Talk:Linux Brochure Quick Guide
From GLUG-BOM
monletoace Paragraph 1: Linux is not an operating system, it is a kernel.
Paragraph 2: Can "Why open source?" be changed to "free/open source"?
Since it is from a GNU/Linux user group of Mumbai, can we use GNU/Linux and use distro name wherever required?
SK 22:43, 27 December 2006 (IST) SK
Paragraph 1: Correct. But due to the common misinterpretation among many, (who call them Linux instead of GNU/Linux, where-ever appropriate), the question is put up as "What is Linux?" (Sorry, if the reply formatting / indentation is mixed up)
Roshan 22:43, 27 December 2006 (IST)Roshan
The official name is Indian Linux Users Group, Mumbai. ILUG, Mumbai for short. I dont know when the GNU/ part got added - but I dont thing there was any discussion on it. btw, it is not correct to call it a GLUG. At the most it could be a G/LUG. The first para gives an impression that Linux was jointly developed by the GNU group and Linus Torwalds. This is not true. Anyway, if an occasional mention of GNU/Linux keeps certain people happy, I can live with it.Lawgon 07:50, 28 December 2006 (IST)
Cant we change the heading 'Why is linux not so popular?' to something more positive - after all we *are* marketing it. Lawgon 16:38, 28 December 2006 (IST)
Added a reference to OSI to represent all points of view. Lawgon 07:11, 29 December 2006 (IST)
The part on OS licences is definetly wrong. However I cant find a suitable compact line to state that some OSI licences are not really free. Ok Howabout most osi licences offer similiar freedoms as the gpl, but some are much more restricitive.
Too many unneccessary links to M$. --Jtd 14:59, 2 January 2007 (IST)
There are a couple of things i did some checking on that we could deliberate upon:
0)In the paragraph ``Why Free and Open Source Software" the word Freedom and the ethical reasons for why they should be used are very much absent. Not to mention the dangers of using proprietary software besides viruses, security problems, and data loss problems.
It is later mentioned that ``Linux is not just software, it is a movement that was started to empower the people, to empower YOU with full freedom to create, distribute and use software without getting locked out until you paid for an 'upgrade' of your commercial software.". The Linux kernel was NEVER started as a movement, it was started as a student project. The only movement which started this is the Free Software movement, from which the Open Source movement offshooted. It was only later that Linus joined up with the Open Source movement. Linus has also admitted that he would never have bothered to make the Linux kernel mainstream if GNU had finished their kernel.This is very much a historical fact.
i have have to really thank you Rony for this, as now it makes perfect sense why we just cannot refer to the operating system as Linux even for simplicity.
1)The word Freedom is mentioned in the ``Is Linux widely used?" paragraph right at the end, that too with an entire paragraph of tech praises preceding it. If we are mentioning technical excellence, great usability, and fantastic features everywhere - its only fair to mention the values and ethics of Freedom, the spirit of Revolution and the undying struggle against a tyranical order. Such language has caused change and shaped history in the past through printed books, let your wiki page stir the same passion for those online.
2)The link you quote http://www.linux.org/ mentions ``Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world." which seems to contradict(in the newbie readers perspective) what is written on the Wiki. Moreover the only mention about GNU is with a link on the GPL: http://www.linux.org/info/gnu.html
in that page to there are two links ``Foundations Software" and ``free software" both of which point to web ads via some bizweb2000.com site. Why are we putting such pages as links on our Wiki? It gives a very bad impression that we are encouraging adware.
3)The term ``Linux" is trademarked to Linus Torvalds and it should be mentioned. If you are respecting it for Microsoft you can certainly respect it for Linus.
--vihan 18:50, 2 January 2007 (IST)
Multiple themed fliers
Is it possible to have multiple themed fliers based on the brochure? We will have to identify the target audience for each type. Here's a start:
- Eyecandy lovers
- Performance freaks
- Programmers
- Business users
- The Linux_is_only_for_servers kind
Also, while we're into promotion we could try and get fliers, brochures, free CDs, etc into technical festivals in colleges (other than VJTI, IITs this time). We could also distribute the brochures/fliers on the SEEPZ gate (too wild an idea?)
--Siddhesh 02:47, 31 December 2006 (IST)
