[ale] Linux Showcase Discussion

[James P. Kinney III]

Bravo!! Puttin' the "Atlanta" back in ALS!!

As I don't know where I'll be beginning July, I can only offer moral
support at the moment.

The panel discussions are always spectacles. However, putting Miguel and
RMS up to battle out the merits, or lack, of .NET might be FUD-fodder
for nay-sayers and ill-wishers. Instead, a panel discussion of how to
proceed to take over the desktops of corporate America would be both
useful and a spectacle. It appears at the moment that the server-space
can accomplish parity with all other servers environments in 3-5 years
just on the existing momentum alone (barring some unforeseen calamity,
of course). What other process but a completely open forum to discuss
the strategies and steps to take to put Linux on 50% of all corporate
desktops could there possibly be?! Plus, it would not involve provoking
as much antagonism as .NET would between Miguel and RMS. As both are on
the Gnome board, it might be prudent to see about getting a prominent
KDE developer as K is a very strong desktop environment and also meets
the open source requirements.

Also, at the Piedmont Arts Festival, there used to be the "locals" strip
that had a lower booth fee. It was not as desirable a space as the other
booths, but the local upstarts could afford to setup. Many of the other
booths traveled an art show circuit. A local business corner, or strip
might be a good place for the one-person consulting shops (like myself:)
to showcase what they do with Linux. Also that local interest makes for
good media stuff on a soft news day. RedHat, Sun and IBM in Linux are
old hat for the news media. But show some local business that use this
stuff and that's interesting!

On Tue, 2002-03-12 at 14:42, Vernard Martin wrote:
> As many of your know, the Atlanta Linux Showcase evolved into the Annual Linux
> showcase with the additional help of USENIX. However, due to many factors, not
> the least of which is an extremely depressed economy in the Technolog Sector, 
> last year's ALS in Oakland left much to be desired.  Due to other
> economic tightening, we are currently changing our plans for the next ALS.
> Basically, the previous show always primes the pump for the next show
> financially. However, since last year's show was free, there was no profits
> and therefore no monies for priming the pump. This makes it necessary to
> change the way we do things.
> 
> What follows is a tentative design for ALS 2002. It is not set in stone. We
> are looking for feedback from the local Atlanta linux community before we make
> any firm decisions and get the ball rolling.  Please take the time to read
> this carefull and respond. I believe that this is very relevant to the local
> community so discussion on list isn't a bad thing either as long as we try to
> keep it on topic and don't let it linger on for weeks on end :)
> 
> Vernard
> Chairman, ALS Showcase Committee
> 
> -----------  A smaller ALS but still an ALS -----------
> 
> We would like to produce a show in Atlanta in October.  We need to find
> out more about costs and size realities and we already know time is short
> and we have no money - so with that in mind...
> 
> Length:
> The show should be 2 days, recommend a Friday and Saturday.
> Talks to be held Friday afternoon 1-5pm with a 1 hour break and Saturday
> afternoon 1-5pm, with same 1 hour break.  A show will be held both Friday
> from 1-7pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm.  See more detail below on these.
> 
> Focus:
> We think this show should focus on both technical and business aspects of
> Linux.  By adding a new job fair / recruiting component, we hope to bring
> additional attendees and "exhibitors".
> 
> Venue:
> We want to find an inexpensive venue for 1 talks room (normally seats 50
> but up to 100 for keynote or panel discussions).  We also want a small
> show floor (3000 sq ft?) for a very small, unimposing show.  We hope to
> find a hungry Holiday Inn or similar place may be interested in working
> with us.  More explanation of hotel services follows in the individual
> sections below.
> 
> Keynote:
> One keynote address - recommended we hold Saturday at 11am.
> 
> Talks:
> We'd like to have one track, one room over the two days.  The proposed
> talk duration is 20 minutes with a 10 minute Q&A allowed.  Talks should be
> grouped in time according to related subjects.  Would like the last talk
> on both Friday and Saturday night to be a panel-style discussion.  Propose
> one panel be Miguel and RMS about .NET refereed by maddog (no one's been
> contacted) and the other a Q&A for Linux developers in the audience. Hope
> to find some kernel, GUI and application developers to sit on the panel.
> We propose the talks (one) room will hold 50 folks but expandable to 100
> for keynote or panel discussions.
> 
> Show:
> Actually, four areas, perhaps in a single room:
> 
> Demo areas where we provide tables and power and not much else for tech
> folks who may want to show their products or just sit and field questions.
> Expect maybe 20 10x10 each with one table, 2 chairs and an outlet.  No
> pipe and drape provided.  Local net connection only.  Cost would cover our
> cost for the space.
> 
> Show area where sponsors could bring (gasp) marketing folks and set up
> more "flashy" displays and giveaways if they'd like.  These would cost
> more money ($3,000?  $5,000?).  They would be recognized as sponsors.  If
> we can find 2 or 3, we'll be happy.  Power and local net connection.  Pipe
> and drape and carpet available since they've paid the bucks...
> 
> Job fair/Recruiting area may be a separate room or not (pending cost) so
> companies, prospective employees, and recruiters can gather.  Recruiters
> and companies who wish to be present should pay nominal fee to cover cost.
> The area would provide no power/network/drape - just a table and 2 chairs.
> 
> BOFs:
> Friday evening and Saturday morning?  Would consider one room.  Would also
> consider a few invited BOFs - perhaps as an extension to a talk/panel.
> 
> No tutorials unless USENIX wants/requires and would handle all costs.
> 
> No hothouses unless we're approached and they handle all costs.
> 
> -----------------
> 
> -- 
> Vernard Martin (vernard at cc.gatech.edu) Darkness has a hunger thats
> insatiable
> http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~vernard/     Lightness has a call thats hard
> to hear
> 
> ---
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-- 
James P. Kinney III   \Changing the mobile computing world/
President and COO      \          one Linux user         /
Local Net Solutions,LLC \           at a time.          /
770-493-8244             \.___________________________./

GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics)
<jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
Fingerprint = 3C9E 6366 54FC A3FE BA4D 0659 6190 ADC3 829C 6CA7 



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