BelgianTeam/ComputerFairs/Gent_2009-04-19

Gent_2009-04-19

When? Where? What?

19 April 2009
Gent ICC (Citadel) http://www.iccghent.com/typo/index.php
Dipro Micro Mega Market Computerbeurs

Participants

Dieter Vanderfaeillie
- Definitely the first three hours, perhaps I won't stay till last (I have a lot of work...)
Jean Huberts
Kenneth Westelinck
Joris Deveirman (colleague Kenneth Westelinck)
Mike Morraye
Pieter Vande Wyngaerde

Fees

38 € in fees paid by: Kenneth Westelinck
- Muchos gracias - Dieter

Practical

IRC meeting : 16/04/2009 at 21 h. on #ubuntu-be
Plan of ICC area : how to reach the fair with car and material ? Who can provide me (jean) such a plan ?
I have a fairly large car. So I will pick up Dieter and his material.
Promotion of the booth by contacting/informing other Ubuntu-be members, support points, ... (jean)

Stuff needed

paper, attachments, various

Posters: I have "Ubuntu highway to freedom is now open" posters in the eventbox - Dieter
Flyers ubuntu_strooibriefje4xA6.pdf: Jean, have a stock of 200, is it enough?
Sheet Informatie-Information_Ubuntu.odt (jean, how many ?)
Pen's: I can bring some - Dieter
Tablecloth: I have enough tableloth in the eventbox (I should iron it once ) - Dieter
1 inflatable Tux ?
x figuurtjes Tux ?
Contribution urn: Jean (I can bring some to - Dieter)
Duct tape and other buro material: Jean (I can bring some to - Dieter)
...

electronics

I (kw) will bring a tux droid. The tux droid will be connected to a portable running kubuntu 8.04. The portable will also run Windows XP on top of the free vmware server 2. Running virtual machines is also a frequently asked question.
- Nice! - Dieter
I (kw) will bring a portable with dual boot Windows XP / Ubuntu 9.04, so this will answer one question of the FAQ
Both portables above can play "Big Buck Bunny" and/or "An elephant's dream". Due to their openness I think we can play this movies at the fair without paying any royalties.
cd's (Ubuntu 8.10)(how many ?) + paper bags for them (available original 8.10 cd's ? self burned 8.10 cd's before the fair?: I have about 30 original 8.10 cd's + paper bags if we need to write extra cd's - Dieter
- We need iso's on a stick! (Kubuntu, Ubuntu, Xubuntu etc..)
PC: 1 pc with screen that can be used for presentations: - Dieter
laptops : 1+1 (kw), 1 laptop - Dieter, 1 HP dv6012 (jean, dualboot 8.10 + xp, for presentation/slideshow)
netbook ?
additional flat screens : 1 TV sony 65 cm (jean, for presentation/wlideshow)
eID card reader ? who has one working ? is it worthy to show it?: Never had any questions about it... - Dieter
beamer + screen ?
continuous slideshow Ubuntu_short_presentation-NL.odp (jean)
Audio set?: I can bring one (not high quality) - Dieter
External cd writer - Dieter
Possibility of WiFi connection: YES, the ICC in Ghent is equipped with a free wireless internet connection.
Suggestion : To answer to basic FAQ (how to work with live-cd ? and possibility dual-boot Ubuntu + Win ?), it could be positive to support the answer by demonstrations with a reserve (ad-hoc) computer. It is also a way to keep the attention of interested people and to give more explanations.

What else?

Digital camera
USB stick with open content! (Open source music and movies)
Candy (kw) + bowl (Dieter)
Beverages (non-alcoholic: kw)
Electric wiring (kw)
- Power extension cords + power strips: Jean (I can bring some to - Dieter)

Report

The booth has been organized as described in this wiki (6 volunteers (Dieter, Jean, Joris, Kenneth, Mike and Peter), enough hardware (5 laptops and one additional TV screen) and material.

The Dipro Computer fair was coupled with a photography fair at the same place : the Ubuntu-be was located close to the main entrance to both fairs, a very good location, and was attractive for the public.

The work was organized as follow (the flow of the public was mostly in 1 direction) : TV screen + 1 laptop at the beginning of the booth with one volunteer to address the public attracted by the presentation (wiki : Ubuntu_short_presentation-NL.odp) ; 4 volunteers in front of the booth (for an easier contact with visitors) to address the public, giving explanations and demonstrations (4 laptop's), distributing flyers and cd's ; 1 volunteer at the other side of the booth for other explanation without computer and general control/security of the booth.

Our booth (3 tables) was correctly decorated with table cloth (too short), posters and an inflatable tux, but we could do better. Suggestions : use of bigger table cloth (it should cover not only the upper part of the table but also front side); we need some kind of support (screen) with posters as background of the booth ; working with laptop is not easy when you and the visitor are standing at a table, we should find a simple solution to elevate the laptop('s) with a +/- 30 cm high support.

WiFi was available, and useful (but slow).

We distributed approximatively 100 flyers, 80 information sheets and 80 cd's Ubuntu 8.10 (+ a few other versions), always on request of interested persons and with explanation.

From 10 to 14 h. : many interested visitors, we were permanently busy with questions, explanations and demonstrations (full manning of the booth was necessary !). From 14 to 15.30 h. : less visitors, but permanently 2 or 3 visitors with questions. Till the end (17 h.) people came through with some questions, the last one when the computers were already off.

Some people did not know about the existence of Ubuntu, likely they were more interested by the photography fair than in computer, but we succeed to attract their attention. The (slideshow) general presentation of Ubuntu has been successful for this public.

Many questions about the co-existence Ubuntu - Windows (dualboot) and how to work with a live-cd. When possible, we combined explanation and demonstration. Suggestion : we should prepare short video's (without comment) as demonstration to explain : the step “Partitioning – where to install Ubuntu” during the install process ; the dual-boot Ubuntu – Windows.

Other frequent questions were about existing (MS) software, such as Office and MSN messenger. We explained the existing aternatives. I (Mike) also mentioned Wubi to some people interested in installing dualboot, but didn't want to start partitioning.

Finance : after reimbursement of the booth-fee, 28 euro were transferred to Ubuntu-be account.

Summary : it was a successful event for Ubuntu promotion.