Stuart Bird wrote:
I'm not convinced that using the LUG as a support mechanism would work
per say, as I feel that there is too much a scope for abuse when
warranties expire, trade disputes arise etc. Plus, you would be putting
a large portion of your business into what is in effect a public arena
which is something I would never consider doing.
I agree completely with this.
That having been said I can see no problem at all with businesses who
are part of a LUG, and who actively promote Linux as an alternative, to
promote their wares within the LUG. After all, it's an obvious route in
to an interested market.
I also agree with this, but as a potential beneficiary of it I assume my
views are clouded and therefore assign more weight to other people's
views than my own.
Turning a LUG from a happy band of interested individuals into a
semi-commercial, revenue generating group would require a great deal of
fore thought, discussion and expert advice in my opinion. Are there any
members of this group who are able to step up to the plate and take on
this kind of responsibility?
A lot of LUGs do have all this structure (proper president/treasurer/etc
structure, elections to posts, AGMs, bank accounts, etc). That may or
may not be something we want to consider. It couldn't even be considered
unless there were volunteers for all the necessary posts (and I wouldn't
be one of them - been there before elsewhere and made a hash of it).
It doesn't mean there aren't middle grounds, though. For example, the
advertiser could agree to pay direct to project/organisation of choice,
and be required to provide proof (eg receipt from transaction) in order
to get the advertising. As far as I know there is nothing to prevent us
(PLUG, I mean) doing that.
If/when I decide to sell machines through More Solutions I will be
looking raise funds for something FOSS related (suggestions welcomed) in
any case. Microsoft benefit when I sell a Windows PC, and I accept that
because I didn't write Windows and using it has a price. Just because
the FOSS community don't enforce a charge when I install Linux doesn't
mean that in principle I don't think the same logic should apply. That
is one reason why I'd be looking to target the Linux user market
(including people who know about Linux but haven't stuck their toe in
the water yet), rather than the "its cheaper than Windows and good
enough" market. I expect the people I sell to to value Linux even if it
has no "price".
--
Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555
Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG
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