[DotGNU]Re: [fairuse] Increasing GNU/Linux Usage via Libraries

[Jay Sulzberger]

On Tue, 9 Jul 2002, Seth Johnson wrote:

>
>
> Cool idea via the Phoenix Linux Users Group list,
> address@hidden
>
> I'm thinking wouldn't it be nice to create snazzy display
> stands/kiosks for "Free as in Freedom" software, and provide
> them for free to libraries?  It would also build alliances
> with the library constituency, and draw explicit connections
> in the public's minds about information freedom.
>
> Seth

Yes.  The issue is money.  The counter-tactic is for Microsoft to offer
"free" kiosks with their advertising displayed and running stuff which only
works with other Microsoft stuff.  Our counter-counter is to ask that
Microsoft give money for hardware, or indeed for software, but not demand
that the kiosks run Microsoft stuff.

The Gates Foundation's "giving" of Microsoft systems to libraries should
not be underwritten by our tax dollars, since it is simply a form of
advertising/ensnarement.  The Gates Foundation never "gives" anything to
libraries.  Rather it pays libraries to act as marketing agents for
Microsoft.  Then Microsoft collects fees far in excess of the
marketing fee.  So even the lie is a fraud, at the next level down.

Of course, we should give kiosks, and we might even want to try using some
Microsoft "gifts" to pay for them.  The details of the tactics here are
important but I will not post on this now.

oo--JS.



>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 16:27:30 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Matt Alexander <address@hidden>
>
> On Tue, 9 Jul 2002 address@hidden wrote:
>
> > I've noticed that the Scottsdale Library has software
> > you can check out just like you do a book. Obviously
> > the selection is limited by copyright restrains and
> > most of it is outdated. You can't check out M$ Office,
> > load it on your computer and then return the CD two
> > weeks later.
> >
> > Would this be a good way to introduce the public to
> > Linux? What if they could just go to the library and
> > check out a copy of OpenOffice and load it on their
> > Windows box? ("Hey, this is cool!") And maybe find
> > the latest Linux distros on the same shelf with a
> > note that PLUG could offer install help.
> >
> > Now it might not be so simple as taking a load of
> > CD's down to your local branch. While the library
> > does take donations they will not guarentee that
> > they will be put on the shelf.
>
> Excellent idea, Dennis, and a nice way to get Free Software
> in the hands of additional users.  Would you like to take
> the initiative to call libraries and make them aware of your
> plan?  I'd be happy to burn zillions of OpenOffice and Linux
> CDs for this project.  We should make sure to include
> information about PLUG with each CD as well.
> ~M
>
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