Hi All, Just a few comments about the proposals for CDs. The idea of a set of open source documentaries and resources is great - maybe it is wise to burn them in such a way that they can be played on a dvd player (with menus, etc) so when we make copies we can give them to people to play in their dvdplayer as well (many people don't use their computer for this task). On the issue of the single master copy of the OpenCD, I don't think this is such a good idea. From my experience on the organising team for SFD Hobart for the last few years the main thing that we have discovered each year is that people are interested in free software much more than they are interested in Linux itself. People were very keen on the OpenCD which we've given away for the last couple of years (luckily we got hold of some professionally done openCDs last year from a surplus that Open Source Tasmania had after a conference they held), both during the SFD displays and the radio show that we do on the local ABC (statewide) radio. To me it is extremely important that we have professional looking OpenCDs to give away during SFD, much more than Ubuntu CDs. There reasons are as follows: People are very interested in FOSS that they can run on their computer - that often means a windows computer. Generally the people who come to our SFD (and I suspect SFDs elsewhere) are not techs, they don't really know what an OS is or what it does, they are not interested in changing OS (yet), but they are interested in Free software. First they are interested that its free as in beer but when you explain the free as in speech they are amazed and impressed (I've found it really is the hook into FOSS for most people!). This is why its really important that the cds look professional - it conveys that this is professional freely licensed software, not the equivalent of that copy of MS-Office they have from their nephew with the serial number written in black pen on the CD. Its very important to distinguish "free" as in pirated and free as in freely licensed and the professional look helps this. For SFD teams to produce professional looking CDs from a single master is expensive and time consuming - many of us are sinking quite a deal of time and cash into SFD already and more expenses makes a high barrier to entry for SFD teams. I know we are getting professional Ubuntu CDs but as I stated earlier - Linux is not the draw-card, if anything its OpenOffice that really catches people's attention as they often have a legit copy of windows (usually came with their computer) but a dodgy copy of MS-Office or the very frustrating MS-Works package (no excel or powerpoint). Having software that works on pretty much everyone's computers without too much hassle is the best way of promoting free s/w - the LiveCDs are great but they don't always work first time, they require people to understand what "booting off a cd" actually means (many don't) and if people either have problems or are too apprehensive about booting off a live cd or don't know how to do it, then another person doesn't experience FOSS. Most people know how to install software, so with an OpenCD they will install and try FOSS - which is the best way of promoting it. I understand that the funding is an issue but please don't cut it on the openCD, if anything ditch the T-shirts or use them to help fund the sending out of CDs by charging for them - I know I'd be happy to pay for a T-shirt! This also does not create a barrier to entry for SFD teams - if they know they can get the give-aways for free then they can run a successful SFD (the give-aways are really important to get people along and make sure that they experience FOSS for themselves). The T-shirts are neither here nor there for the running of a successful SFD - you can use nametags, etc to distinguish organisers if need be. Anyhow that's my $AUD0.02 worth - sorry for the long post :) Cheers, Ben (organiser for Hobart SFD).