Learn about linux brochure

[Michelle Lowman]

I think it looks great. What did you use for page layout? (I plan to
proofread it, but that task can wait until tomorrow. :))

-Michelle

On Sat, 2002-08-17 at 00:39, David Uhlman wrote:
> At the end of the last plug meeting I had asked if anyone was familiar with
> marketing materials for Linux. Anyway I was not able to find any so I have
> worked some connections and I am presenting the first fruit of that labor.
> It is a linux brochure for people who have never heard of Linux. The target
> audience for this brochure is a lot of people I deal with in organizations,
> especially non-profits, to provide pretty glossy marketing advocacy to them
> and in general increase awareness of open source technologies.
> 
> I have taken a lot of liberties with this brochure and they are listed
> below, I am open to constructive criticism about them but I would prefer to
> avoid a flame war, or a this is better than that fest.
> 
> 1) I use Linux as a brand for the whole deal, including, in this instance,
> kde screenshots, openoffice, and evolution. I specifically refer to Linux
> with the GNU prefix because I do not feel that it is conducive to the
> marketing effort I am trying to make here. I personally have enormous
> respect for the FSF and GNU efforts, as without them we would all be doing
> something else. I would like to avoid a "linux", "gnu/linux" etc. argument
> and I feel that there is appropriate justification for using linux in its
> lone form.
> 
> 2) I highlight redhat and mandrake. These distributions were chosen for
> several key reasons, they are commercially available everywhere, they have
> commercial support, they offer shrink-wrapped boxes, their respective web
> infrastructures offer an acceptable level of aesthetic appeal that I think
> will be conducive to "selling" Linux. I don't mention debian, which I would
> like to, because you can't buy it in stores and in my personal opinion their
> website doesn't make the aesthetic cut.
> 
> 3) There are some extreme simplifications and generalizations, what
> immediately comes to mind is the virus/security talk, the distribution
> blips.
> 
> 4) I basically push people toward buying Linux because for the target
> audience that will be the shortest path to success and happiness with Linux.
> 
> 5) I made reference to PLUG and use the plug logo, I don't know if this is
> kosher with the plug charter nor who to talk to about logo rights and such.
> So I have posted to the list in this form hoping that the appropriate
> information will com forward. I don't want to step on any toes, nor try and
> force a public/private partnership that members may not want.
> 
> 6) Please keep in mind that this is for print as well as web consumption so
> there are limitations on content, word counts, coloration and so forth.
> 
> Areas where I could use help. First there has got to be plenty of
> grammatical, syntactical, spelling, "how it reads" changes, all
> contributions will be appreciated. The glossary is weak both in terms of its
> definitions and it highlighted words. The overall content could use a
> clarifying and focus. The learn more links on the back are grasping at
> straws, it was the best things I could find that look good and are offer
> something to people who barely now how computers work let alone Linux. Your
> opinions on layout, look and so forth are very welcome, I am not sure how to
> work out contributions to this area if anyone is into that sort of thing.
> Let me know if there are ideas for that.
> 
> I need to gain access to high resolution redhat and mandrake logo images,
> does anyone have any experience on that front?
> 
> The 50km link to 50km.com/learnaboutlinux will not be live until a few
> details work their way through our bureaucracy.
> 
> The brochure will be put under the GFDL as soon as it comes back from legal.
> I offer my sincerest assurance that contributions will fall under that
> license.
> 
> The brochure is available from my plug contributions page at
> www.50km.com/duhlman/plug, scroll down. There is a pdf version (the images
> look lousy because they have been downsampled, will fix when copy is
> prepress
> ) and a star office as well as rtf version of the text
> contained within the brochure. The brochure itself is in adobe illustrator
> format and my guess is that the master will not become available for public
> consumption but if there is a feeling that it would be helpful I am sure I
> could lobby for it and get it to happen.
> 
> Sincerely,
> David Uhlman
> CTO 50km Inc.
> 
> 
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