Welcome our New ambassador from Ireland

Kostas Koudaras

20 Apr 2011 20 Apr '11

11:27

Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words. Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it. What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language. What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members. Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux. What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user. Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there. How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon. -- http://opensuse.gr http://amb.opensuse.gr http://own.opensuse.gr http://warlordfff.tk me I am not me ------- Time travel is possible, you just need to know the right aliens -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Show replies by date

Andreas Jaeger

20 Apr 20 Apr

12:23

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...

Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland.

Welcome, Jan-Bart!

...

[...] Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

Now I know why your name sounded familiar ;) Andreas -- Andreas Jaeger, Program Manager openSUSE, aj@{novell.com,opensuse.org} Twitter: jaegerandi | Identica: jaegerandi SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, GF: Markus Rex, HRB 16746 (AG Nürnberg) Maxfeldstr. 5, 90409 Nürnberg, Germany GPG fingerprint = 93A3 365E CE47 B889 DF7F FED1 389A 563C C272 A126 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Jan-Bart Spang

19:25

Yes, that's me :-) On 20/04/11 13:23, Andreas Jaeger wrote:

...

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Welcome, Jan-Bart!

...
[...] Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux. Now I know why your name sounded familiar ;)

Andreas

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Thanasis Rous

21:51

It's just a moto "no lizard no party " like "we love openSUSE we do it!" Thanks! 2011/4/20 Jan-Bart Spang :

...

Yes, that's me :-)

On 20/04/11 13:23, Andreas Jaeger wrote:

...
On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland.

Welcome, Jan-Bart!

...
[...] Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

Now I know why your name sounded familiar ;)

Andreas

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

-- Rousinopoulos Athanasios-Ilias -- About Me-- http://zoumpis.wordpress.com http://www.zoumpis.eu http://en.opensuse.org/User:Zoumpis -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Jan-Bart Spang

22 Apr 22 Apr

06:42

Oh, I see.. Misunderstood you there. Sorry :-) Thought you meant If you don't have a lizard blog you can't join the party! On 20/04/11 22:51, Thanasis Rous wrote:

...

It's just a moto "no lizard no party " like "we love openSUSE we do it!"

Thanks!

2011/4/20 Jan-Bart Spang:

...
Yes, that's me :-)

On 20/04/11 13:23, Andreas Jaeger wrote:

...
On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Welcome, Jan-Bart!

...
[...] Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux. Now I know why your name sounded familiar ;)

Andreas -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Thanasis Rous

11:30

It doesn't matter!! 2011/4/22 Jan-Bart Spang :

...

Oh, I see.. Misunderstood you there. Sorry :-)

Thought you meant If you don't have a lizard blog you can't join the party!

On 20/04/11 22:51, Thanasis Rous wrote:

...
It's just a moto "no lizard no party " like "we love openSUSE we do it!"

Thanks!

2011/4/20 Jan-Bart Spang:

...
Yes, that's me :-)

On 20/04/11 13:23, Andreas Jaeger wrote:

...
On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland.

Welcome, Jan-Bart!

...
[...] Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

Now I know why your name sounded familiar ;)

Andreas

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Kim Leyendecker

20 Apr 20 Apr

12:46

A warm welcome from me too! Hope you have a lot of fun here! /kim Am 20.04.2011 13:27, schrieb Kostas Koudaras:

...

Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words.

Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it.

What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language.

What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members.

Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user.

Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there.

How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon.

-- Kim Leyendecker (kimleyendecker@hotmail.de) openSUSE Ambassador / openSUSE Wiki Team DE HAVE A LOT OF FUN! http://www.opensuse.org | http://www.suse.de Have you tried SUSE Studio? Need to create a Live CD, an app you want to package and distribute , or create your own linux distro. Give SUSE Studio a try. www.susestudio.com. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Stuart Tanner

16:30

On Wednesday 20 Apr 2011 12:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...

Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words.

Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it.

What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language.

What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members.

Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user.

Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there.

How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon.

