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Re: [Linux-aus] Australian Ubuntu Local Community Team



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@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@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@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

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