May 2008 - SFD-discuss - lists.mailman3.com

Re: [SFD-discuss] Quick question....

by Pia Waugh

Hi all, <quote who="alan c"> > Your points are good ones, however, the continuing use of the word > 'Free' rather than Freedom or Libre causes a lot of confusion to > passers by. If you can get anyone to accept any popular live CD and > leaflet you are doing very well. To actually get them to *use* it when > they get home tired, even better! To differentiate between the concept > of free of monetary cost and freedom itself, that is a tough one. If > you can get anyone passing by to accept a CD on the basis that it > bestows 'freedom' you will be doing amazingly well. > > In fact at my regular information FOSS displays at my local computer > fairs I always have headline poster references to 'Freedom from being > Locked in?' And I use 'Freedom Software' as one poster. And I think it > does have an effect. But my customers are regulars - I have been there > a couple of years now. Actually, this made me remember something that worked really well for the last few SFD events I've been involved in locally. We found that the term "socially responsibly software" was a great was to start a conversation with someone and to get them in the right frame of mind to talk about the freedom aspects of FOSS rather than the cost. People were really intrigued about the concept of socially responsible software as many of the people we spoke to are quite disillusioned with technology and found this approach refreshing. Hopefully that is helpful :) Cheers, Pia -- OLPC Australia http://olpc.org.au/ Linux Australia http://linux.org.au/ Open Source Industry Australia http://osia.net.au/ Software Freedom Day http://softwarefreedomday.org/

May 29, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Quick question....

by alan c

Guido Arnold wrote: > Hello, > > 2008/5/29, Arron M Finnon <afinnon(a)googlemail.com>: >> One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint >> comes with Proprietary media codecs. > > I'm on his side. > >> (...) my views is that >> workshops and discussion groups on why using free-codecs is better than >> using proprietary-codecs i think is a great idea. > > I think so too. > >> Sort of advertising >> alternatives, rather than saying YOU CAN'T USE THAT >> > I'd rather say "It's _possible_ to use that, but that's not what free > software is all about." > If we continue to accept proprietary software/codecs, we'll end up > with the same problems we have today. > >> I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users, >> who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say >> "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back >> in to windows" > > In my view, the SFD is the perfect opportunity to teach people exactly > that proprietary formats/codecs already make them dependent on one > vendor's mercy. If they continue to use them, they don't really gain > freedom and don't exert their market power to push vendors to open > standards. Your points are good ones, however, the continuing use of the word 'Free' rather than Freedom or Libre causes a lot of confusion to passers by. If you can get anyone to accept any popular live CD and leaflet you are doing very well. To actually get them to *use* it when they get home tired, even better! To differentiate between the concept of free of monetary cost and freedom itself, that is a tough one. If you can get anyone passing by to accept a CD on the basis that it bestows 'freedom' you will be doing amazingly well. In fact at my regular information FOSS displays at my local computer fairs I always have headline poster references to 'Freedom from being Locked in?' And I use 'Freedom Software' as one poster. And I think it does have an effect. But my customers are regulars - I have been there a couple of years now. A question - what will the volunteer who likes Mint do on SFDay? Will he still be attending if he cannot do what he obviously feels passionate about? Denying the use of Mint might end up loosing you an energetic helper? A bit pyrrhic maybe? -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391

May 29, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Quick question....

by Guido Arnold

Hello, 2008/5/29, Arron M Finnon <afinnon(a)googlemail.com>: > One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint > comes with Proprietary media codecs. I'm on his side. > (...) my views is that > workshops and discussion groups on why using free-codecs is better than > using proprietary-codecs i think is a great idea. I think so too. > Sort of advertising > alternatives, rather than saying YOU CAN'T USE THAT > I'd rather say "It's _possible_ to use that, but that's not what free software is all about." If we continue to accept proprietary software/codecs, we'll end up with the same problems we have today. > I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users, > who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say > "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back > in to windows" In my view, the SFD is the perfect opportunity to teach people exactly that proprietary formats/codecs already make them dependent on one vendor's mercy. If they continue to use them, they don't really gain freedom and don't exert their market power to push vendors to open standards. Greetings, Guido

