On Tuesday 04 May 2004 01:08 pm, George Gambill wrote:
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> I was told that 4 weeks is not enough time to pull an InstallFest together.
> But, if we go on the idea that we get done what we get done for this first
> cycle and get more done for next month, I'm all for it.
I want to jump in here to offer a touch of flexibility to the idea of an
InstallFest and what I think it really is.
The kind of InstallFest that George is referring to is, and did a great job
putting together, was done on the model of the previous two InstallFests.
Biggish events with demos, presentations, prizes and, of course, installs.
For something of that magnitude 4 weeks is not enough. It is very hard to
get many companies to commit to donating stuff in a 4 week time limit, for
example.
InstallFests can involve as little as 4 people getting together to install
software and solve problems. All they do is installs. There are LUGs out
there that limit the monthly InstallFest to 10 people who must sign up in
advance. I'm not sure I like that but the point is that most InstallFests
are smaller than the almost "Free Software Conferences" that we have put on
in the past.
I envision a regular monthly InstallFest to be about installs. The regular
committee, headed by Alexander, running the monthly event should worry about
getting the resources to do installs. Period. Trying to put on a
quasi-conference every month is more than a regular InstallFest should be,
IMO. If they make sure they can help people get Linux installed, they are
doing great! Save the big "Free Software Show" for an annual or semi-annual
event, maybe put on by AZOTO and held in conjunction with that month's PLUG
InstallFest.
Now, if someone wants to demo or present something at the InstallFest, fine,
get them a room and have them come. But keep such things secondary to the
priority of getting software installed. I would like the regular
InstallFests to happen every month without the pressure to make it a big
event. Let's do installs and spread Free Software around, that's the main
goal.
Of course, if Alexander and the group want to do something big every month,
and can pull it off, more power to them says I!
Alan
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