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Linux Software

Stanford Linux Demonstration 35

Posted by sengan from the don't-need-to-code-to-help-linux dept.
Students at Stanford organised a peaceful Linux demonstration at a local career fair handing out flyers. David Weekly did a write-up on how it went. Link courtesy of LT.
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Stanford Linux Demonstration

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  • I dont mind if Linux.Org is a commercial venture.
    But they do it in a very distasteful way!

    After they couldn't get anybody to advertise on their ugly
    site, which isn't surprising at all, they started
    LSA. A bad bad move. I am not going to go into
    details here because, this post would then get
    tooo long. Also note that its not that "Linux
    sites" cant get advertisements. Slashdot has no problems
    finding sponsors and if Freshmeat guys tried it, they
    wouldn't have any problems either. Not Linux.Org
    though! They may get some clueless newbie company,
    some day, but everybody else knows them too well.

    Their site is always slow as hell also. Slow link?
    Or badly configured server? Whatever it is, gives
    a bad impression of Linux to others.

    I have no sympathy for these losers! They always
    keep complaining as to how much its costing them
    to run the Linux.Org operation and how they are
    losing money. They just dont get it through their thick
    skulls that maybe they should give up? Hand over
    the domain to somebody a little more competent?
    Heck they could even try to sell it. They might
    actually make some money THAT way, if they are
    not having any luck any other way. Anybody with
    half a brain could do a much a better job than
    these sleeze balls who are trying their darnest
    to get rich off of Linux.Org domain registration.

    Linux.Org people, if you are reading this, please
    understand that, if you give up control of Linux.Org
    and transfer it to Linus voluntarily, maybe you'll
    earn a little respect for yourself in Linux community.

  • Why not "Oppose Closed Source" ? (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Yeah, I'm all for the "Oppose Microsoft" posters. Although it isn't positive, I think it's necessary. It's easy to forget just how political an action installing Linux (or Windows) is. In doing so, one expresses either defiance or submission, respectively.

    If I were there, I would have made "Oppose {Sun|Apple|3Com}" posters, too. That's all closed source stuff, and closed source is the problem -- MS is just a symptom. Apple and Sun are just as bad as MS, they just aren't making any money doing it because they don't have big enough marketing departments. That's all it is (well, that and Mac OS and Solaris are better products for their repsective markets than the correlative MS products, but that's nearly irrelevant).

  • What impressed me was all the other companies who were supportive (Intel, Apple, Palm, Compaq, etc.). But I wonder if that will stay after the trial ends.

    ---
    mjt
    -----------
  • Why do people hate www.linux.org so much, though?

    The people who run that site have shown themselves to be rather antagonistic toward the linux community in general (and Slashdot in particular). The were behind the LSA, which if you don't remember/aren't aware of it, was basically a thinly veiled money/power grab attempt. Their reaction to the outcry over it was unfortunate, to say the least.

  • and counting :-).

    -- Eric
  • Not!

    Oh come on, I almost shed a tear for the
    sniffiling Microsoft representative who
    cried "Why our benevolant corporation? Why
    are you doing this? What did we ever do to
    you?!"

    If Microsoft had it's way, this site wouldn't
    exist, Linux would not exist, and Windows
    would be in every home, on every desk. (Which
    it's close enough to being)

    Where do you want to go today? Right.

    Nothing wrong with fighting back if it's not
    completely tasteless. Your mileage may vary.

  • I can't help noticing, from the linked account, that David Weekly and Nathan Schmidt (the two Stanford undergrads) defaced Microsoft's banner outside the event and (apparently) did aggressive leafleting right at the Microsoft booth.

    Thereby conveying the impression that Linux advocates are just another rude and ill-behaved wing of the Anybody But Microsoft movement.

    That is not progress. Next time, guys, please think first.

    Rick Moen
    rick@linuxmafia.com

  • Anonymous Coward "AndyM" wrote:

    linuxmafia? whoa, sounds really seedy

    You know, there's an intriguing concept you might want to look up, called "irony". Clearly, you have never encountered it, explaining the apparent obtuseness of your comments.

    As to the "big smile" on your face while reading accounts of vandalism and generally shooting one's self in the foot in the eyes of the general public, it might indicate neural damage or some sort of stupor. You might want to seek out a competent neurologist.

