On Tue, May 27, 2008 4:47 pm, Doug LaRue wrote: > Back to the concept of an SDCS sponsored "project", I ran across a side > project > of On-Disk.com called "Public Software Foundation" and their goal is to > provide > managed and documented open source software kits for libraries or other > "lending" institutions. Basically, they manage the software ISO kits, > some > documentation, and system requirements specs along with some online forums > for users. We, the public help with getting our local libraries the kits > and can > provide some user support so it's a more locally supported effort. > > I have 4 of the kits already and will bring them to the next KPLUG( 6/12 ) > meeting if we have it. I have the following kits: Knoppix, Open Office, > Fedora, > and Ubuntu. The kits include a large black plastic DVD-rental style of > case > with a nicely printed case label installed in the wrap-around clear sleeve > on > the case. Inside is the CDROM with On-Disks professional looking labeling. > The CDROM is not a pressed CD but instead the writable type used for > making custom CDROMs. > > Even though there are clips on the inside cover of the case which can be > used for holding further documentation, there is none supplied. System > requirements and installation instructions are on the case label and the > CDROM label along with URLs to online support forums. > > If this has anyone's interest, the place to go for further info would be > the > Public Software Foundation website: > http://www.publicsoftwarefoundation.org > > I will probably poke and prod my local library in the next couple of weeks > to > see if there's any interest there. I'll also ask about who at the city > level I > would > need to talk to if approval is needed and for city wide distribution. > > Since I feel it will likely come up that this is all freely downloadable > software, > the reason this technique is being attempted is because many/most > Microsoft > Windows users do not know it is there let alone know how to burn ISO > images. > I know Windows software developers who have no understanding of how to > burn ISO images so I have doubts the user community, in general, is better > at > this. > > Doug
I like this idea, but doubt if the SDCS is the vehicle to promote it. It's OSS and the current Board is heavily weighted toward the SDPCUG (as in M$). Also, the missing secret sauce IMO is press and TV coverage (FOX 6: "Communist software in area libraries? More at 11"). If people don't know it's there, they won't ask for it. I'm kind of snowed under, but if this got going, I would try to pitch in. -- Lan Barnes SCM Analyst Linux Guy Tcl/Tk Enthusiast Biodiesel Brewer -- KPLUG-List@kernel-panic.org http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
