Welcome to future home of Freedomware Marketing. The Tux Project is going to be shifting gears a bit. This site is set to become a grass-e-roots website where we can all work together to openly collaborate on promoting the use of Freedomware in our local communities. Whether you are a business owner who uses or offers Freedomware solutions, or an individual enthusiast. You will find that this is the place for you to share your promotional ideas and work together collaboratively in order to make them a reality.
A Week of Linux
Promoting Linux is going to prove immensely important to a young market. Let's look at the possibilities.
Here is something to think
Here is something to think about and it's an extremely real constant we will face while dealing with public schools at all levels.
Microsoft has donated a few billion over the years to the NEA and other teacher's administrator's unions. Their loyalty is bought and paid for. Having married the sister of a career teacher, I have sat around many a dinner table and listened to the stories. Between them the MS engineeers, analysts and sysadmin, we face strong opposition. Be advised that this can get dirty as well.
I just want you to know or at least have an idea about the bed of snakes you are crawling into. It's a filthy business. The trick is keeping your hands clean in proximity to the crap you will be working around.
h
I am NOT a crook...or a verbal plagiarist - helios
Workin the schools 0.0.1
www.mindblowingidea.com
Tomorrow I will try to schedule an appointment to talk to my old principle and see what he thinks.
Workin' the Schools
I've worked with some of the schools here in the Austin Independent School District with mixed results...if you want to count one minor success and many dismal rejections mixed. The key is the individual students, not the schools. There seems to be more MS platform/system engineers worried about protecting their jobs then there are administrators concerned for the tax dollars spent on software instead of education.
I am suggesting we start now in organizing "A Week For Linux". This could be an effort targeted for the first week of school here in the US. I realize in Europe there is no "summer vacation" for students so I would need input from our European/Australian counterparts for their ideas. I do however think that the youth are the key to bringing Linux along as a viable alternative. I would like to see this thread grow in the direction of getting this done. Ideas Por Favor.
If you want this to happen.
www.mindblowingidea.com
If you want this to happen I would love to be the local representitive to Pomeroy, Clarkston, Dayton, Asotin, and Lewiston. (all within 45 miles of my house) I could ask the principles if I could come in durring their next assembly and give a presentation to show everyone what Linux is and tell them that if they are interested I would be willing to teach it for one week at their school. Of course I might need to schedule diffrent weeks with diffrent schools but you get the idea. Plus gas would cost me a little.
. If anyone would want to help with the gas I would love to do it. What do you think?
Addressing the MS ecosystem
>> There seems to be more MS platform/system engineers worried about protecting their jobs then there are administrators concerned for the tax dollars spent on software instead of education.
We can help Linux move along by trying to find as many Linux solutions as possible for these groups that live within the Microsoft ecosystem. I think it is important not just that we have online communities but that the local computer shop can help a person out with Linux and will not just try to sell the person Windows when the customer comes in. Not only is the end user aided by us courting and befriending/enlisting Windows service providers, but we would be working to eliminate a major enemy. I can even see converts that return to Windows despite being satisfied with Linux on account of major FUD from the trusted/local tech person (eg, "Linux has major legal issues," "I can't help you AT ALL with Linux," "you may lose data with Linux," etc). Although we have Microsoft's attention, there may still be a lot more FUD to deal with as more of these people start to think that the threat Linux *may* pose to their livelihood is not so imaginary any more.
This would be a large project, selling Linux to this group. One way is to point to a large and thriving potential Linux clientele (not very true today in most parts of the world). In the meantime, we can try to get tools into their hands and get them motivated to build support for Linux. At least a few custom distros would probably have to be built to address and sell Linux to various subgroups here: a distro for making distros; a distro titled "1001 ways to make money with Linux," "Linux for Profit and Fun," or "Serving the Linux Walk-in;" a specialized distro aimed at helping them carry out their business; a distro that they can modify easily to give to their customers (eg, selling their services); etc. Helping these people get comfortable with the inside track on Linux community resources would go a long way to having them establish a Linux business alongside Windows. Another useful category of distros would be those aimed at introducing a particular target audience to Linux. And yes, we can charge and make money while we do this. In fact, we should always strive to make as many costly projects self-sustaining. In studying all of these groups, we could easily become consultants or marketing partners (that get paid). And this would help grow Linux. And the "we" wouldn't necessarily have to be The Tux Project [see bottom of reply]. In fact "we" wouldn't necessarily build the distros or do the various research required [see bottom of reply].