Welcome to the team Jan, I am working on the openSUSE team here in the UK, so maybe we can work together in the future to further awareness of openSUSE. Currently one way I have found to promote openSUSE to newbies is with the guaranteed introductory support they receive with the Retail version, not only does this method raise much needed funds upstream (and when the foundation is ready for openSUSE also, but also because people can be a little nervous about free software but if it comes with a nice box and instruction manuals they trust it more. -- Kind Regards Stuart Tanner Bolton Linux 24 Vincent Street Bolton BL1 4SA Tel: +44(0)1204 410474 Mob: +44(0)7868 028028 www.bolin.org.uk Distributing openSUSE in the UK Registered Linux User: 529825 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Diomidis Anadiotis

16:40

Welcome Jan! -Diomidis Anadiotis- openSUSE Ambassador IRC: diomidis@freenode PGP KEY: 0x998EC388 http://www.twitter.com/kandinskyboy On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 7:30 PM, Stuart Tanner wrote:

...

On Wednesday 20 Apr 2011 12:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words.

Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it.

What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language.

What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members.

Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user.

Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there.

How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon.

Welcome to the team Jan, I am working on the openSUSE team here in the UK, so maybe we can work together in the future to further awareness of openSUSE.

Currently one way I have found to promote openSUSE to newbies is with the guaranteed introductory support they receive with the Retail version, not only does this method raise much needed funds upstream (and when the foundation is ready for openSUSE also, but also because people can be a little nervous about free software but if it comes with a nice box and instruction manuals they trust it more.

-- Kind Regards Stuart Tanner

Bolton Linux 24 Vincent Street Bolton BL1 4SA

Tel: +44(0)1204 410474 Mob: +44(0)7868 028028

www.bolin.org.uk

Distributing openSUSE in the UK

Registered Linux User: 529825 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Thanasis Rous

16:42

Welcome Jan! No lizard no party! 2011/4/20 Diomidis Anadiotis :

...

Welcome Jan!

-Diomidis Anadiotis- openSUSE Ambassador IRC: diomidis@freenode PGP KEY: 0x998EC388 http://www.twitter.com/kandinskyboy

On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 7:30 PM, Stuart Tanner wrote:

...
On Wednesday 20 Apr 2011 12:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words.

Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it.

What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language.

What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members.

Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user.

Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there.

How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon.

Welcome to the team Jan, I am working on the openSUSE team here in the UK, so maybe we can work together in the future to further awareness of openSUSE.

Currently one way I have found to promote openSUSE to newbies is with the guaranteed introductory support they receive with the Retail version, not only does this method raise much needed funds upstream (and when the foundation is ready for openSUSE also, but also because people can be a little nervous about free software but if it comes with a nice box and instruction manuals they trust it more.

-- Kind Regards Stuart Tanner

Bolton Linux 24 Vincent Street Bolton BL1 4SA

Tel: +44(0)1204 410474 Mob: +44(0)7868 028028

www.bolin.org.uk

Distributing openSUSE in the UK

Registered Linux User: 529825 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

Jan-Bart Spang

19:25

Thanasis, what do you mean no lizard no party? Thanks for the welcomes guys! I'm hoping to be able to help to successfully promote openSUSE and Linux in this part of the world! Jan-Bart Spang On 20/04/11 17:42, Thanasis Rous wrote:

...

Welcome Jan!

No lizard no party!

2011/4/20 Diomidis Anadiotis:

...
Welcome Jan!

-Diomidis Anadiotis- openSUSE Ambassador IRC: diomidis@freenode PGP KEY: 0x998EC388 http://www.twitter.com/kandinskyboy

On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 7:30 PM, Stuart Tanner wrote:

...
On Wednesday 20 Apr 2011 12:27:09 Kostas Koudaras wrote:

...
Hi openSUSE Ambassadors Please all give a warm welcome to Jan-Bart Spang , our new ambassador from Ireland. Below you can learn more about him and his relationship with openSUSE as he told us in his own words.

