review: Computer Buyer article

Thu, 8 Aug 2002 14:48:08 -0700

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Looks good to me, but I would make sure that we have the place and date 
confirmed before you get it out.  I know that submission deadlines are well 
in advance of publication dates, but we should, hopefully, have the green 
light for GCC this week.

On Thursday 08 August 2002 13:53, you wrote:
> moin, moin,
>
> below is the Computer Buyer article as it now stands. I need to send it in,
> but please critique it for me. I want a good article to help support what
> we're doing. Feel free to rip it to shreds if have problems with it.
>
> Please also feel free to give me quotes I can use for the article. I will
> probably have to shorten it a lot from where it currently stands, but I'm
> gonna try to get as much covered as they'll allow and as makes sense.
>
> I'll fix references when I get it ready to submit to CB.
>
> ciao,
>
> der.hans
>
> ###
> Welcome to the InstallFest
>
> What is an InstallFest?
>
> An InstallFest is a gathering where volunteers offer expert technical
> assistance in installing Free Software, usually GNU/Linux, to the
> public, all free of charge. The Phoenix Linux Users Group ( PLUG
> [1] ) put on a 6 hour InstallFest at Scottsdale Community College on Sat,
> 22Jun2002.
>
> Before the InstallFest event organizer William Lindley, a computer
> consultant, said, "This is what the Free Software community is all about -
> helping each other."
>
> After the InstallFest Jim Wejroch, steering committee member of PLUG,
> wrote, 'Does the word "success" ring a bell?' in describing the
> InstallFest. With 39 GNU/Linux installs and 150 to 200 people in attendance
> PLUG was very happy with the event.
>
> In addition to the software installs there were several presentations and
> lots of giveaways from the InstallFest's commercial sponsors. Presentation
> topics covered GNU/Linux and Free Software, the Linux Termninal Server
> Project ( LTSP ) and Open Source On the Educational Desktop.
>
> There was even homemade cheesecake from a presenter's grandma.
>
> The Arizona Open Technology Organization ( AZOTO ), a non-profit dedicated
> to supporting Free Software and Open Standards in Arizona, helped sponsor
> the InstallFest as did Tucson-based non-profit Open Source Education
> Foundation ( OSEF ), which helps schools adopt Open Source for their
> technology needs.
>
> Both groups provided presenters, people to help with the install and
> support in organizing the InstallFest. OSEF has since finished the process
> of earning 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Charitable status.
>
> Lycoris, a commercial Linux distribution, flew people in from northern
> California to help with the installs. Red Hat, the most well-known
> commercial Linux distribution, brought people from their Global
> Professional Services organization in from Flagstaff.
>
> There were volunteers helping install various GNU/Linux distributions
> including members from the debian community. Debian is a community-based
> distribution built by volunteers.
>
>
> What is the LTSP?
>
> The Linux Termninal Server Project is an innovative, cost-effective
> solution to traditional desktop problems. It has been garnering much
> interest in Phoenix. The LTSP allows using older, inexpensive hardware as
> lightning quick desktops.
>
> The LTSP desktops reduce maintenance costs by centralizing software
> maintenance and having fewer hardware requirements, such as not needing
> hard drives.
>
> Matt Alexander, system administrator for Tempe-based NewVision, has said
> that after his boss asked for an alternative desktop solution Matt was able
> to save NewVision over $20,000 and provide a more stable environment for
> his 60 co-workers by switching to Free Software.
>
> Matt gave a well-recieved presentation and demo of LTSP. He will
> be giving a presentation again as well as helping people install the LTSP
> at the upcoming InstallFest2.
>
>
> What is Free Software?
>
> The idea behind Free Software is that people using software need certain
> freedoms that are not necessarily guaranteed by copyright law.
>
> Firstly, they need to be able to use the software for whatever purpose
> they choose. Next they need the freedom to study the program and make
> changes. Thirdly, people need the freedom to let others use the software
> and finally people need the freedom to pass on the changes they've made to
> the software.
>
> Software licenses such as the GNU General Public License ( GPL ) extend
> further freedoms to those who use the software, while most commercial
> software licenses actually restrict the freedoms guaranteed by copyright
> law.
>
> While it is true that most people won't be interested in changing the
> source code it is important that those who want to can. Removing the source
> code and the freedom to change it is similar to closing all hardware stores
> and not allowing people to fix things around the house or work on their
> cars. Actually, it's worse.  If one person fixes something in a program
> everyone can benefit from that fix, whereas changing your lightbulb only
> affects the area around that one lightbulb.
>
> The Open Source movement is similar to the Free Software movement, but with
> less emphasis on the four freedoms of Free Software. Both movements
> actually draw from the same community and rely on the same model of
> community involvement.
>
>
> InstallFest2
>
> Due to the success of the July InstallFest and many requests for another
> one PLUG has scheduled InstallFest2 at Glendale Community College on
> Sat, 28Sep2002. The second InstallFest will have some new presentations,
> including OpenOffice, the BSA, Free Software Licenses, and Information
> Rights.
>
> Something PLUG is adding to the second InstallFest is help for installing
> Free Software on Microsoft operating systems. Free Software that runs on
> Microsoft includes things like OpenOffice, an office suite, Mozilla, a
> web browser and email client, the GIMP, a graphics manipulation program,
> apache, the world's most popular web server, MySQL, a database, and popular
> development languages such as PHP, Perl, and Python.
>
> One of the advantages of the Free Software email and web software is that
> they were designed to not have the security holes allowing viruses that
> have plagued the software that comes with the Microsoft operating systems.
>
> There are also rumors that there will be more cheesecake at InstallFest2
> :).
>
> PLUG will be giving away CDs with demo versions of GNU/Linux that run from
> the CDROM without the need to repartition the hard drive.
>
> See the PLUG home page or write InstallFest@PLUG.phoenix.az.us for more
> information about attending the InstallFest and what to bring.
>
> An InstallFest is a prime example of community involvement. Come join the
> Freedom Festival...
>
>
> [1] http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/
> http://www.AZOTO.org/
> http://www.OSEF.org/
> http://www.Lycoris.com/
> http://www.RedHat.com/
> http://www.Debian.org/

- -- 
Jim

Freedom is worth protecting

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