[wplug] Software Freedom Day

Wed Mar 10 16:04:23 EST 2004

Hi Beth,

I am not as active on this list as I should be, but I did read the 
thread about the Gates's visit. Yes, there were many strong points to 
want to do a hand out with him here, but I believe that it would have 
been very unprofessional to interrupt his meeting with a 
demonstration. WPLUG's name would have been on the line at that 
particular point. This would/could have caused some extremely bad 
press that wasn't be needed.

Now, as far as having a Pittsburgh Software Freedom Day effort and 
setting up someplace in or around a PUBLIC place, this could/would be 
good for WPLUG! To let the general public see and experience some 
other type of operating system is good for the soul. Letting them know 
that there is another world out there that doesn't revolve around 
Microsoft and Bill Gates is a 'must do' activity! The plus side is 
that the other world doesn't cost them an arm and a leg, please excuse 
the way I put this, and a left nut to have fun and be productive 
on/with a computer. That there IS an alternative operating system that 
is just as stable and secure or more so than Microsoft's and not 
trying to lead you around like a bull with a ring in its nose emptying 
your pockets at the same time!

With Linux being in its toddler state, the point does need to be made 
that there are fewer software makers out in the real world that 
support the OS. BUT, in a shorter amount of time the OS is competing 
with one that has been around a much longer period of time. It is now 
just as easy to use and install as the so called 'brand name' that has 
been shoved down their throats for so many years because of the lack 
of an alternative. Even the manufactures of prefabricated machines are 
starting to come around to the point that the price of the machine 
doesn't have to be $100-$150 more because of the operating system. The 
manufactures would not be offering or selling their product with a 
pre-installed version of Linux if the OS was not worth looking at or 
using.

In summary, I personally feel that if there are members that wish to 
participate in a Pittsburgh Software Freedom Day then they should do 
just that with the blessings of WPLUG. It would be a public event to 
credit the knowledge and users producing the software and not one that 
would try and discredit any one person or company.

Now for the flamers! I do NOT want to cause a flaming war within this 
group. If you have intelligent input either pro or con I can and will 
respond in kind. Please, respect the person or persons that are 
willing to give their precious time and materials to produce an event 
of this magnitude. Let the heat begin!

Thanks to you all that took the time to read this while I was up on my 
soapbox ranting and raving... These are just my personal feelings and 
thoughts!

Frank Holden
60% Linux, 40% Microsoft user...

Beth Lynn wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Just speaking for myself personally, I am very interested.
> Sean, are you volenteering to be the head of a Pittsburgh
> Software Freedom Day effort? Wouldn't it be great luck if
> there happened to be a computer show that weekend?
> 
>>From the article, one of the ideas it proposes is to go where
> lots of people will be and set up a both and give out open source
> foo. That's crazy, I proposed that people do something like this
> in honor of Bill Gates's visit to Pittsburgh. Instead of a
> community coming together in support of Open Source we had a flame
> war on our hands. Therefore I'm not expected the general consensus
> of this list to want to go for something like this. How sad.
> (I really hope I'm wrong on this)
> 
> Moving on, I'm willing to help out as an individual with the hopes
> that others will feel the same. Perhaps I'm giving in to some loud
> flamers too quickly and I know it's impossible to make everyone happy.
> It's been heard loud and clear that it would be too unprofessional
> therefore it would be irresposible for WPLUG to risk it's image
> getting involved in such a thing. Sadly, we'd have to hear some serious
> words in support of this type of effort by many active WPLUG-ers before
> we could consider putting  WPLUG's good name on this.
> 
> OK, in my efforts to appease the masses I realize I've fanned the flames
> again. I should duck now.
> 
> Thanks,
> Beth Lynn
> 
> On Tue, 9 Mar 2004, Sean Parsons wrote:
> 
> 
>>WPLUG Members,
>>
>>I recently read about Software Freedom Day <
>>http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=6287 >, to be held on Saturday August
>>28th, and quickly found myself debating about how to get involved. I would
>>love to get together with other open source enthusiasts and set up a booth or
>>table in a comfortable location and expound on the reasons to utilize
>>GNU/Linux. I could burn and label hundreds of discs with Knoppix, OpenCD, and
>>distros like Mandrake. We could even create some simple literature to hand
>>out with the software.
>>
>>If anyone else is interested, please contact me.
>>
>>Regards
>>Sean Parsons
>>http://thelinuxbox.org
>>_______________________________________________
>>wplug mailing list
>>wplug at wplug.org
>>http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
>>
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> wplug at wplug.org
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