[clug-talk] Could this be the year?

[Dafydd Crosby]

By your logic, then, the year that Red Hat IPO'd was the year of the 
Linux desktop, since the corporate media was happy to report the bundles 
of cash they made :-P

Most media outlets are for-profit, and they generate revenue by fielding 
advertisers. Microsoft will happily spend billions to flood the market 
for ads, garnering appeal by presenting cash. Payola isn't just a radio 
thing, it's a media thing. "If you give me money, I think you're 
awesome." Sad to say, most open-source projects do not make nearly 
enough to pay for 30 second spots on the television. IBM had that ad 
campaign a few years ago, but they weren't selling Linux, they were 
selling IBM. Until there's a monetary interest for the media, the 
mainstream nightly news won't care one iota. At most, you'll be lucky to 
get a mention on a CBC-sponsored blog - and even then, it's only because 
they feel they should in order to be 'balanced'.

This isn't supposed to be a sour post, but a reflection on the realities 
of the market. Until some Linux company starts coughing up cash 
promoting Linux on the level of Microsoft and Apple, the mainstream will 
only be concerned about Microsoft and Apple.

-Dafydd

bogi wrote:
> It will be the year of the Linux desktop, for the general public that is, when 
> the corp. media actually reports stuff about linux, and you hear about it in 
> the news etc... Not while 90% of the people think they only can have windows 
> with their computer, and could not be bothered. A rebellious computer user , 
> 98% of them, think there are 2 options PC=Windows and a MAC ... that's it. 
> Linux is not presented as an option. It also ads to the shameful state of 
> affairs that we basically hold our events in secret, only advertising to 
> close friends and supporters. If we don't come out of the closet with this 
> Linux thing, there will never be a Year of the Linux desktop, ever. Corp 
> media will not do it, neither will computer stores like best buy, dell, 
> hp ... They all keep their Linux related offers unannounced  to the general 
> public. If you smelt a strong stench of frustration , you got it. This rant 
> if you like, is meant to spur you into action and whip your advocacy muscles 
> hard to get them moving.
>
> Ps: You is not personal, nor does it single out CLUG members, it a generic 
> Linux enthusiast enumeration in this case.
>
> Cheers
> Szemir
>
>
> On Friday 12 June 2009 20:54:23 TekBudda wrote:
>   
>> With the penguins winning the cup...it makes we wonder if maybe...this
>> could be the year of the Linux Desktop?
>>
>> Detroit underestimated them & the got schooled...Microsoft tends to
>> underestimate Linux.....and well... who knows? ;-)
>>
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