I am a big fan of building custom distros even though I have never done one (not even something as simple as tweaking one bit of a normal distro and rebuilding the ISO). Custom distros is an exciting way to market to many potential Linux converts. A custom distro would draw attention even if the distro was nothing but a blue screen of death with their name on it and a way for them to customize that and reburn it. OK, not quite, but there is some truth here.
Some steps we can take to enlist the tech businesses servicing MSware:
-- Identify the targets around town.
-- Learn basics about a target's business and services provided.
-- Get a feel for how we might approach the particular business. Do they already know some Linux but think it is anti-commercial? Do they take extra servings of the Punch at Microsoft gatherings? Who is this "they" within the target company?
-- Design standard distros to address (ie, sell Linux to) various general subgroups as identified above. Design any and all other companion tools, ads, etc.
-- Instead of doing some of this ourselves, we can also consider partnering with Linux trade groups or franchises or even individual businesses. Ex, the company behind some FLOSS project that is very relevant to one of our targets might provide the easiest and best path to helping out that target. In this way we may even be able to earn finder's fees. This money could be earned by those striking the deal; they may donate some of it to The Tux Project. Or we might even have a procedure in place for officially getting a portion of such a revenue stream.
We may be served in starting a Technical Group within The Tux Project. We would draw volunteers to code, to handle technical details/questions/projects within The Tux Project, to outreach to other FLOSS project devs, to brainstorm on a technical level, etc. This group can start FLOSS projects, contribute to external ones, help organize or unite outside projects or groups, help affect the direction of outside projects, etc. The group's emphasize and reason for being would be those of this mini-community: to market Linux. [FYI, I am interested in participating is such a technical group.]
Also, some attempt at a Legal Group might be useful. At the minimum we need to make sure that any possible problems with trademarks are handled early so we don't end up building a website for someone else's benefit or that will become a huge dead link (eg, losing thetuxproject.com would be bad). If we start FLOSS (source code) projects, maybe The Tux Project would own the copyrights (or not). The Legal Group would also play a strong part in dealing with some key issues and with simple things like deciding how to license anything created (eg, FLOSS as GPL).
Also, we should always consider ways to spin things off and/or partner to avoid conflicts. Some people may not want to work under The Tux Project name but will want to contribute to spreading Linux. Such a person/group may have very different ideas or have conflicts of interest (eg, owns own business that stands to benefit/lose) but wants to keep collaborating with The Tux Project yet not "contribute" everything they do to The Tux Project (R?). If the goal is to grow Linux, we need not be at the center of every successful project we participate in. Adding lubrication to others' efforts (including commercial entities) helps meet our goals I think. Remember that as nice as it is to get volunteers, we would serve our members better whenever we can give something back to them (besides the obvious satisfaction that would come from helping to grow Linux). I think this is a very important point. In fact, some of the advertizing might focus on helping one outside group or another [returning to the idea of being intermidiaries and providing lubrication of one sort or another]. Sharing spoils also helps make friends that support and not enemies. What I described above for the Technical Group, Legal Group, etc, could be overkill for an actual The Tux Project group, but we may try and find or spin off such a group. What I describe here basically should not be seen as something we will do (by ourselves) but as ideas we may want to join others to help realize. In fact any of these Groups and even The Tux Project itself may be seen to duplicate existing work by the community or commercial entities. When we discover this, to the extent we harmonize the goals with them, we may do better by joining instead of competing [I don't think there is a The Tux Project out there though].
