Earlier today, ZaReason sent me a group email offering back-to-school specials on Ubuntu-based computers. I receive similar special offers from System 76 from time to time. Going forward, I hope Canonical finds a way to turn up the volume on these third-party Ubuntu system promotions. Here’s why. And here’s how.
Consider the situation in the traditional PC market. Each Sunday when I open the newspaper, I typically see an insert for the latest Dell PCs and notebooks running Windows 7. When I check my inbox, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard are sending me more special offers for Windows 7 systems. And of course, most of the ads mention Intel.
In most of the cases, Intel helps to fund those PC advertisements. I wonder:
- Can Canonical and Ubuntu OEMs secure some co-marketing dollars from Intel?
- Or can Canonical somehow set up a fund that helps Ubuntu OEMs to promote their respective PC brands?
Companies like ZaReason and System76 deserve applause from Ubuntu community members. In ZaReason’s case, the company is offering a “back-to-school special” where, for one week, customers can receive a 5 percent education discount when they use LEARN42 as a discount code. The sale runs until midnight on Sept 1, 2010.
Will more Ubuntu OEMs offer similar promotions? Can Canonical find a way to help organize and promote the promotions? I don’t have the answers at my fingertips. But it seems like there’s something to be learned from the co-marketing efforts of Intel and Microsoft…
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Are you kidding me? Intel is investing resources in Moblin/Meego under the banner of the Linux Foundation. Do you really think Intel is going to drop marketing money on a competing linux offering now that they are investing development resources into Moblin/Meego? C’mon. Intel has made their bet and it isn’t with Canonical..they jumped that train when they rebased for Moblin v2.
And do you really think Canonical has the cash reserves to prop up niche linux retailers who are not sending a portion of their product sales back to Canonical in the form of engineering support contracts? How much of the price you pay for one of their systems goes back to Canonical? System76 and ZaReason are a double edged sword for Canonical’s business model. Sure they are popular vendors..but are they funnelling financial resources back into Canonical? If profitable OEMs aren’t sharing their revenue with Canonical for each Ubuntu system sold, why should Canonical push those OEMs in favor or OEM partners like Dell who do contract for OEM engineering services and are flowing financial resources back into Canonical? It’s not sound business to preferentially support OEMs who are not revenue sharing and doing their part to pay for the operating system development.
-jef