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LinuxTag: 40% Growth Over Last Year

LinuxDesktop.it writes "According to this article on pro-linux.de, LinuxTag 2003 was a success: 19500 visitors, up +40% from last year and the number of journalists covering the event increased twofold -- according to pro-linux thanks to the strong signals that the city of Munich switching 14k PCs to Linux sent through Germany. Exhibitors seemed quite satisfied too because they did not expect that the trade show generated that many business contacts since many reputed it as a more community event rather than a 'where .com meets .org' event."

140 comments

  1. I told you. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    The naked penguins would be a hit.

  2. ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by jkrise · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fact is, GNU / Linux has had much success *inspite of* and not because of publicity. When the whole world was watching powerlessly, LinuxTAG got an injunction against SCO in Germany.

    I guess that's how Linux and GNU ought to be promoted / evangelised whatever. Just do it silently, no press releases, no fancy million dollar ad campaigns etc. People already know the value of Linux - no need to trivialise it by aping Microsoft and their methods.

    Peace.

    --
    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
    1. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by RoLi · · Score: 4, Insightful
      The opposite is true.

      What is holding Linux back is very often prejudices and unawareness.

      Examples like Munich are very important and already did influence a lot of other organizations.

    2. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by cloudless.net · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Most people never even heard of Linux/GNU, let alone knowing the advantages. Your grandma probably have seen Microsoft advertisement before, but try asking her what GNU is. Unless you want to keep Linux to geeks, true marketing is necessary.

    3. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by jkrise · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Examples like Munich are very important and already did influence a lot of other organizations.

      If said organizations were holding up the roll out of their Linux plans until Munich decided to get 14,000 seats - they didn't get the proper message after all. Adopting Linux takes a little chutzpah, and a different mindset than the dog-eat-dog attitude prevalent in society now.

      I'd rather waut for the above orgs to get screwed paying for licenses and Service Packs, yet getting inferior code - and switching to Linux, after getting wiser by their own personal experiences.

      Peace.

      --
      If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
    4. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by GammaTau · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Most people never even heard of Linux/GNU, let alone knowing the advantages. Your grandma probably have seen Microsoft advertisement before, but try asking her what GNU is. Unless you want to keep Linux to geeks, true marketing is necessary.

      You are correct that there are lots of people who have no idea what Linux or GNU are. But there are also lots of people who have no idea what Microsoft or Windows are (such as my grandma :)). If you sit these people in front of a Windows+IE computer and then in front of a Linux+Mozilla computer, they may not actually notice any difference apart from slightly different icons (which are different between different Windows versions anyway).

    5. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

      Part yes, part no.

      For BOFHs sake avoid the glitzy bullshit. Publicity, however, shouldn't be avoided at all. Put forward a strong serious message.
      I guess a bit like the MS ad campaign which had the slogan "the /reliable/ windows NT", but with unlike that one it should have some basis in truth. (Cf. Oracle claiming to be crack-proof too.)

      Avoid the monkey-boy dancing gimps, at least.

      Has he been sectioned yet?

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
    6. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by adyus · · Score: 1

      Kind of hard to keep Linux out of the news when /. runs 2 (repeat, TWO) consecutive articles on Linux. And none of them were about SCO, either. Jeez, guess you could consider /. is hurting Linux

    7. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by broeman · · Score: 1

      well, here in Denmark, I have never seen a Microsoft commercial in television (maybe there has been, but without my notice), but the IBM Linux Server commercial runs all the time. Too bad it is not Desktops they are selling (yet)

      --

      (yes this can be compared with sex)
    8. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Linux is a superior operating system and is providing credible competition to Microsoft in the world of computing. Let's not let anyone know about it.

    9. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by Spoing · · Score: 2, Funny
      I'd rather waut for the above orgs to get screwed paying for licenses and Service Packs, yet getting inferior code - and switching to Linux, after getting wiser by their own personal experiences.

      Right -- like that will ever happen!

      (No responses please from the humor impared. Thank you.)

      --
      A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
    10. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by pacman+on+prozac · · Score: 1

      I think it depends where you are. In the UK nobody has heard of linux except the real hardcore geeks. Even most of the IT "specialists" have no real clue even what it is or how it can help them (or how it could save their customers money).

      In Germany everyone has heard of it. Probably something to do with their own government giving it a great advertisement by choosing to use it in a large amount of places.

      Perhaps this is what the above poster is getting at. You don't need to advertise linux because its quality will sell it alone. You do need to get the foot in the door somehow, but I'd say its already there.

    11. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by antiMStroll · · Score: 1

      No one marketed Kazaaa either. If it's good enough and does what others can't, word will spread.

    12. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by Daengbo · · Score: 1

      I live in a developing country, so we don't get Oracle commercials, but I always though that it was "unbreakable Oracle" and that it was about clustering for high availability: you know - it doesn't break. I could be wrong, but I don't think the point was that no one could crack it.

