Re: Can there be an Official Hardware Partner for GNOME
Thanks for the replies so far. [No replies from the board directly, but this might be due to bad timing on my side] Peter brought some very good points, why a title like Official Hardware Partner for GNOME in general isn't a good idea. It made me think about that subject a little more and even some other title to acknowledge an outstanding sponsorship might prove controversial. I can't see a way to define that properly and moreover I see another problem: What is more outstanding? A company donating hardware or a company employing some more GNOME developers? So a special Thank You to Peter from my side, because you made me think about it more carefully! Regards, Josh ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
Re: Can there be an Official Hardware Partner for GNOME
On Wed, 2006-12-20 at 14:10 +0100, Josh Kress wrote: Thanks for the replies so far. [No replies from the board directly, but this might be due to bad timing on my side] Peter brought some very good points, why a title like Official Hardware Partner for GNOME in general isn't a good idea. It made me think about that subject a little more and even some other title to acknowledge an outstanding sponsorship might prove controversial. I can't see a way to define that properly and moreover I see another problem: What is more outstanding? A company donating hardware or a company employing some more GNOME developers? So a special Thank You to Peter from my side, because you made me think about it more carefully! As the hardware that would be donated would be for exhibitions, the best is probably to advertise the hardware as donated by the Transtec on the stand itself, and make sure the company is mentioned on the Friends of GNOME page along with other donations of the same level of monetary value. Cheers ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
Re: Can there be an Official Hardware Partner for GNOME
Hi, Josh Kress wrote: Thanks for the replies so far. [No replies from the board directly, but this might be due to bad timing on my side] Let me be the first. I didn't feel the need to reply, because Peter's reply so well summed up my thoughts. The first time I read the suggestion I felt vaguely ill at ease with it, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought that having an official hardware supplier when we have 4 hardware suppliers on the advisory board already (all of whom have donated or loaned hardware to GNOME over the past two years) doesn't seem appropriate. It made me think about that subject a little more and even some other title to acknowledge an outstanding sponsorship might prove controversial. I can't see a way to define that properly and moreover I see another problem: What is more outstanding? A company donating hardware or a company employing some more GNOME developers? The foundation receives a good number of donations every year - and we try to acknowledge them all above a certain level. There's no problem, I would think, with the company sponsoring an upgrade to the GNOME event box, supplying small-form computers and having their name associated with the box (of course, their hardware will be on show during trade shows as well). I would love for you to explore this opportunity further - I'm not sure if there is alignment between the GNOME Foundation and this company such that we can invite them onto the advisory board (and nothing says they'd accept if we did). But I would also love to see the company get more visibility through a donation of hardware which would benefit GNOME user groups around Europe, the US or elsewhere. Cheers, Dave. -- Dave Neary [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
Re: Can there be an Official Hardware Partner for GNOME
Hi On Wed, 2006-20-12 at 14:44 +0100, Dave Neary wrote: Josh Kress wrote: Thanks for the replies so far. [No replies from the board directly, but this might be due to bad timing on my side] Let me be the first. I didn't feel the need to reply, because Peter's reply so well summed up my thoughts. The first time I read the suggestion I felt vaguely ill at ease with it, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought that having an official hardware supplier when we have 4 hardware suppliers on the advisory board already (all of whom have donated or loaned hardware to GNOME over the past two years) doesn't seem appropriate. After reading Peter's reply I felt the same way. Consider this idea being dropped. It made me think about that subject a little more and even some other title to acknowledge an outstanding sponsorship might prove controversial. I can't see a way to define that properly and moreover I see another problem: What is more outstanding? A company donating hardware or a company employing some more GNOME developers? The foundation receives a good number of donations every year - and we try to acknowledge them all above a certain level. There's no problem, I would think, with the company sponsoring an upgrade to the GNOME event box, supplying small-form computers and having their name associated with the box (of course, their hardware will be on show during trade shows as well). That seems to be the most appropriate option. The new Box will have a lot of space for company logos for every company willing to give some extra funds for the Event Box. I would love for you to explore this opportunity further - I'm not sure if there is alignment between the GNOME Foundation and this company such that we can invite them onto the advisory board (and nothing says they'd accept if we did). But I would also love to see the company get more visibility through a donation of hardware which would benefit GNOME user groups around Europe, the US or elsewhere. When it comes to the hardware for the box, the deal is sealed and the first set of hardware is on it's way to my place for some additional testing. Advisory Board: This is step #2 on my agenda. It was important to me to discuss such a topic, because I'd like to try some more sponsorship opportunities later the year here in Germany, steered from the background by the e.V. If they prove successful on this limited scale we can go international with it. Regards, Josh ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
Re: Can there be an Official Hardware Partner for GNOME
Hi Josh, I think it makes sense to separate out an organization/community like GNOME from an event like GUADEC. I think being the official foo of GUADEC is different from being the official foo of GNOME. Being the official foo elevates foo over anything else in foo's category. There can only be one. This is distinct from more general sponsorship - you can have any number of silver/gold/platinum sponsors. You can have only one official in any given category (and how many categories are there for software? I mean, sure, there is the official soft drink of GNOME/GUADEC, but really...). For my own part, I am much more comfortable with the former than the latter, for several reasons. First, it has a natural time-out. When GUADEC X is over (or after some number of months after it is over), the relationship can naturally be over. Someone else can gain that coveted slot later. The amount someone has to give to gain that coveted slot (assuming it goes up in value over time) may go up. The second reason I prefer this is that it puts GNOME as a whole at an arms-length distance from foo. Regards, Peter Korn Accessibility Architect, Sun Microsystems, Inc. Hi everybody! Maybe you noticed my blog post on planet.gnome.org Transtec (http://www.transtec.de/) is very eager to sponsor hardware for the GNOME event box. I'm currently negotiating the terms. They'd like to go even further by establishing a partnership with GNOME. That's why I'd like to know whether GNOME can have an Official Hardware Partner, something the company can advertise with. What's in for us? Well, I'd like to get the following things: * Significant discount on their hardware for GNOME, e.g. for the Event Box * A discount on their hardware for GNOME foundation members * Providing hardware for events, e.g. GUADEC, on loan-basis I think we can benefit from a deal like that while still maintaining our independence. Are there any concerns from the side of the foundation board? Anyway, I try to bring them to the advisory board as well and the hardware for the event box is already a deal. I now try to get Novell, Red Hat, Sun etc. to provide some funds as well (The plan is to plaster up the box with the logos of the sponsors). I'll keep you posted! Regards, Josh PS: Do we have an official contact with Intel? Maybe they will provide some funds as well ;-) ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list ___ foundation-list mailing list foundation-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
