[Linux-aus] Marketing Linux

[Jon 'maddog' Hall]

On Mon, 2007-04-23 at 22:50 +0930, Andrew Pam wrote:
> linuxaus.1.tracyanne at spamgourmet.com wrote:
> > http://vista500.ifastnet.com/
> 
> They may well be able to turn the tux500 concept into a public relations
> negative for Linux.  I'm not sure it is wise to play PR people at their
> own game.
> 
> Regards,
> 	Andrew

Indeed.

I have been silent until now about the issue of the "Tux500", but I
would not recommend supporting the "Tux500" effort for several reasons:

o I think the money might be spent in many other ways that would be as
good or better advertising for free software

o I agree with others on this list who have stated that guerrilla (e.g.
"word of mouth", "viral") marketing is the way to go.

And finally, something that no one else seems to have mentioned:

o what happens if the sponsored car looses, comes in last, crashes and
burns, etc.

>From a completely innocent source who knows nothing about the debate
going on here or the Tux500 issue, I just received the email included
below.

Warmest regards,

maddog
=============================================================================
Subject: the microsoft car

Since you all just love your computers, thought you'd appreciate
this.............
 
For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the
way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.
 
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared
the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,
 
"If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has,
we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
 
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press
release stating: 
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be
driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this
part):
 
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........Twice a day.
 
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have
to buy a new car.
 
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason.
You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the
windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you
could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
 
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would
cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you
would have to reinstall the engine.
 
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was
reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run
on only five percent of the roads
 
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would
all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal
Operation" warning light.

7. The air bag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
 
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you
out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the
door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
 
9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to
learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would
operate in the same manner as the old car.
 
10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.
 
Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate
- their computer