Bit about myself: I'm a 32 year old Medical Scientist. I was born and raised in Hardenberg, The Netherlands but moved to Ireland in 2002 after I met my wife of 5 years online about 11 years ago. We have been living in Mallow for the passed 6 years and I work at the local hospital. Computers has been my hobby for the passed 15 years but Linux only for the last 3. I help people with problems at work and in the wider community where a large number of my previous customers pass my number on. This is all done with Windows, I'm afraid! I have been learning WordPress for myself and am looking into doing a PHP course somewhere. I did a Higher Certificate in Science in Computing but had to drop out close to completion to do the increased work load at the hospital. Haven't gone back to finish it.

What have you done already for openSUSE?: I have been an active member on the forums for about 3 years (dexter1979). First as a newbie asking questions but mostly helping people out with small problems these days. I wrote a couple of how-to's specific to my needs at the time. I blog about openSUSE a little bit on my own website. I have also been involved in the Dutch forums since I am a native of The Netherlands. I find it good to keep up my native language.

What are your plans for promoting openSUSE? I am currently in the process of trying to set-up a local hub for Camara Education which is an Irish social enterprise that recycles used PC's, installs Linux and OSS educational software on it (Currently a Ubuntu re-brand but maybe we can change that) and sends them to schools in several African countries, Jamaica and some disadvantaged schools in Ireland. I will use contacts in this company to get to OSS events in Ireland and promote openSUSE. I will also try to promote openSUSE amongst the company members.

Are you ready to start promoting openSUSE? I got 100 promotional DVD's here that will get me started but I will need to find more ways of getting average users to switch to Linux.

What is the best kept secret of openSUSE? For most PC users, i.e. Windows users, it's the fact that they don't know there is an alternative to Windows. Most people think that a PC runs ONLY on Windows like a car can only run on petrol. We need to get more awareness of alternatives, freedom and choice to the average pc user.

Why do you love to do this? I love Linux. I love the fact that it represents freedom, openness and choice. These qualities are severely lacking in today’s society. With the financial crisis deepening here in Ireland people need to know that there are alternatives out there to expensive software. I want to get that message out there.

How did you start with Linux/openSUSE? What is your level of experience? I started with Linux in 2008. I read about Ubuntu 8.04 in an online forum somewhere and decided to try the live-CD. Didn't really like it and thought the heavy command line usage was very 90's. Then saw someone in the Ubuntu forums saying that openSUSE 10.3 rocked so I decided to try that. This was my first run in with the KDE 3.5 desktop and I loved it. YAST was a revelation! I don't need to use the command line a lot and it really felt like a proper modern operating system. Have been using openSUSE ever since. Have also experimented with Linux mint and I currently have a friend who started using this. Will switch him to openSUSE soon. Welcome to the team Jan, I am working on the openSUSE team here in the UK, so maybe we can work together in the future to further awareness of openSUSE.

Currently one way I have found to promote openSUSE to newbies is with the guaranteed introductory support they receive with the Retail version, not only does this method raise much needed funds upstream (and when the foundation is ready for openSUSE also, but also because people can be a little nervous about free software but if it comes with a nice box and instruction manuals they trust it more.

-- Kind Regards Stuart Tanner

Bolton Linux 24 Vincent Street Bolton BL1 4SA

Tel: +44(0)1204 410474 Mob: +44(0)7868 028028

www.bolin.org.uk

Distributing openSUSE in the UK

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Stuart Tanner

25 Apr 25 Apr

19:51

Quoting Stuart Tanner : Dear Jan Could you tell me a list of free classified add websites for Ireland, or does everybody use Gumtree? I know there is a market for openSUSE as I have posted the retail box out to Dublin before now. Are there many others besides Gumtree Ireland? I am looking to promote openSUSE to the Irish market along side the UK. BTW I have reached Saudi Arabia this week - that is the furthest request for the retail box to date.. A little further than Dublin or Paris :P -- Kind Regards Stuart Tanner Bolton Linux 24 Vincent Street Bolton BL1 4SA Tel: +44(0)1204 410474 Mob: +44(0)7868 028028 www.bolin.org.uk Distributing openSUSE in the UK Registered Linux User: 529825 -- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-ambassadors+help@opensuse.org

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participants (7)

Andreas Jaeger
Diomidis Anadiotis
Jan-Bart Spang
Kim Leyendecker
Kostas Koudaras
Stuart Tanner
Thanasis Rous