    Concernedly yours,
    Rick Moen
    rick@linuxmafia.com
  • err, but microsoft aren't a monopoly. the very fact that linux is gaining market share proves this.
  • kernel panic instead
  • of course they did - and netscape talked about making windows 'irrelevant'. that's what competition is about.
  • These students should get a life. Linux is the better OS, but that doesn't mean we should market it with "oppose Microsoft". Please - show some self respect.
    --
  • Oh yes, I'm sure they'll burn in hell, those evil, evil people.
    --
  • We didn't deface anything. We were kind and courteous. 95% of the people enjoyed us being there. Several dozen people learned what Linux was and why it was a viable alternative to Microsoft. We brought smiles to people's faces and were told that we were the sole bright spot in an otherwise bleary day. People gave us respect, and we gave people respect. We refuse to be pressured into quiet mainstream submissiveness with comments like yours. Be happy. Embrace the flow. Stand up for Linux.
    David E. Weekly (dew)
  • i think it would have been better to have the flyers read 'support linux', rather than 'oppose microsoft'. one should not be touting linux simply because it's not microsoft, which is the impression people could get from their singling out microsoft like that. if you want to support linux, great, but do it based on its own merits and not who did or did not create it.

    yes, i realize the purpose was to create a little controversy, but i think i more subtle approach would have been more effective.

  • Microsoft jumping on the Linux bandwagon and porting their apps is the same thing as "bringing them to their knees", because they would lose their monopoly OS advantage.

    Moreover you know Microsoft would only port its stuff under extreme duress, ie after its too late. For example, right now would be an ideal time to port Word over and maintain their market share, but no. They will foolish dawdle until Linux gains an "alarming" market share with Word Perfect/StarOffice as the defacto Linux word processor, and it will be too late.

    Bottom line is, there is no way Linux can not disrupt Microsoft, so might as well enjoy it.
  • A lot of armchair critics will probably slam these guys for using the "oppose Microsoft" slogan instead of something more pro-linux , but to me, what's important is they went out there and did something, and, by and large, conducted themselves in an appropriate manner. And it seems that it went over well. Unless linux users "come out of the closet", linux will never gain the mindshare it needs. Fortunately, the coming out is beginning to take place (witness the windows refund day and the mainstream coverage that is beginning to look very favourable)

    Good job.

    -- Elflord

  • Good job indeed.

    This inspires me to up the activities of NDLUG. A friend and I went to activities night here at the beginning of the year wearing "Ask me about linux" signs. Some girls asked us just cuz the penguin was so cute... :)
    But after collecting a few email addresses of people actually interested, we got kicked out. But now we've gotten some university support. Unfortunately, our Office of Info Technologies loves M$. time to put an end to that trend.. and this story gives me some ideas...
  • Okay, I'm really, really sorry about this, since it seems like it touches a nerve someplace ... but what is/was the LSA and what did it do that was wrong?

    D
  • There are lots of complaints here about the students wording, as thought the poster's suggested wording is the natural opposite. Pro-Linux is NOT the natural opposite of Pro-Microsoft.

    If the student's main message is "Microsoft is bad" that is exactly what they should say. If their message is "Linux is wonderful", implying that OpenBSD, ALL Windows software suppliers, and all the others in the industry, should be dismissed, that is what they should say.

    To tell others what to say is to assume you fully understand their position. However, if you don't understand their position after reading their leaflet, I guess that leaflet shows severe weaknesses.

  • What is "the LSA"?

    Guess that makes me a newbie now...ick.

    Back to square one...
  • I agree to Acropos.

    In fact I think to many people want Linux to be the thing to bring MicroSoft to it knees.

    I want Linux to be able to stand for itself. In fact, I hope that MicroSoft jump on the Linux wagon and start to port their products to Linux. If they don't have NT server as a base, their products have to stand for themselves and compete on equal terms to others.

    Sincerely

    DearHeart
  • Why www.linux.org and www.redhat.com? Actually, they seem fine to me (though I can imagine hostility towards Red Hat). Why do people hate www.linux.org so much, though? I guess that's my real question. Is it that it's so commercial? I bought Sam's Teach Yourself Linux in 24 Hours because it was recommnded there (I didn't follow a link, though). I sort of regret it. It should not have been a "recommended" book. So why do people hate it?

  • Nope (Score:1)

    by ash ( 98519 )
    Nope. The difference is, Linux is innovating, Microsoft is actively using illegal monopolistic techniques to destroy competition.

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