Learn about linux brochure

Sun, 18 Aug 2002 02:23:12 -0700

I agree that the gnu/linux, linux debate probably would have more fruitful
results in another forum. Please take into consideration as well that the
brochure and my personal feelings are completely separate and the intent of
this is to fill a market need. I would like if I could discuss or explain my
gnu/linux vs. linux thoughts at the next person to person meeting we have.

I would love to look at any contributions you could provide. My struggle is
obvious in the content of the brochure, the difficulty for me was trying to
keep a focus that the target audience would be able to incorporate in to
their realms of understanding while still trying to get across the benefits
of open source.

Perhaps adding the FSF to the glossary would be a good change?

The "source" not being for "public consumption" has to do with the fact it
is about 115mb in size and as you stated does not provide a good
means of contribution. I did not mean to imply that it would not be
available but that it would not be available from our website. As I stated,
the source can be made available upon request. I can
provide it via cd, but for reasons of bandwidth I can't put it on our
website.

Also I can offer a pdf or postscript that has not be prepressed,
nor shrunk for web consumption, but again size is an issue. Are there any
tool/format combinations that would fulfill your requirements to contribute
and support the necessary features? I made available PNG files that can be
edited in the GIMP which is a solution, though a less than perfect one
because contributions would have to be 800+dpi. My understanding is that
karbon supports the ai and ps formats but after testing this it seems that
it does not support the /trap/imagesetting/colorspace/effect/sheer point
count/text linking/etc/ features so it really is not useable. If Karbon or
any other vector tool was used with the PNG as a background and
contributions were made on layers above I would be happy work with that.

Sincerely,
David Uhlman
CTO 50km Inc.

email(duhlman@50km.com)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek Neighbors" <derek@gnue.org>
To: <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: Learn about linux brochure

> Very nice looking it is most unfortunate that you use Freedom as primary
> selling points and even as the slogan by which to banner.  Yet you
> refuse to use GNU/Linux in favor of Linux (sic) thus obfuscating the
> true history of where Linux (sic) gets its freedom.  Also, in the
> glossary and other places you take the time to high light 'open source'
> as preferred terminology, why seemingly ignoring 'free software'.
>
> If you truly believe freedom to be a primary and important feature of
> GNU/Linux you should probably venture to produce marketing to reflect
> that.  (yes I have read your pre brochure manifesto and realize you dont
> wish to debate this, so it is not necessary to respond)
>
> The brocure looks great, but it is truly dishearting that the source
> will not be made available (or so it seemed from a prior email) and even
> if it were, that it is in a proprietary format in which most users of
> PLUG would be not be able to contribute changes. :(
>
> -Derek
> On Sat, 2002-08-17 at 17:09, David Uhlman wrote:
> > I have added a PNG image of the complete brochure print sheet to the
list of
> > formats available to display. This should be compatible with anyone.
> >
> > you can see it at http://www.50km.com/duhlman/plug
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > David Uhlman
> > CTO 50km Inc.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David Uhlman" <plug_mail@50km.com>
> > To: <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:39 AM
> > Subject: Learn about linux brochure
> >
> >
> > > 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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doesn't
> > post to the list quickly and you use Netscape to write mail.
> > >
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> > >
> >
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>
>
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