Which just because some people think that, that make it true. At the end of the day is just opinions and doesn't representa a reality or guarantee that it will happen.
My opinion is based on the fact that a similar campaign to that of spreadfirefox does not address current issues that we have in promoting OOo.
For example, the most common pleas for help to webmasters include people that:
- Cannot download successfully because it has stopped part way through.
- Not downloaded properly (and many don't know this until they attempt to install as they don't check the integrity of the file before they start to install).
- Have downloaded the file and then don't know what to do (often don't know where it is on their computer).
- Don't know how to initiate the installation as they think downloading does this.
- File association is a big issue. You can visit any website with any browser, but you cannot simply click on your document file to open in the application you wish unless you know about mime types or file associations.
- Colleagues and friends cannot open and view the file they have sent them.
- etc.
The expectation that a copycat of the Firefox campaign is that new users (new to OOo) will be able to download, install and use OOo as easily as Firefox. If you are new to this download/install/run stuff and you have problems, getting a quick response from a helpful and friendly volunteer makes all the difference. How do you envisage being able to respond to being inundated with new users with expectations similar to the experience they have had with Firefox?
Added to that, a new issue for promoting 2.0 is that our existing user base will almost become new users again because of the change in file formats.
By all means discuss special or ongoing promotional activities, but I hesitate to call them something similar to another campaign when the issues that we need to overcome are quite different.
Where a get/spreadopenoffice.org campaign will succeed will be with existing OOo fans that consider the spreadfirefox to be a great initiative. It is/was, but it is not the existing OOo fans that we need to reach (apart from awareness of OpenDocument).
Examples can be seen on kde-look.org and gnome-look.org which both project has been succesful. Kde was first and after a server failed of art.gnome.org, gnome-look.org was born and has succesfully added new art material for the foot.
The difference between these sites that sprung up and the Firefox campaign, is that the Mozilla Foundation planned the campaign and any similar domains redirect to mozilla.org.
If you feel like it, go for it. I dont think is detrimental by any mean.
Detrimental is the wrong word, certainly I did not mean harmful.
I guess I'm thinking that our most valuable resource is our volunteers, and if they are already OOo advocates we don't need to convince me/us/them. I'm thinking of reaching those that have not obtained OOo to use yet - and the issues of large download, commitment to change etc are real.
Regards Jacqueline
My opinions are my own, only.
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