Richard Forth wrote:
The idea was that with every desktop / laptop you sell to an end user,
we get a potential new member, and you dont have to worry about
obligations to support the OS, because "that was never part of the
package you sold" - wink wink.
Like I said it was a bit of a crazy idea, and I am not sure what
effect the LUG membership takeup would have on the meetings (would
we need bigger venues etc...) which again brings its own problems too.
If we (MSL) sold "PLUG-supported" PCs essentially on behalf of PLUG, ie
where profits went to a cause PLUG supported, then that would be fair
enough if that's what PLUG wanted. It would turn things around
completely; it would be a PLUG project which we (MSL) supported by using
our suppliers to build an warrant the hardware, and to take payments
etc. That's something of a different concept but maybe it has some mileage.
For the avoidance of any misunderstanding, I'm happy to do stuff like
this provided MSL's costs are covered I am happy to put my time into
something (I already do put quite a lot of time into PLUG) but we as a
company are not big enough to directly sponsor PLUG by doing something
at a loss. That would mean, for example, that the cost of processing
payments and (where necessary) costs of labour (if I'm paying somebody's
wages to do something) would have to be covered.
Maybe there's scope for a range of "PLUG supported" products and
services provided by a number of us who are in a position to do so, with
the main goal of building the market and raising funds for projects we
choose to support. If it is successful then maybe that would be the
springboard to moving towards a formal structure including treasurer
etc, where we can directly fund projects (eg Linux computers for
underprivileged kids or social projects).
I have to be honest that I like the idea of going that way but have
serious doubts whether we could achieve it. We often struggle to have a
meeting every month! We do currently have a bit of momentum but someone
needs to run with it and keep it going.
All of this is completely separate from whether MSL sell Linux products
ourselves. I think keeping it separate is essential.
--
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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