    13. Re:ssshhh.. let's keep Linux away from the news.. by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

      Yeah, "unbreakable Oracle" was it.

      I remember that after a DoS, or other exploit was announced there was an outcry that Oracle shouldn't be allowed to get away with such a slogan. I thought the general feeling was that Oracle was claiming to be bullet-proof, protected from the outside world as well as internal failures.

      However, go back to my parent post - my point was that it was a _boring_, _serious_ message, with a real payload, and with no dancing monkey boys, or meaningless littering butterflies.

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
  3. what else is there? by davejenkins · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What other conferences are worth seeing? I would submit that the motivation behind attending a conference is to 'discover' something, or to forward your exposure on some field that you (personally) feel that you don't understand as much as you should. This is probably the result of media buzz, FUD, rumor, or a combination of all three.

    Some (negative) examples toward my thesis:
    1. no one goes to a conference about vacuum cleaners or washing machines, because we all understand them.

    2. No one goes to MacWorld outside the religeous MacHeads, because that 'need to know' isn't there (other than the pure followers).

    3. People go to boat fairs, car shows, and consumer electronics to oogle at the latest and greatest. Business people are no better, but this is the one they can justify the cost of going (because they feel that 'gap' in their understanding, or their PHB feels the gap).

    Don't get me wrong, I'm glad more and more people are coming to these things, but I think there are other factors/inferences to be pulled from such a dramatic shift.

    1. Re:what else is there? by tonywestonuk · · Score: 4, Informative

      If you're interested in IBM iron, then the Common conference (www.common.org) is well worth a visit.

      As IBM now are going Linux/Java, several of the training sessions are geared around this... Well worth it IMO.

      Tony.

    2. Re:what else is there? by CrazyWingman · · Score: 3, Interesting

      1. no one goes to a conference about vacuum cleaners or washing machines, because we all understand them.

      Actually, people do go to conferences about vacuum cleaners and washing machines. Those of the latter variety are held all the time by GE/Whirlpool/Maytag/etc. to show off their latest models to appliance dealers.

      3. People go to boat fairs, car shows, and consumer electronics to oogle at the latest and greatest.

      And you think people didn't go to Linuxtag for the same reason? I would say you are sorely mistaken, if so.

    3. Re:what else is there? by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      Actually, people do go to conferences about vacuum cleaners and washing machines. Those of the latter variety are held all the time by GE/Whirlpool/Maytag/etc. to show off their latest models to appliance dealers.

      Very true, but when was the last time you heard about it on the radio. I think that parent poster was referring to the people that actually use the product.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    4. Re:what else is there? by davejenkins · · Score: 1

      And you think people didn't go to Linuxtag for the same reason? I would say you are sorely mistaken, if so.

      I DO think they go to LinuxTag for the same reason. Did you not read further in my post? Perhaps the grammar was poor, or beyond you...

    5. Re:what else is there? by CrazyWingman · · Score: 1

      Definately the former in reference to the grammar

  4. Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I was there, two critical notes:
    - Too commercial (it needs commercial stuff, but it needed more non-commercial stuff too).
    - 80 to 90 percent of the speaches in German.

    For the rest, it was okay, liked maddog's speach and seeing Linux on X-box ;-)

    1. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) what do you think pays for little fiestas like that? could it be...money? generated by the sale of...products? 2) hmm. wonder why.

    2. Re:Two critical notes by seasunset · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Being in Germany what language would you expect the speeches to be done? French? Dutch? Italian? Or is any other language on your mind?

    3. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      >> I was there, two critical notes:
      >> [...]
      >>- 80 to 90 percent of the speaches in German.

      Well, when I (as a German) go to a conference in the US I also want them all to speak German.

      *sigh*

      Dont you think its normal that they keep conferences in Germany on a German event in German?

    4. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I went to 15-20 of those speaches and most of them (I would say 60-80%) were in English - don't trust what you see on paper. OTOH many of the speakers spoke terrible English (even Christoph slight-technical-problem Hellwig was hard to understand)...

    5. Re:Two critical notes by Espen+Skoglund · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Dont you think its normal that they keep conferences in Germany on a German event in German?

      Not necessarily. If they want to reach a broader community they might want to make, e.g., the speeches more accessible by having them in a language that more people can understand. Considering that Karlsruhe (the place where Linux Tag takes place) is only 15-20 minutes away from France, and a few hours drive away from Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, this might not be a bad idea.

      [Sorry for my last post. I happened to press the submit button involuntarily.]

    6. Re:Two critical notes by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 3, Funny

      At a Linux fair? Why Suomea or Svenska, of course.

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
    7. Re:Two critical notes by Advocadus+Diaboli · · Score: 1
      Being in Germany what language would you expect the speeches to be done?