May 29, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Quick question....

by alan c

Arron M Finnon wrote: > Hi Guys, > > Just a quick enquiry about software we would like to give out at > Software Freedom Day. > > One of our members has offered to burn a number of Linux Mint CD's and > DVD'd to give out at the event, coupled with a howto guide to show how > to install it. > > One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint > comes with Proprietary media codecs. > > My thoughts on it is that it's a day about celebrating software freedom, > and that taking a hard line on stuff that doesn't conform to FSF guide > lines on free software isn't really the event for it, my views is that > workshops and discussion groups on why using free-codecs is better than > using proprietary-codecs i think is a great idea. Sort of advertising > alternatives, rather than saying YOU CAN'T USE THAT > > I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users, > who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say > "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back > in to windows" > > You guys have any ideas or am i just making more out of it than i should If it not a problem for Mint which is making the images available on a grand scale then I am inclined to think that your concerned friend might be worrying a bit too much. You may be lucky to hand out more than a dozen CDs or so, not 10 million. The windows culture, along with the conventional retail culture has bred intense suspicion about any 'Free' handout! I seem to recall that even microsoft, who were paying big money to someone for mp3 rights, were apparently paying money to the wrong people! It is not necessarily clear cut. What is your objective on SFD? Is it to make people aware of software freedom, offer freedom opportunities, information? If you have some Mint, then I cannot see a problem. The problem I would see with Mint is that it is not known by the ordinary Windows user, whereas I suspect the stronger branding of Ubuntu is more likely to be known. That is my experience at my local computer fairs, anyway. Mint might be relevant for someone who comes along wanting information and asking about multimedia specifically. Most windows users have never installed Windows themselves, and probably would not dream of doing it. So if they begin to think of alternatives, then my approach would be to point to a major active forum such as ubuntu forums. Which ever distro is offered, they will first see 1) an alternative to windows (choice, is a major point to get across) 2) it seems basically easy and at a first glance functional 3) that is really *is* different to Windows, so wil need a bit of commitment - including finding out about extra stuff. In addition to Linux Live CDs, an obvious handout is the opendisc and the openeducation disc http://theopendisc.com/ http://www.theopendisc.com/education/ These are programs for Windows, which are good for 1) informing about Open Source Free software 2) being easy for most passers by to accept! It may also be useful to keep in mind that Ubuntu now includes a Windows Installer (WUBI). This means that putting the CD into a running windows machine brings up the option of installing into windows as a windows application! No formatting, no undue cautions about serious backing up first etc etc. Uninstall is also trivial and reliable. Also I know that ubuntu 8.04 has automagical facilities of getting and installing codecs on the hoof. -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391

May 29, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Quick question....

by Pia Waugh

Hi Arron, <quote who="Arron M Finnon"> > One of our members has offered to burn a number of Linux Mint CD's and > DVD'd to give out at the event, coupled with a howto guide to show how > to install it. Mint is lovely, a really pretty distro. > One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint > comes with Proprietary media codecs. It is for this reason that SFI couldn't distribute such a distro for the teams, however what teams decide to distribute is their own choice (so long as it fits in with the spirit of software freedom). I've personally always believed that the path to freedom is a series of steps, and that introducing people in a practical and positive way to FOSS is a great way to turn them into users and advocates. If you start with _NO_ you can't do that then you've immediately started with a negative. For me personally I was using FOSS for a couple of years before the broader socio-economic impacts and the importance of software freedom really hit me, so it'd be unfair to expect newcomers to get all of it in a few minutes :) > I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users, > who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say > "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back > in to windows" Yeah, this is a really important point. We need to help users really commit to software freedom, but if we don't arm them with tools (and knowhow) then we are setting them up to be turned off FOSS and software freedom. If they are able to play MP3's but are given the understanding about open options like OGG, then they can start the process of transcoding while still having access to their existing music collection. > You guys have any ideas or am i just making more out of it than i should It is a good conversation, and thank you for bringing it up! Cheers, Pia -- OLPC Australia http://olpc.org.au/ Linux Australia http://linux.org.au/ Open Source Industry Australia http://osia.net.au/ Software Freedom Day http://softwarefreedomday.org/ "Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains." - Jean Jacques Rosseau

May 29, 2008

Quick question....

by Arron M Finnon

Hi Guys, Just a quick enquiry about software we would like to give out at Software Freedom Day. One of our members has offered to burn a number of Linux Mint CD's and DVD'd to give out at the event, coupled with a howto guide to show how to install it. One of our other members thinks we can't do that because Linux Mint comes with Proprietary media codecs. My thoughts on it is that it's a day about celebrating software freedom, and that taking a hard line on stuff that doesn't conform to FSF guide lines on free software isn't really the event for it, my views is that workshops and discussion groups on why using free-codecs is better than using proprietary-codecs i think is a great idea. Sort of advertising alternatives, rather than saying YOU CAN'T USE THAT I have the nasty thought that we have all of these potential new users, who the minute they go to play their music or videos sit there and say "well free software is good but you can't play stuff i'll just boot back in to windows" You guys have any ideas or am i just making more out of it than i should -- Arron M Finnon President The UAD Linux Society www.thelinuxsociety.org.uk

May 29, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Can you help us out with the SFD website?

by Robert Schumann

Hi all, We will still be revamping the site in the near future; we're just waiting on some technical changes to the server. And yes, we're aware that the website still looks the same and says "SFD 2007" - this will be changed very soon, in time for registrations to start. We'll be announcing more soon! Robert. On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Robert, > > hope this finds you well....is this deal still on or you've handed it over > to someone else? the website still looks the same and you could be running > out of time. > > Kind Regards, > > > > On 4/28/08, Robert Schumann <robert(a)softwarefreedomday.org> wrote: > >> Hi SFD'ers, >> >> We're looking for a volunteer to help overhaul the look-and-feel of the >> Software Freedom Day website <http://softwarefreedomday.org/>. The >> website is looking a little dated (yes, I know, the date still says 2007 >> for reasons beyond our control at the moment) but we're hoping to change >> that in the very near future, to coincide with the launch of registrations >> this year (currently scheduled for sometime in the first half of May). >> >> The person we're looking for will have one or more of the following >> >> - familiarity with Moin wiki, and particularly with designing themes >> for Moin >> - skill with CSS, including making pages that are standards-compliant, >> internationalised, accessible and (if that wasn't enough) cross-browser >> - enough time to complete this task within the next ten days >> >> Note that we are not aiming to re-invent the wheel; our first task will be >> to identify an existing Moin theme that we can adapt to our purposes (but >> still make it look distinctive). We already have someone who can produce >> whatever size or shape logos and related SFD graphics you require - your >> remit will be the CSS (plus a little python/HTML). And your reward will be >> fame within the community of Software Freedom Day! >> >> Feel free to reply on- or off-list (depending on the relevance of your >> reply to the rest of the world). >> >> Thanks, >> Robert. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> SFD-discuss mailing list >> SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org >> http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss >> >> > > > -- > Judy Ann Okite, > +254-721237507,+254-734252336 > P.O. BOX 2228 00100, > NAIROBI,KENYA. > 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. > ' > Martin Luther King, Jr. > > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss > >

May 21, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Can you help us out with the SFD website?

