RE: Linux Demo Day

[SIMS, Paul, LCTL <nospam [at] lombard.co.uk>]

Let's face it, why would PCW want to sell Linux cds at £2 a throw when they
can flog MS Orifice 2000 at £200+ a go. The drawback benefit of Linux is
that it's not a commercial proposition to the likes of PCW who are purely
profit-motivated. That means the smaller vendors clean up with specialist
knowledge products, while the likes of PCW are left with Caldera 2.2 and
RH 6 if you're lucky, both at premium prices. The only way you're going to
sneak Linux in at the near-freeware level is on the racks of CDs for a fiver
- you know, 60,000 pieces of clipart (Birdlife of Afghanistan, Vol. 1)
outdated games (Commander Keen) and typing tutors (Mavs BEEaco?n Tches
Trypng etc - humour intended). Software Warehouse actually sell RH SuSE
at reasonable prices, and may be a better proposition since some of those
guys probably know more about a PC than turning it on making sure the
rolling demo comes up. I'm afraid that the b***ocks I've heard spouted in
PCW means that the only stuff I buy from there is cables or game
re-releases.

BTW, I've had experience of getting permission to do stuff in Meadowhall - I
did some documentary photography there a while ago - I had to persuade them
my Bronica wasn't a video camera (seperate license for videos, guv !).
You'll probably need 3rd party insurance for any kit (in case it vapes a
member of the public) and anyhow, concessions aren't actually easy to come
by. I can't see the meadowhall computer shops being too happy either.....

How about contacting one of the local PC/component retailers like *Memax in
Chesterfield - this gives them a chance to show off kit they aren't a
major software vendor, so you're not competing. Consider the benefit of
setting up a system right there in the demo room whacking on Linux out of
the box - Memax get to say Linux compatible (ok, they'd have to rip out
the WinModems) and you get to say look how easy it is, even on new
hardware.

*Substitute your favourite store for Memax.

> sheflug - http://home.freeuk.net/shef.lug
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