Pluggers, this is my press release to the papers, azipa and AZ Technology Council. Please review it for errors in grammar, meaning, and logic. I will put it out Wednesday morning. The way I understand press releases work, you put out lots of information often. So I'm saving this, I'll modify it slightly if needed, and put it out once or twice a month to the news outlets. Community event: Phoenix Linux User's Group (PLUG) Installfest. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CALENDAR POSTING LONG/ARTICLE FORMAT (Phoenix, Arizona) -- May 6, 2004 The Phoenix Linux User's Group (PLUG) and the Arizona Open Technology Organization (AZOTO) are holding their monthly Linux installfest Saturday, May 29'th, all day from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the University of Advancing Technology (UAT), 2625 W Baseline Tempe, just west of I-10. Free and open to the public. Bring your P.C. for free one-on-one help with installing Linux. The Linux installfest also features demos to view Linux for those considering switching to Linux for home or business use, as well as Knoppix CD's to try Linux at home without damaging your PC or files. No RSVP required, however if you are considering attending please e-mail the event co-ordinator Alexander Henry with 'Installfest' in the subject line, stating your specific interest. The PLUG/AZOTO Installfest is held at UAT on the last Saturday of every month. "PLUG and AZOTO, in the past, had only held bi-annual install conferences," says Alexander Henry, PLUG member and event coordinator. "These install conferences were huge, and included not only one-on-one installation help and Linux demos, but presentations and givaways. The members at PLUG and AZOTO now feel the community would be better served with smaller monthly installfests." The larger install conferences will still be held. "We always had a great turnout at these install conferences, even though we only marketed through web forums and e-mail. This indicates to me the public is hungry for the support and the kind of forum that installfests provide." Alexander also cited greater worldwide interest in Linux, support from large companies such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, confusion raised by the recent lawsuits by SCO against IBM, and exponentially increasing Windows virus outbreaks has raised greater interest in Linux. "Also, there was always a fraction of conference attendees who needed 'just one more thing' done with their system. With monthly installfests, they could just return next month. We can better serve everyone." Alexander continued that in the future, given demand, larger computer setup demonstrations as well as regular group tutorials would be held. Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world. Developed under the GNU General Public License, the source code for Linux is freely available to everyone. Apart from the fact that it's freely distributed, Linux's functionality, adaptability, and robustness has made it the main alternative for proprietary Unix and Microsoft operating systems. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and other giants of the computing world have embraced Linux and support its ongoing development. More than a decade after its initial release, Linux is being adopted worldwide as a server platform primarily. Its use as a home and office desktop operating system is also on the rise. The operating system can also be incorporated directly into microchips in a process called "embedding" and is increasingly being used this way in appliances and devices. Countries such as China, India, Germany, Singapore, Brazil, and many more are adopting Linux as their official operating system in both servers and desktops. Some governments are adopting economic policies around a future boom in Linux. The Phoenix Linux User's Group is the local Linux user's group (LUG) for the Phoenix area. Like any other computer user group, they are populated by hobbyists and computer professionals, and provide a form for discussion. Unlike computer user groups, LUGs also provide the same functions as a "reigonal office" for IBM, Macintosh, Microsoft, or Sun, and has the responsibility to train, support, and educate Linux users, coordinate Linux consultants, advocate Linux as a computing solution, and serve as liaison to local news outlets. Because Linux is 100% Free Software and Open Source software, LUGs are 100% volunteer and unpaid. PLUG holds several monthly meetings: one in the southwest Phoenix area, one in Glendale, one in Mesa, and one in Tempe. PLUG membership is free and open to anyone, and also welcomes users and fans of all Free Software and Open Source Software such as GNU and FreeBSD. The Arizona Open Technology Organization (AZOTO) is an Arizona based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of Free Software and Open Standards in the state of Arizona. For more information, see: The Phoenix Linux User's Group website: http://plug.phoenix.az.us The Arizona Open Technology Organization website: http://www.azoto.org Linux Online: http://www.linux.org SHORT FORMAT - CALENDAR FORMAT - AZIPA/AZTECHLIST/TECHOASIS FORMAT 5/29 (Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm) Phoenix Linux User's Group (PLUG) Installfest. Where: University of Advancing Technology: 2625 W. Baseline Tempe, AZ 85283 (Baseline Road, just west of I-10 and Pointe Hilton South Mountain, south side of Baseline). The Phoenix Linux User's Group and the Arizona Open Technology Organization (AZOTO) would like to invite you to our monthly Linux installfest. Bring your PC, Mac, or other for one-on-one help to get your machine running Linux, and to learn how to use Linux. If you're interested in Linux for home, please stop by and see our demos. If you are researching Linux for business use, especially small business, please contact Alexander Henry below, and we will arrange a specific demo. **NOTE** This is a brand new event for us. In the past, we had only offered bi-annual, larger install conferences. We decided on monthly installfests because we feel that there is a need for more in this community. We believe this event may snowball into something larger. RSVP appreciated, indicate interests: Alexander Henry PLUG: http://plug.phoenix.az.us AZOTO: http://www.azoto.org -- --Alexander --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss