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