Marketing

I see in this very well written post that the direction of PLUG is
definitely changing. I see that instead of promoting Linux and pushing out
MS, the direction is slowing moving to promoting the real reason that we
use what we do.

I use Debian and originally used Red Hat because I could not afford to pay
for Unix, Windows NT or other expensive add ons when we first started our
company. It wasn't because I knew the benefits then. It was just cheap
and easy to use (coming from a DOS environment).

I am regretting not being able to attend Monday's meeting, however, a
scheduling conflict arose. I was very interested in seeing what the county
had to base their selection on. In reading the many posts about the
meeting and subsequent responses, the direction is shifting because it has
made us all realize that it's not a shove to get MS out of every world, but
it should be a way to promote what licensing does do to companies.

I always look at things from a financial point of view, as that's my
nature. Most companies and individuals using MS are drones because "They
know not what they do". Meaning they do what they are told. The 5% or 10%
that break away from this "same old, same old" scenario find a way to do
things that works just the same but doesn't cost as much or completely cuts
out the cost.

But I can tell you that corporate thought is that if it's in the budget, we
have to use it or we won't ever get that money allocated again. This is
the mentality that they all have.

So, in agreement, freedom and freedom of choice is the way to promote what
Linux is but it has to be done in such a way that the drones understand why
breaking out is saving money. Hitting them with a bone might work but it
might cause some brain damage too. : )

Kimi Adams

my $1.85 worth of intellectual commentary, brought about by the state of
the financial inadequacy in decision making that Maricopa County can't get
past. After all, some of that money is from each and every one of us,
right????

At 7/10/02, you wrote:
>>After reading everyone else's comments about marketing Linux to the Phoenix
>metro area and looking at the catch phrases, I noticed that none of them
>contained the word "freedom". IMHO, that is a hook that we can use
>successfully.
>
>I like the idea of morphing future Install Fests into something more than
>"bring your computer in and let us install Linux" for you. The last Install
>Fest and the next one being planned are already more than just a vanilla
>install party. The demos and presentations have been and will continue to be
>valuable information venues for newbies interested in Linux.
>
>Perhaps billing future Install Fests as some sort of "freedom festival" would
>be appropriate. The marketing minds can take that seed and grow it into a
>name and/or a catch phrase better than I.
>
>I regret the lack of effort being spent on making people aware of the
>freedoms that GNU and Linux gives. It is time for advocates (including PLUG)
>start emphasizing how restrictive licensing and monopolistic practices do
>real harm - harm to every user, business, and government entity that falls
>prey to the tactics of proprietary software vendors. It is time to make the
>software consumers aware that they still have the freedom to make choices.
>It is time to show them that the right choice (i.e. GNU and Linux) can
>empower them, not constrain them.
>
>The fact that we are now more visible (i.e. NewsForge is following our county
>meeting, at least) means that we are in a position to be able to use our
>abilities, knowledge, and public awareness more effectively. Now is the time
>to act.
>- --
>Jim
>
>Freedom is worth protecting
>
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