You read my mind didn't you? What program did you use to do that
www.mindblowingidea.com
I think I already posted something a lot shorter about this but what I want to do is restate this here. I am trying to start a free computer lab in my community where people can learn Linux because if people grow up with Windows or Mac and there is no local group in which they can confide with about Linux then they will be much more susceptible to the influences of Windows and Mac. So I think there should be a computer lab in every town. Of course I'm trying to cover a 45 mile radius with my computer lab but this radius should overlap. my home page for this project is www.mindblowingidea.com if you are interested. I would like my computer lab to be the central hub of Linux computer labs so that others could share information and experiences with each other using web conferencing and other means.
As far as you saying that Linux threatens job security it does if all you know is Windows but if you learn Linux you will have a larger customer base than before because the people that know how to fix Linux in my community are few and far between so they can only call me. So it is job security.
Small businesses seem to believe that Linux can't do what they need it to do and I hate to say it but some times they are right. If their main headquarters requires them to run MS software some times you just can't avoid it but sometimes WINE works just fine. They have heard of Linux and that it is more secure but they don't care. A lot of these businesses don't use the internet for fear of insecurity.
Linux centers
I have found that if I don't express an idea on some popular forum (popular with those thinking similarly), usually someone else will do the honors and express my sentiments fairly close (sometimes phrased better than I would have done, with even more details, and even correcting errors I might have made). That we aren't that dissimilar is useful, and it does seem like we are copying each other sometimes. Take this http://opensourcelearning.info/blog/?p=338 with particular emphasis to the section titled "The Linux Proliferation Agreement." I read part of this in the past, but didn't finish it. Surely it worked itself into my consciousness. [I just finished reading the main article (excluding comments) today, btw.] Anyway, many have been thinking similar things as expressed here in TTP for a while. The beauty of FLOSS is that we can all share the work to actually reach the end goal.. and those partaking by definition are interested.
A quote from that section of the article just mentioned:
>> What should the Linux Proliferation Agreement entail? In short: to make Linux ubiquitous in the public domain. This means establishing public e-centers, well maintained, with constant personal support and where people can get training and courses in the use of Linux and open source software. It means offering low level training and courses in community centers and on schools, for children, parents and professionals in branches other than IT. It means using all sorts of media to make Linux visible, in the local media and targeted media.
One thing I didn't like about this piece was a feeling I got that the vision expressed was about people living up to responsibilities. A better view is to look at it as a potential way for Linux to be grown to the extent people contribute, in particular, "helpers" can try and profit from the situation. In other words, I prefer that responsibilities be seized (because of some expectation to gain in so doing) than that they be doled out. It's just a matter of perspective but an important one. Should we feel guilty if we don't live up to responsibilities (half-empty glass) or do we have a great opportunity to gain if we do meet the responsibilities (half-full glass).
Here are things I said that agree with much of what I later read over here on The Tux Project. Look for "Jose" as the author at http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2007053001526OSCY . We seem to be riding similar wavelengths. That's why I got excited about this website (even more than about Tux500).
Alright. I did not discuss Linux e-centers in the earlier post. The focus of the first-half of that post was on being aware of a major potential stumbling block. Naturally, in a competitive landscape, people who see an advantage (the future in Linux) don't want to spend time convincing others (stubbornly stuck on Windows) when they can spend time implementing the advantage for profit (or some other gain).
A main point, however, was that Linux adoption is hampered by the fact that the ecosystem is small and that a competing much larger ecosystem dominates. Those of the latter will fight to the extent they see their livelihoods in jeopardy. So we need to work on fixing the environment and we can make money at the same time. We very well may not get widespread Linux adoption in the near future if we and others in similar shoes try and do all the leg work ourselves to hog up all the (")profits("). We ("we" meaning "someone volunteer(s)") need to work with current stakeholders of the local support structure as a precondition to Linux taking off. [I am not so sure I believe this completely, but this is the idea presented.]
