guadec.org/
> >
> >       "Creative thinkers make many false starts, and continually waver
> >    between unmanageable fantasies and systematic attack." - Harry Hepner
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > linux-aus mailing list
> > linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
> > http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/linux-aus
> >
>
>
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