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Red Hat Software Businesses

Red Hat Drops Linux Expo 2000 73

Posted by emmett from the no-soup-for-you dept.
EricWright writes "Although this hasn't (apparently) hit major news outlets yet, the Raleigh News & Observer is running a story in the business section today that Red Hat has dropped plans to hold the Linux Expo 2000. Although I haven't seen anything at Red Hat's website, they have confirmed the cancellation, saying 'The Expo won't happen this year. This doesn't mean that the project is abandoned; it just means that it won't happen this year. We are very much interested in keeping it alive.'"
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Red Hat Drops Linux Expo 2000 More

Red Hat Drops Linux Expo 2000

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  • None of the LUGs in the Raleigh area had anything to do with last year's expo. Nor have any of them been involved in the descision to not have Linux Expo 2000.

    That said, TriLUG (I use TriLUG because that's the one I'm a member of and I know what they're working on) is working on having some sort of large Linux related event this year. We're working with the other LUGs in the area, as well as other LUGs in the state. We -are- trying to do something with a lot less corporate shine to it. Hopefully, it'll be more for the people, rather than last year's event which was more for the companies.

    So, don't worry. A large Linux related event is being planned for North Carolina. We'll post more details when we know them.
  • The Colorado Linux Info Quest is a user-group run conference and exhibit that will be held in Denver on April 1st (1 day). Its split between business and technical, but we do have Debian developers, Scott Draeker, John "maddog" Hall, and Rasmus Lerdorf (to name just a few) as speakers and BOF leaders. Its not quite the same as Linux Expo, but it is user-group run.

    For more info, see http://thecliq.org.
  • I noticed that up on the Linux Expo [linuxexpo.org] Web site yesterday. I figured it was old news.
  • See www.linuxexpo.org [linuxexpo.org] for more details on what happened and why. If that still gives you the old "thanks for coming to Expo '99" page, then try going to the IP at http://216.228.105.21 [216.228.105.21].

    --Donnie
  • http://linuxexpo.org/explanation.html [linuxexpo.org] shoulda been a hot link if i were paying enough attention to what i was doing.
  • http://linuxexpo.org/explanation.html is a longish explanation of the linuxexpo situation written by Donnie Barnes who has plenty to say.
    Highly recommended read.
  • ...'cept that with my luck, I'd once again get burned by the higher powers that be. They'd again tease me with a linux expo in DC, only to move it to NY. Or Atlanta. Or Wichita. Anywhere but here, it seems :-/
  • Not hosting a Linux Expo might be in Red Hat's best interests. Last year RH came out looking like the spoiled child with the way they were acting. Escorting Turbo Linux off of the show room floor and sicking their lawyers on Linux Care when Linux Care used their name on a poster wasn't cool. I remember a lot of us were talking about how much RH was acting like jerks that year.

    I'll miss it though. The Linux Expo was always a lot of fun.
  • <a href="http://www.linuxexpo.org">LOOK</a>

    and i'll even post it here :

    Hello and thank you for visiting the Linux Expo homepage. For various reasons, there is no Linux Expo planned for the year 2000. This doesn't
    mean that after 5 years of hosting this event, we're walking away from a conference on Linux for techies. Instead, we're looking to make such an
    exposition even better. There are great happenings in the works so stay tuned for upcoming announcements.

    Best Regards,
    The Linux Expo Team
  • did the extrans to text break??

    here's the link again

    HERE [linuxexpo.org]
  • but if it's the money, why don't they look for other sponsors to join them?
    in germany a group of linux enthusiasts is organizing the LinuxTag [linuxtag.org] which may well be the largest expo in that country, and they have no money recources whatsoever. all their financing is from selling booth and advertisingspace and companies sponsoring them.
    if they can do that, money can hardly be a reason to stop redhat from running the expo.

    this is sad, very sad!
    looks to me like IDG may have won :-(

    greetings, martin.
    --

  • It doesn't have to be sponsored by Red Hat. Linux Expo #'s 1 & 2 were sponsored by the LUG @ NCSU (I'm told). Members from the LUG back then now work for Red Hat, and Red Hat has been sponsoring it since.

    I've heard something about the TriLUG wants to sponser some sort of Expo, but they will have to deal with time constraints if they want it to be this summer.

    Also, in addition to the N&O article, the linuxexpo.org [linuxexpo.org] website confirms the story.
  • Even though Red Hat has ventured into other areas (compilers, embeded devices, credit card authorization, etc.), they are still a very strong Linux company.

