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Maniphest T12043

Kubuntu Laptop Promotion Project
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Description

We have an opportunity to work with a small independent laptop vendor. the vendor proposes to bring a Kubuntu laptop to market, initially in the USA.

The Kubuntu Council are abridged of the matter, and an initial agreement has been drafted to support this vendor with news and information about the kubuntu Laptop posted to the kubuntu.org website.

The vendor has a kubuntu trademark license agreement in place from canonical, and a letter of understanding has been drafted for approval by the Kubuntu Council.
I ( Rick Timmis ) have agreed to take responsibility for oversight of the project, and to authorise the letter of understanding for 2 month or 100 units, promoting the laptop on the kubuntu.org as a limited trial.

Current status: Awaiting quorum approval from the Kubuntu Council.

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ricktimmis created this task.Nov 15 2019, 2:17 PM
ricktimmis triaged this task as Normal priority.
ricktimmis updated the task description. (Show Details)Nov 15 2019, 2:30 PM
paulb added a subscriber: paulb.Nov 15 2019, 8:30 PM
In T12043#208326, @ognarb wrote:

Suscribing KDE Promo ;)

Good call. Thanks Carl. Yes, we would want to promote this via the official KDE channels, as we do with other hardware vendors that pre-install KDE software.

ricktimmis added a comment.Jan 19 2020, 11:49 AM

Oops, I totally forgot about this ticket, and haven't been providing updates.

Here is a Status Report :-

Kubuntu Council agreed to proceed, and a short term contract "For a trial period of 2 months which will begin on the 22nd day of November 2019 and will terminate on the 28th day of February 2020"

Updates to kubuntu.org/news have been posted, and the front page of kubuntu.org has been updated with the Kubuntu Focus website. Currently the units are available for order, and shipments will begin on 3rd February 2020.

There has been lots of press coverage, and interest from YouTubers, and Podcasts like Tux Digital, Destination Linux, and Big Daddy Linux.
Updates to the laptop software have been frequent, and I still have the review unit sent to me. I have been working with the MindShare team, applying their updates and providing feedback.

I have written a review for Linux Magazine, where I genuinely gave the machine 10/10 it is simply superb!! I am anticipating that Linux Mag review to be published in issue 223, which I think will be the March edition which will ship in February.

I will keep you posted