Dancing Geek

I think I’m in love – it’s an OS where ease of use is the founding principle!

Ubuntu has just released version 7.10, aka Gutsy Gibbon, and I’m a convert after 1 day.

1. The install fits on one CD
2. The install CD is also a live CD – you can test run the OS from the CD without changing a thing on your PC, just reboot and you’re back to normal
3. When you reboot from the CD, it ejects the disc for you – no rush to beat your boot options
4. Running from the CD has a lovely little install me icon to launch the installer
5. All the drivers I needed (save my wireless) where there straight away – the wireless just needed the file from my CD
6. Auto-install of browser, mail, IM, music, imaging, photos, office, video and games software – no extra downloading needed
7. It’s Linux, so it’s free, open source and community based, but it’s not techy – anyone can work with this – no command line stuff needed! Come on world – download and find out how your computer can be intelligent, polite and considerate from the moment you turn it on!
8. All the graphical sleek you expect from a modern OS

I’ll stop, but if you haven’t clicked the link yet – get Ubuntu now!

Someone smart recently said to me that you aim to find out what you have of value and exchange it for something someone else has that is of value to you. So you get paid for going to work, you pay for your new book/gadget/toy.

A more interesting example is bookcrossing – you give someone a book in return for the joy of sharing it.

So what does it say when you perform as part of the launch of the new local shopping centre and they refuse to even validate the parking?

Moral of the tale: A good exchange is one where the value to each party is equal and this works both ways. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want but also don’t be afraid to add a little something extra to what you bring if it adds value.

I needed to drive for work, but my insurance didn’t include business travel, so I ring my insurance company. I ask how much it would cost to include it just for the day and after waiting in the queue and then on hold for the rep to get the answer I’m told that I could have business travel added to my policy for the current life of the policy for the grand sum of £0.00!

The first question that comes to my mind is why didn’t they just include it in the first place?! Why make me ring up – wasting their employees time (and mine) when they could have just included it for free in the policy? I can think of one reason, which is that if I’d just driven the car they could have left me uncovered in the case of an accident – but that’s hardly customer service, and think of the wow factor when they send me my policy details with the info that I’m automatically covered for business purposes for free!

My question now is, is there anything else they’d give me for free if only I bothered to ask?!

Bad service design, anyone?