by Jorge Higueros

I can do On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 2:32 AM, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Robert, > > hope this finds you well....is this deal still on or you've handed it over > to someone else? the website still looks the same and you could be running > out of time. > > Kind Regards, > > > > On 4/28/08, Robert Schumann <robert(a)softwarefreedomday.org> wrote: > >> Hi SFD'ers, >> >> We're looking for a volunteer to help overhaul the look-and-feel of the >> Software Freedom Day website <http://softwarefreedomday.org/>. The >> website is looking a little dated (yes, I know, the date still says 2007 >> for reasons beyond our control at the moment) but we're hoping to change >> that in the very near future, to coincide with the launch of registrations >> this year (currently scheduled for sometime in the first half of May). >> >> The person we're looking for will have one or more of the following >> >> - familiarity with Moin wiki, and particularly with designing themes >> for Moin >> - skill with CSS, including making pages that are standards-compliant, >> internationalised, accessible and (if that wasn't enough) cross-browser >> - enough time to complete this task within the next ten days >> >> Note that we are not aiming to re-invent the wheel; our first task will be >> to identify an existing Moin theme that we can adapt to our purposes (but >> still make it look distinctive). We already have someone who can produce >> whatever size or shape logos and related SFD graphics you require - your >> remit will be the CSS (plus a little python/HTML). And your reward will be >> fame within the community of Software Freedom Day! >> >> Feel free to reply on- or off-list (depending on the relevance of your >> reply to the rest of the world). >> >> Thanks, >> Robert. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> SFD-discuss mailing list >> SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org >> http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss >> >> > > > -- > Judy Ann Okite, > +254-721237507,+254-734252336 > P.O. BOX 2228 00100, > NAIROBI,KENYA. > 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. > ' > Martin Luther King, Jr. > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss > > -- Jorge Higueros Executive Director && Transpersonal Therapeut GNU/Linux user #369545 Free Software Organization Guatemala (502) 23364840 Blogs fsoguatemala.wordpress.com jhigueros.wordpress.com Guatemala C.A.

May 21, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] Can you help us out with the SFD website?

by Judy Okite

Hi Robert, hope this finds you well....is this deal still on or you've handed it over to someone else? the website still looks the same and you could be running out of time. Kind Regards, On 4/28/08, Robert Schumann <robert(a)softwarefreedomday.org> wrote: > > Hi SFD'ers, > > We're looking for a volunteer to help overhaul the look-and-feel of the > Software Freedom Day website <http://softwarefreedomday.org/>. The websiteis looking a little dated (yes, I know, the date still says 2007 for reasons > beyond our control at the moment) but we're hoping to change that in the > very near future, to coincide with the launch of registrations this year > (currently scheduled for sometime in the first half of May). > > The person we're looking for will have one or more of the following > > - familiarity with Moin wiki, and particularly with designing themes > for Moin > - skill with CSS, including making pages that are standards-compliant, > internationalised, accessible and (if that wasn't enough) cross-browser > - enough time to complete this task within the next ten days > > Note that we are not aiming to re-invent the wheel; our first task will be > to identify an existing Moin theme that we can adapt to our purposes (but > still make it look distinctive). We already have someone who can produce > whatever size or shape logos and related SFD graphics you require - your > remit will be the CSS (plus a little python/HTML). And your reward will be > fame within the community of Software Freedom Day! > > Feel free to reply on- or off-list (depending on the relevance of your > reply to the rest of the world). > > Thanks, > Robert. > > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss > > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ' Martin Luther King, Jr.

May 19, 2008

Re: [SFD-discuss] when your pc gets sick!!!

by Pia Waugh

Hi Przemysław, <quote who="Przemysław Kulczycki"> > I'm not talking about distributing something like patented video or audio > codecs. I'm talking about distributing warez. > Hiren's bootcd contains pirated versions of Norton Ghost, Partition Magic, > McAfee Antivirus, and many more. > http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd Thanks for the clarification. Cheers, Pia -- OLPC Australia http://olpc.org.au/ Linux Australia http://linux.org.au/ Open Source Industry Australia http://osia.net.au/ Software Freedom Day http://softwarefreedomday.org/ "There is no darkness but ignorance." - William Shakespeare

May 5, 2008