Anyway, I may be putting too much focus on these people. The end product is becoming good enough to convince the end user no matter what, if we can reach the end user and get them to give Linux a fair chance.
Which brings me to what I want to say now, having a center as you suggest is better than just a good idea. It is similar to taking a laptop on the road and letting people play with it, but generally more efficient/effective. I have considered getting local "nonprofit" computing centers to give Linux a try but have made no progress on those projects to date (out of lack of effort/focus on my part). I am talking mostly about government outreach programs, eg, public library terminals and a particular computer center I know in a poor part of town (all computers running Windows).
[I may comment later on http://www.mindblowingidea.com/ .]
As an important outreach then we should work to set up such centers. We can share experiences. Anyway, having people taste the goods at their leisure and know they can find help *in person* is very useful. It is to get beyond the computing self-motivators.. ie, to get at the majority. It is to make up for the fact, major ratailers are not giving us much of a break showcasing Linux.
The fixed real center (besides simply someone's house, the local coffee shop, or someone's virtual online house) can serve as a central point for many local Linux endeavors. So this can be a very useful thing for The Tux Project (TTP) to have access to and influence over. Funding it and putting it together (even if through partnerships) is not a small undertaking. I second the motion (expressed by someone else in this thread) of making a TTP Group just for this (if others like the idea enough).
Also, we all have varying motivations. When I use the word "profit," I want to leave room for the fact some many wish to partner with TTP but make money for themselves (have control etc), while others are thinking volunteer efforts, have TTP take in revenues directly, or even have TTP, themselves, or a partner subsidize the public while donations or grants of one sort or other prop up the project. I am trying to allow for the most possibilities, but I chose to use the word "profit" to contrast with the fact that until now the main discussions have been about raising funds through donations (I came very recently directly from Tux500). I think we should be open to having multiple possibilities depending on who steps up to the plate for the particular project in consideration [different "volunteers" will have different backgrounds, areas of expertese, and conditions for volunteering.] In the end, I want this to succeed even if it ultimately means a lot (or just some) of the work of a good project is out-sourced.
Finally, an unrelated question: as an alternative to getting each email, can the emails be subscribed to in digest form (a whole week at once for example) or read almost real-time via updated archives?
Just a thought.
I looked for your other post on the computer lab idea and was not able to locate it. What was the title? I think the idea of a computer lab is pretty cool. You should submit it as a new promotional idea here. Remember The Tux Project is setup in such a way that you do not loose your existing projects uniqueness. Rather you are opening your project up to anyone interested in what you are already doing. I have noticed that you provide a link to mindblowingidea.com and I think that that is great! If the computer lab idea gains momentum we could create a working group for it here with the main link going to whichever site the working group decides on.
What are your thoughts?
Ya I could not find it either
www.mindblowingidea.com
I could not find my previous post either. I was sure I posted it. I'll start a forum about this idea.
Ya I want to open the lab up to everyone. The biggest problem I have right now is getting money for rent and utilities. Once I get get a solid source of income for the lab I will get it started up in this town. I just started a advertising campaign asking for sponsors and donations in this area for my computer lab. The other problem I have is I need non-profit status. If (like the Boy Scouts) all the computer labs could tie themselves to this project and have a basic set of rules to go by (I highly recommend tweaking "the safe guide to scouting" because you can't get in trouble if you follow it) and some low cost insurance in case someone hurts themselves at one of our locations we would be good go go and tax free. What do you think?
Summer Vacation, eh?
Just a quick note: Canadian schools generally follow a similar school vacation period in summer (and March Break), so a co-ordinated international effort may be possible, and generate more buzz. I do know that school boards here like to generally do "what everyone else is doing" so the more the merrier.
I think the key issue with using Linux in schools is application compatibility. Teachers and administrative staff are unaware of what's available for Linux and do not think of Open Source alternatives immediately. They say they want Microsoft products because that's what they're familiar with and they tend to use applications they can take home with them (which makes it a lot easier for them to learn how to teach). A problem we have here is that our Ministry of Education makes mass purchases of software to be used throughout all school boards (basically, every school in Ontario); since it's "free" it gets put everywhere, whether it's good software or not.
