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So, please guys, p-l-e-a-s-e, respect the timing! This is Linux we're talking about, not some hobby project.

" Hello everybody out there using minix - I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things)." you were saying???

According to Linus' book, Linux 0.01 was released on Sept. 17, 1991. (Second to last line, Page 87, Just for Fun). So today isn't the birthday. :(

Actually, from linux10.org, you'll note they consider the birthday to be when Linus first announced the project:

From: torvalds@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Linus Benedict Torvalds)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: What would you like to see most in minix?
Summary: small poll for my new operating system
Message-ID:
Date: 25 Aug 91 20:57:08 GMT
Organization: University of Helsinki

Hello everybody out there using minix -
I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and
professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing
since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on
things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat
(same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons)
among other things).
I've currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work.
This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and
I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions
are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)
Linus (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi)
PS. Yes - it's free of any minix code, and it has a multi-threaded fs.
It is NOT protable (uses 386 task switching etc), and it probably never
will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that's all I have :-(.

I've been a Linux user for 10 of those years... I'm curious how many people were working with it in the first three years before I discovered it.

--brian

The argument here is that Microsoft created a trademark that they do not have a right to defend.

Microsoft is essentially trying to legislate in the courts here. They purposefully chose to name their products after a wide range of generic names for product types they did not invent. They did this to try to enhance the perception their product is the only one. "Word" is "The Word Processor". "Windows" is "The Window Manager". "Office" is the only Office software there is. This is totally within their rights to do something like this. However, they have no right to take what is basically meant, under any sane copyright law, to be public property-- a common, predefined word like "Windows"-- sit on it for ten years, and then come crying to the courts that they have squatters rights when someone walks on the grass.

I'll throw my support behind Microsoft on this issue when and only when the Lindows corp. changes their name to "Licrosoft". Until then, I am supporting Lindows not because I want Lindows to get to use the name, but because I want Microsoft to not be able to get away with this reverse-copyright-dilution thing they have been trying to do to the english language for years and years.

MS "getting its copyright diluted" is just the natural consequence for MS of choosing to name their product a pre-diluted, undefendable word. A similar natural consequence is that if you go look at the Mac section of CompUSA, you will see a product named "Hancom Office" in a box that looks just about identical to MSOffice's and with the word "Hancom" in just leeeetle tiny letters in the corner...

Now, of course, I don't know what finnish and swedish law are. But I don't see any good justification for them being different.

You hypocrites would be jumping all over Microsoft if they came out with anything that looked like Gnome or sounded like Linux. I think Microsoft has shown remarkable restraint.

First off, if you ask me, Gnome and KDE BOTH look too much like MSWindows already, and that's their fault, not MS's.

Second off, Linus purposefully avoided registering a trademark on "Linux" for very many years. The only reason he owns one now is.. well, read the part under the "linux trademark" header on this page.

Lastly off, "sounds like Linux" is also a totally undefendable trademark. If MS chose to release "Winux" it would be totally within their rights to do so, because "inux" has become a common name for UNIX workalikes. Since "Linux" itself was largely inspired by a competing product called "Minux", I am pretty sure any hypothetical attempt by Linus to sue a product that rhymed with Linux would be laughed out of court.

I went to my first Philly LUG yesterday, and look forward to celebrating the 11 anniversary of Linux at a the FDR park in south Philly near the stadium. Check out the PLUG's webpage. For those of you who weren't there. There is also going to be a hardware swap on the Saturday before the picnic. Unupdated information is available here

http://www.linux10.org/

Linux10 party still has room on the East Coast!! =)

Linux 10th Anniversary Picnic/BBQ August 25th, 2001 from 11:00 to 6:00 Sunnyvale Baylands Park, Sunnyvale, CA, USA Bring the kids!

Mark your calendars! The Linux 10th anniversary picnic/BBQ will be Saturday, August 25, 2001 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We had to stop taking new RSVPs for Linux10 when the picnic area capacity was reached on Aug 14. However, "Linux10 East Coast" in Philadelphia still has plenty of room. See below for more Linux 10th anniversary events.

Burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, and other picnic foods will be served until 3:30 and are free to all those who RSVP'ed

So if you are in San Francisco Bay area (native or here for LinuxConf), don't miss the linux10 get together in Sunnyvale (south bay). For more info check out
www.linux10.org

We're celebrating the anniversary of the announcement which got the community involved in Linux. The first beta testers and offers for help came in after this announcement. August 25, 1991 was when Linux changed from being just Linus' hobby to involving others. Yes, it does pre-date the first kernel posting by a few weeks.

You can choose different criteria and arrive at a different day. Linux10.org will respect your choice and still link to your local celebration's web site if you pick a different day based on Linux history. The first involvement of the community was what we thought made this date stand out among other candidates. But as a counterexample, SSLUG in Copenhagen chose Sept 17 based on the actual posting of Linux 0.01. As long as you have a reason grounded in Linux history, it's an equally good choice. (Though I think Aug 25 and Sept 17 are the only two you're going to find.)

For those who tried to argue one date over the other, don't bother. You will never settle it because there are different criteria by which these dates can be picked. However, I urge you to respect the choices of the volunteers who go to the time and effort to organize a Linux 10th anniversary event in your area.

(BTW, sorry that I didn't post this earlier. I was at the Moffett Air Show all day.)

Ian Kluft
Linux10 organizer

I'm afraid she's not on the guestlist.

Well, we're thinking about a coast-to-coast event-to-event communication via webcam, or at least irc, etc.. but I hadn't thought of webcam live-broadcast. We don't currently have the technology available/in place, but if you or anybody else is interested in helping to make this happen, with either hardware or otherwise, let me know.
East-Coast Linux10 Celebration will be happening on the same day (August 25) and, while we are starting a few hours earlier (due to timezones), we will be concurrently happening during the rest of the time. .

For those east coasters, there will be a party held in Philadelphia. Check here for details. This link is correct as the one on the main page of linux10.org is broken.

Yes, We are planning an East-Coast event in Philadelphia right off of I-95, very easy to get to. http://philadelphia.linux10.org for more info, it's currently being written/updated.