    The main reason that they are having to cancel it is because they haven't called for any papers yet, and 2.5 months just isn't enough time to organize an expo (at least like years past). Last year they were taking registrations & papers in November for a May/June expo.
  • The LUG @ NCSU might be interested in holding it. Theoretically we can get meeting space for the Expo as a student organization. I'll definitely bring it up at our meeting next Tuesday.

    Trying to get our members to commit time to an expo would be an entirely different story. Most of us are way too busy as it is.

    Webmaster - http://www.linux.ncsu.edu/
  • It appears that the Linux community is reacting very quickly to this news. TriLUG is thinking VERY SERIOUSLY about holding one, and getting other lugs to help. Back before Red Hat held expo's #3,4,5, the LUG@NCSU (http://www.linux.ncsu.edu/) held them (#'s 1 & 2). Several of the LUG@NCSU people have moved to Red Hat (and some still attend our meetings).

  • Yet somehow, amusingly, people are STILL trying to pull something together. Whereas, if Microsoft pulled out of a major Windows expo, it would sink into the dark tarn with barely a ripple. No one would want to try to create it from scratch just to have a get-together.

    That's the difference, bunky. So Red Hat decided not to sponsor... some people will do it themselves. (I, unfortunately, live near New York City and getting to it to help org is a pain in the neck. Which is why I may subscribe to the list, but don't expect to be deep into it.)

  • Oh AND I forgot a another disaster:
    THE COMING OF THE MOTHER-IN-LAW!
    Yep, my wife's parents are moving down
    here to be near the baby (due in August).
  • I'm not sure, but I know a lot of people were upset about it being so corparate-y last year. I don't know if they are taking this year to do a strategic re-evaluation or what, but they are saying it isn't dead yet!
  • I doubt it, the N&O is one of the major papers down here in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapell Hill area. (Durham is bolded because it just happens to be were Red Hat has it's main corparate offices.) It's more likely that this article was first reported to /. because of where the paper is from (the article says the story first broke at ZDNet.)
  • You rant away, but
    It's Red Hat's right not to host
    what they once sponsored

    The Haikumaster

  • One observes that the post before yours did do that. And at 35 posts (where 200 is normal, 500 we're pissed and 1000 script kiddie attack) I think you're jumping the gun.
  • 2] When RedHat (which soon will be RedHat$) does ANYTHING we all go on happily even on such stupid move.

    So far everyone's been thrashed, RH, MS, Corel...

    So tell me bunky-boy, are those post on /. being one sided or what?!

    No.
  • If they really care about the community, they would be there instead of saying fsck you to Expo 2000. RH's "community support" is beginning to appear more like PR posturing.
  • So much for a distro company "playing and sharing well" with our community. This is something a toddler would do and it is completely unacceptable.

    Have you observed how lately just about every RPM for download have all the dependencies configured for RH? Try getting some of the apps for KDE to run on Caldera or TurboLinux. Most of the time I ether have to fsck with symbolic links or compile from source! I'll do it if I have to, but I'd rather spend the time using that app. And I'm screwed of I can't get the source or one of my library files is not compatable with the app I am installing. RH should take a good hard look at what they are doing to the community before the community turns against RH.
  • Would love to help get an expo going in RTP. I'm really suprised that they won't be holding it this year. Where would you like to start? Can't email you since your email is ot displayed.

  • Red Hat really is turning into Microsoft... "We are delaying Linux Expo 2000 'till 2001." I assume it won't be called Linux Expo 2000 anymore...

  • Redundant Damage Undo? Retrofitted Tactical Phalanx? huh?
  • RDU = Raleigh/Durham - FAA designation for our airport

    RTP = Research Triangle Park - basically an east coast silicon valley
  • OK I guess that makes sense about the way the story was reported I still don't understand the logic behind canceling the event. on a side thought does anyone know when redhat 6.2 is slated for release. thanks
  • Perhaps there are using that small paper to help get press for linux expo 2000, Redhat would be foolish to drop such an event...
  • If slashdot just heard the RedHat dropped the expo, it's likely that other possible sponsors just heard. In a few days we'll probably see a bunch of people competing to sponsor.
  • I posted about this over a week ago. Linux Expo 2000 has indeed been dropped by RedHat and apparently the LUG in Raleigh.

    If you look on RH's events page, you'll find Linux Expo 2000 North America [skyevents.com] (Apparently there's one in Brazil too). It's being held in Montreal, Canada in the beginning of April. I have to wonder if Cowpland will be giving his keynote in French. The odd thing is that this has recieved NO advertising, not even from it's sponsors! If I hadn't been looking damn hard for where to register, I probably wouldn't have found out about it.

    I'm really sad to see this happen to Linux Expo. Especially considering Raleigh's only what, a 2.5hr drive from me (Richmond, VA - check out RiVaLUG [webmages.com])..

