[wplug] Will the real WPLUG please take charge
Weber, Larry A
laweber at switch.com
Tue Feb 17 10:18:29 EST 2004
I would support an effort that results in a serious information transfer
opportunity for the attendees. Passing out Linux demo disks is also great.
I just don't think we should get involved with a room full of people playing
games and spouting Linux rehtoric.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Moran [SMTP:wmoran at potentialtech.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 9:52 AM
> To: wplug at wplug.org
> Subject: Re: [wplug] Will the real WPLUG please take charge
>
> Weber, Larry A wrote:
> > Sorry, I was basing my opinion on the management reaction I have seen
> for
> > the last 25+ years. They have not been impressed with a lot of hype,
> hope,
> > or happy people. Who doesn't think their product is the greatest. They
> > have always looked at the bottom line, both financially and technically.
> In
> > fact they have always been unimpressed by engineers who are always
> trying to
> > hop to a new technology without serious thought.
>
> If they are basing things on bottom line, financially and technically,
> then
> you're saying they're already using OSS, right?
>
> > Image does matter.
>
> I went a little over the top with that statement. More specifically, the
> Linux image amoung the masses is so bad right now, that the only way we
> could
> hurt it is to leave it be. I've actually had people ask me, "If I switch
> to
> Linux, how will I read my email?" As if MS has been doing email longer
> than
> the varius Unices.
>
> > Let's say you have your future tied up in a
> > multi-million dollar enterprise and your first exposure to a potential
> new
> > investment is a bunch of people playing bingo and generally having a
> good
> > time. Oh, and yes they are passing out CD coasters. If you only want
> to
> > impress the younger, i.e. students, fine this might be o.k. but it is
> going
> > to take a while before they are in position to make the decision on
> which
> > op-sys is on the desktop of hundreds of PCs within a large organization.
>
> So, you're saying that Microsoft's sales have dropped since they started
> making those silly MS Office commercials?
>
> I hear what you're saying, and it _sounds_ logical and rational, but it's
> just not the way things work in the real world. People will forget the
> "image" quickly enough, but the next time I say "Linux" in a professional
> setting, people will remember that they heard the name somewhere ... and
> that'll be more of an edge than saying, "You haven't heard about it
> because only technical people are using it." or any other excuse I could
> make.
>
> > Look at the lasting effects of Apple's great Super Bowl commercial.
> Almost
> > nothing.
>
> Don't know what you're talking about. What commercial? What effects?
> Show
> me actual market numbers to support your claim. Otherwise, don't quote
> things like that.
>
> > Large scale conversion to Linux is an expensive commitment that needs to
> be
> > made with good data.
>
> Yes, but the good data needs a way to _get_in_the_door_ and it's marketing
> that accomplishes that. And politely handing out demo CDs at a large
> event
> is an inexpensive and reasonable way to market. The fact that it's a
> minor
> coup against Microsoft has the added benefit that it might generate some
> mass-media interest.
>
> >
> >
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Bill Moran [SMTP:wmoran at potentialtech.com]
> >>Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 8:36 AM
> >>To: wplug at wplug.org
> >>Subject: Re: [wplug] Will the real WPLUG please take charge
> >>
> >>Weber, Larry A wrote:
> >>
> >>>For the last 6 to 7 years WPLUG has been a valuable resource to Linux
> >>
> >>users,
> >>
> >>>programmers and those just interested in finding out what Linux can do
> >>
> >>for
> >>
> >>>them. The membership has always acted respectfully with almost no
> >>
> >>flaming
> >>
> >>>of even the simplest questions. It is primarily this type of support
> >>
> >>that
> >>
> >>>has been useful in getting management to specify that Linux be used in
> >>>several of our new products.
> >>>
> >>>Are we now entering into a new phase of WPLUG where we join forces with
> >>
> >>a
> >>
> >>>pro-Soviet farce of an organization http://www.cmukgb.org/ to handout
> >>
> >>CD's,
> >>
> >>>and play bingo? How will we look partying while CMU and M$ are
> >>
> >>presenting a
> >>
> >>>serious software talk.
> >>>
> >>>Does anyone feel that this college prank could in any way be a good way
> >>
> >>to
> >>
> >>>advocate Linux? It is all about image! I cannot see this being in
> >>
> >>anyway
> >>
> >>>productive. There are better ways.
> >>
> >>I can't say I agree with your views on marketing.
> >>
> >>"Image" is pretty irrelevent. If you're trying get people interested in
> >>Linux,
> >>the easiest way to do so is to stuff it in their face in any way
> possible.
> >>There really is _no_ bad PR. Factually, it would probably be wise to
> call
> >>the reporter who did the PG artical on Linux and let her know that WPLUG
> >>is
> >>about to stage a controversial rally. Newspapers don't print anything
> but
> >>controversy (of all the things I said to the reporter about Linux: how
> >>stable,
> >>how it's making reliable IT affordable for small business, etc, etc ...
> >>she
> >>printed the controversy between Microsoft and Linux)
> >>
> >>Now, I'm not saying that I think this is a good idea. Personally, I'm
> the
> >>type who would prefer to sit quietly on the side and live my life
> without
> >>really affecting anyone else. However, doing so would leave me poor and
> >>lonley, in reality-land you've got to stir things up. If people want
> >>Linux
> >>to match or exceed Microsoft's desktop share, then LUGs (and other
> forces)
> >>are going to have to match Microsoft's marketing machine. We need
> >>commercials where people can fly because they installed the latest Gnome
> >>desktop. We need TV spots during the superbowl where coworkers dump the
> >>water cooler on an employee who was smart enough to use OpenOffice, and
> >>thus didn't corrupt their data files. We need worldwide, satellite
> >>co-ordinated launch parties (in every major city!) each time a new
> stable
> >>release of Debian is made. We need to pay Dell and Compaq and Gateway a
> >>few $$ for each computer they sell that has an icon on the desktop that
> >>says "Install GNU/Linux Now!".
> >>
> >>Or, we could do what grass roots groups have done time and time again.
> >>Stage a sit-down protest. Hand out fliers. Call our congressmen. Stir
> >>things up and hope for free media coverage.
> >>
> >>Now, I don't know a thing about this cmukgb organization. Their web
> site
> >>is obtuse enough to even confuse me. Do they have a reputation at CMU?
> >>Despite the name, I can see no legitimate connection to communism
> implied.
> >>
> >>Anyway. I've discussed it with my business partners, and we're all in
> >>agreement that this sounds like the kind of thing we'd like to attach
> >>our name to. If this goes forward, we'll be burning Knoppix CDs that
> >>say "courtesy of Potential Technologies" on them.
>
> --
> Bill Moran
> Potential Technologies
> http://www.potentialtech.com
>
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