The overall goal is to teach technical literacy, not to teach a specific product, so there is no central decision as to what must be used. Keep in mind, though, that the Ministry of Education uses what most businesses seem to have, and send any working documents, memos, etc. in that closed document format.
This is a snippit of what we face here in Ontario. Any other Canadian perspectives?
You may just have provided an open door...
I am not Canadian.... technically that is. I am 1 hour from the "border" so we fly three flags here and am proud of it US, Canadian, and Washington State flag. We may just become Canadian after the next US election though. ;) Ok back on topic...
I think you have provided a solution to the door being slammed. As for why it is slammed ask the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_and_Melinda_Gates_Foundation about their lock in policy with public schools, public offices, and public libraries. If they use any other operating systems there "free computers" are taken from them. This was according to a librarian of a small library that was allowed only one computer. When we offered to build and donate 3 computers she told us she could not accept them unless they had a M$ OS due to the agreement. She personally had no issues with it in fact she was really sad when she was told no!
The door you have have opened is to reach these kids in the summer programs somehow.
What we would need.
We will just take the scenic route. :)
Shout this from the friggin' rooftops
I believe the majority of us stopped being outraged by MS tactics long ago. The Public at Large hasn't seen the tip of the Iceberg. OK, so MS has legal agreements shutting the mouths of the schools. We need to infiltrate PTSA meetings, school business meetings and arrange to speak with parents that are active in the school system in order to make them aware of this. I am off to migrate another company to Linux now, but will have some more on this when I get back.
I am NOT a crook...or a verbal plagiarist - helios
Other demographics that educate...
Home schooling parents are typically very independent. They do not always care about the status quo and so I believe they would be a perfect demographic for this type of project. How do I know? Yup I am one of those! lol :D Most every county and region has a homeschooling association. Not only could we contact them but I am sure they would love to hear us speak about a freedom based OS. I think we should incorporate a section of the website that we create (whichever domain name we use) to have a section for kids and for every type of schooling out there. We could educate the educators of any kind homeschooling parents, private school educators and public school educators why it is so important to get involved with the world wide FLOSS movement. We could also have some simplified howto's on locking down GNU/Linux for the younger ones. Offer live screencasts, screenshots, and demos of web based educational related FLOSS sofware and various education applications irregardless of DE.
ok...let's begin the conspiracy.
And I am sure "someone" will scream bloody murder that we are conspiring to poison the minds of the world youth.
If that is so, then so friggin' be it.
I think a good place to start is involving thousands of people in writing their school administrators/boards and such entities with actual inquiries as to how much they are spending on software. I found to my real shock that the Austin School district is restricted from divulging that information via the contract they signed with Microsoft. Here is where we hit our first snag. Since it falls into legal realms now, how do we force disclosure? It is going to be difficult enough to get the number of people we need to be involved, but getting doors slammed in our faces by legal agreements between the schools and MS is making this even more difficult.
I am looking for suggestions and possibly someone who can get ahold of the fine lady at Groklaw for guidance. I may or may not be in her good graces at this time, and don't particularly want to run afoul of her. Groklaw is going to prove to be an invaluable tool as we move The Tux Project forward.
Any Volunteers to speak with her?
Legal agreement door slamming
Ken,
I'm sure that you are thinking the same thing I am. Such confidentiality agreements may not be valid when taxpayers funds are at issue. The taxpayers have a right to know where their monies are being expended.
IANAL and have no legal background (other than having been sued by a dishonest trustee once), but I can't imagine that such an NDA clause would hold up in court. Furthermore, I seriously don't believe that either Microsoft nor the school systems in question would allow this to generate negative publicity for them.
Man I wish I had time to pursue this...
Lane Beneke (aka NoDough)
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If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.