    It was a very fun event. I went to the second one skipped the third (they wanted too much money, no student price), and was at every one since. The first one I went to (the second one), was so cool. About 50 geeks in a classroom listening to John "Maddog" Hall talk about *GASP* Linux as a standard. :) I forgot what Alan Cox talked about. Lunch was provided in the cost of the event... there were maybe five vendors with a few boxes or promotional materials on foldup tables.

    The Ottawa Linux Symposium [ottawalinuxsymposium.com] probably is the closest in feel to the early Linux Expo's. Very technically centered. I think I'm probably going to take a few days off of work and hit that one.

  • I was holding out for this one because I wanted to go to a show put on by people that were important to Linux, not IDG that got into it for the money. My friends and I drove to the show in 98 from Iowa, ended up destroying my car, but loved it. I went back in 99 and got it in my budget for this year. I'll feel dirty going to a show put on by the people that domain-squatted linuxexpo.com.
  • Hope this doesn't affect the UK linux expo in June; Check the web page [itevents.co.uk] for more info.

    I was/am looking forward to going there as I'll be nearby that week anyway.
    --

  • Well, the first couple of Linux Expo's were merely a gathering of linux enthusiasts gathering in class rooms on NC State's campus one weekend. With the rise in popularity of Linux, and the growing interest within the computing industry, it became much more or a commercial endeavor.

    Last year's expo was ~6 months in the planning, from what a TriLUG friend of mine told me, so it's not surprising that, with less than 3 months to go and nothing accomplished, Red Hat has dropped plans to hold it.

    As to RH permanently dropping the expo, I kinda doubt it. The soundbytes from RHs spokesperson claim they are interested in continuing the expo in the future, but just dropped the ball this year. They must have been diverting all of their resources to the Cygnus take-over.

    Eric
  • The News-Observer article quoted Carol Campbell as saying "I think in the end they decided they didn't have enough time to pull it together." Why can't they hold it later than normal? Seems like a cheap excuse to me.
  • Good point. Wouldn't it be better to have a joint venture with open participation? To have one company sponsor it helps perpetuation the popular perception of "Red Hat as Linux".

    At least, this opens a void and a window of opportunity.
  • The Raleigh N&O said that the local users group may try and pick up the slack with a less corparate expo. (More like the old ones, for the True Geeks(tm).)

    Damn it! This is the third disaster since I moved down to Raleigh (Floyd, BIG snowstorm, cancelling Linux Expo), it's almost like NC is conspiring against me! :)
  • For various reasons, I need to get myself registered and travel booked and so on for a Linux show this year. I'd been planning to go to Linux Expo, but with that one out of the picture, what should I go to instead? I missed Linux World in NYC, and Atlanta is too far in the future - if I pick that one, the money for the trip is likely to dry up before I get to go. What's a good Linux show to go to instead? preferably a week-long event with some real meat to it.
    --
  • This story has been on ZDNet for at least two days. Here it goes [zdnet.com].
  • It happens. SIGGRAPH was once a minor technical conference of the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Graphics. It now fills the L.A. convention center.

    Besides, the Linux hype is winding down. Look at the Red Hat [stockmaster.com] and VA Linux [stockmaster.com] stock prices. VA Linux hit another new low today; they're down to 96. Red Hat isn't doing well, either.

  • "I think in the end they decided they didn't have enough time to pull it together," Campbell said.

    The first couple got pulled together in a matter of weeks. I know with the increased size of the event it would be somewhat tougher, but not impossible. So I think that the reason is a little weak. I think it more than likely has to do with the money it would take to pull it off. Many more RH type companies in the mix now, along with many more large players like HP and IBM. I'll bet RH is hoping someone else just picks it up and RH can go back to being an exibitor rather than sponsor, it's substantially cheaper for essentially the same exposure.

  • Does it HAVE to be sponsored by Red Hat? Can anybody else come and help out and get this underway? It's s tragedy to see something like this disappear...

    Maybe one of those billionaires starting universities or donating to the UN would help out. :-)

  • >A friend told me last week that ALS is probably going to cancel their 2000 show

    As one of the organizers, I can tell you that the 2000 ALS will take place as announced on the ALS website [linuxshowcase.org].

    Levien

  • Linux Expo.. (Score:3)

    by Thomas Charron ( 1485 ) <twaffle.gmail@com> on Thursday March 16, 2000 @05:23AM (#1197864) Homepage
    It should be noted, some people may get the Linux World Expo and the Linux Expo mixed up.. The Linux World Expo in CA and NY, twice a year, is still on, and they are not the same thing..

  • Re:Linux Expo 2000 Exists!! (Score:3)

    by EricWright ( 16803 ) on Thursday March 16, 2000 @05:27AM (#1197865) Journal
    First, the Raleigh-area Linux Expo has NOT been dropped by the TriLUG. In fact, there is a movement among some of the members to hold an Expo anyway. The goal is apparently to have a gathering more like the original Expos, basically a large LUG meeting with people from all over the area.

    Secondly, the Linux Expos you have mentioned are being sponsored by Sky Events, a group that basically misappropriated the term Linux Expo. From the ZDNet article, which I missed when I submitted this story, these meetings are more like trade shows (their web site is www.linux-expo.com, not to be confused with RHs www.linuxexpo.org ... or is it?) Evidently, these shows are heavily populated by marketroids and PHBs, rather than the ubergeeks that true Expos (like the one in Raleigh) attract.

    Eric

  • Linux Expo Explanation (Score:3)

    by mdonaghy ( 36687 ) on Thursday March 16, 2000 @11:00AM (#1197866) Homepage
    Donnie Barnes, a founding member of the LUG @ NCSU which hosted the first two Expos has posted an explanation on the Linux Expo [linuxexpo.org] website.

    Also, the Linux Expo [linuxexpo.org] has joined forces with Atlanta Linux Showcase [linuxshowcase.org].
  • Given how many M$ press releases we've seen as of late trying (pathetically IMHO) to show how feeble Linux is compared to Win9X/NT/Y2K, I'm wondering if by the end of the weekend we'll see something from Redmond talking about how the conference has been cancelled because of lack of interest, or because there are too few Linux users...

    ... no wait: it'll be "... because interest in Linux reached a peak in 1999, and is dropping out of site, esp. since the release of WinY2K..."

  • Response from TriLUG member (Score:3)

    by The Big Bopper ( 150305 ) on Thursday March 16, 2000 @06:10AM (#1197868) Homepage
    We've been running with this idea the last couple of days. There is a lot of interest in setting up a Linux-oriented geek festival in the RDU area. I'm personally working on securing the location, and we're basically pushing for a large outdoor area with lots of open grassy areas to set up tents, volleyball, bands, etc. It's all very much up in the air right now.

    Most of the discussion is currently taking place on the TriLUG mailing list. Other LUGs in North and South Carolina are being invited as I write this to help organize the event. We have our kickoff meeting next week where other LUGs will be invited to attend.

    If Slashdot wants to continue running stories on the major developments I'd be glad to submit them if they'll get picked up and run.

    Disclaimer - I'm not an officer of TriLUG or anything. Just one of the many tarheels that wants to preserve the tradition of annual geek congregation in the Old North State. Also one of the volunteers helping to organize this event.

  • Let's Fscking do something about it! (Score:4)

    by Phizzy ( 56929 ) on Thursday March 16, 2000 @04:45AM (#1197869)
    From the article : His column tipped off the local Linux users group, TriLUG. Its members started e-mailing each other, making plans to conduct their own Expo.

    I'm in the RDU area, I attended the Linux Expo two and three years ago, but not last year, and thought that it was getting a little too corporate in '98, but was still definitely worth attending. I wish I had gone last year, to see what it was like. I can see it getting to be more like all the other computer expos and less like LinuxExpo should be.

    SO.. Redhat's not going to organise it this year.. Fsck 'em! I think it's in the true linux spirit to route around damage and create our own expo. I'm willing to help in any capacity I can. There are enough Linux/Unix businesses and people in RTP to get something going, and I'm sure quite a bit of the rest of you Slashdot people would attend an expo built to be what WE want it to be, not what the corpses want it to be. Email me if you're in RTP.. or even if you're not. Let's get something together!

    //Phizzy

  • Atlanta Show Still On (Score:5)

    by bsorensen ( 7044 ) on Thursday March 16, 2000 @05:20AM (#1197870) Homepage
    The loss of the Linux Exp is unfortunate - LE and ALS have always had a friendly competition going alongside of a mutual defnese against the IDG mentality of Linux Shows.
    The 4th Annual Linux Showcase and Conference is once again going to be held in Atlanta and we hope that those of you planning to attend the Linux Expo can make it to Atlanta instead. We're working closely with USENIX to make sure that the technical conferences are of high quality and we're also working to keep the sense of community we have strived for in the past.

    4th Annual Linux Showcase and Conference: www.linuxshowcase.org [linuxshowcase.org]

    Call for Papers: www.linuxshowcase.org/cfp [linuxshowcase.org]

    Blake Sorensen
    4th Annual Linux Showcase and Conference
    October 10-14, 2000
    Atlanta, GA /p?

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