      Since the event was in Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe is a part of Baden-Württemberg I really wonder about it. Why? Well, the "state" Baden-Württemberg had its 50 year anniversary lately and on the TV spots they said (translated) "we can do everything except German". *grin*

      Ok, getting serious I think that the language of speeches is depending on two factors. One is of course the language of the audience and the other is the language that the person who is holding the speech speaking. I mean, I really prefer an understandable speech in German over a speech that you don't understand at all because the person doing it has some pronounciation problems.

      Referring to the audience I think this is a clear indicator that Linux has found its way to the average "John Doe" (Or the German equivalent "Lieschen Müller"), that means you have users that are not Geeks and they don't understand other things than their mother tounge. From my experience as a German Geek I know that sometimes you don't even remember if some speech, article or book is in your mother tongue or in English. Sometimes that's funny because you give books to people that have problems with English and they make you notice that this was not written in their mother tounge.

    8. Re:Two critical notes by Spoing · · Score: 1
      Being in Germany what language would you expect the speeches to be done? French? Dutch? Italian?

      German, French, and (primarily) English...like CeBit.

      Seriously, though, I wouldn't worry about that for a while, though the alternate languages (French and English) will probably grow as LinuxTag does.

      --
      A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
    9. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm one of those people that think everyone should be well educated in English so that all people over the world can communicate.

      It's not a matter of English being my preferred, but English happens to have become the main stream language in which people speak internationaly.

      I'm the original poster of this (sub)thread and I'm from The Netherlands. I can speak a little German, but I would expect such a big Linux event to be in English mainly (80 percent or so) since many people of neighbouring countries like me are very interrested.

      Make it something international, not regional. It's not a problem if people can't pronounce correctly, as long as they're understood.
      This goes aspecially when it's about Linux and source code, the majority is written in English anyways, people will understand.

    10. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Woops, I went to one of those German speeches, couldn't understand enough so skipped the rest. If I knew this, I would've gone to the ones you refer to. I don't care if people can't pronounce, they just need to speak a little slower.

    11. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I would expect English, because almost all technical work is done in English anywhere in the world. Linux is in English.

    12. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One more thing: I complain also when events like this are held in Dutch in the Netherlands.

    13. Re:Two critical notes by herbiee_ · · Score: 1
      Since the event was in Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe is a part of Baden-Württemberg I really wonder about it. Why? Well, the "state" Baden-Württemberg had its 50 year anniversary lately and on the TV spots they said (translated) "we can do everything except German". *grin*
      That spots are not funny, not even for Germans. Indeed, they are pretty awful. Please don't expect anyone to like them. ;)
    14. Re:Two critical notes by Q+Who · · Score: 1

      Being in Germany what language would you expect the speeches to be done? French? Dutch? Italian? Or is any other language on your mind?

      Nice knee-jerk reaction. I hope you know that virtually all scientific conferences with international presence are done in English.

    15. Re:Two critical notes by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

      I was there, two critical notes:
      - Too commercial (it needs commercial stuff, but it needed more non-commercial stuff too).


      I was there too, and I disagree. It had exactly the right balance. I was very pleased to see that all the bubble companies are gone, replaced by businesses with serious business plans, and for the most part, also committed to supporting Linux in general.

      - 80 to 90 percent of the speaches in German.

      Mine wasn't, except for "Weiviel leute hier konnen mien Deutsch verstehen?".

      --
      Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
    16. Re:Two critical notes by Hiro+Antagonist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Those wouldn't all happen to be countries where a large percentage of the population speaks German (as well as their native tongues, English, and likely something else on top of that), would they?

      The conference was in Germany, hence the language should be German. Or do you think that the next Linux Expo in California should be held in Spanish as to reach a broader audience?

      This is one of the reasons I get really pissed at other Americans when I'm overseas; when I'm in Germany, I speak German -- it's only polite. Thinking that the rest of the world only exists to accomidate your linguistic needs is arrogant ethnocentrism at its worst.

      --

      --
      I Hit the Karma Cap, and All I Got Was This Lousy .sig.
    17. Re:Two critical notes by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1
      Well, as others have pointed out with the language used should reflect the audience that the speech is intended. Since most of the audience was expected to be German, it makes sense that the speeches were in German. Yes there will be other nationalities there but the majority of the audience will be German.

      Additionally, the audience was expected to be a mix of technical and nontechnical people (journalists, etc) so the language cannot be too geeky. So that rules out Klingon and Yoda-speak.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    18. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      english is the international language of business. sorry, but it's true.

    19. Re:Two critical notes by geschild · · Score: 3, Informative

      The French the Americans are more alike than they know: neither will speak a foreign language, even at gun-point.

      [RANT]
      Let me enlighten you on the state of affairs in Europe, taking the countries you named to make an example:

      1. Switzerland has the following national languages. (The first three are official, see this site for details.)
        • German (Sweitzerdeutsch, a dialect of German)
        • French
        • Italian
        • Retro-romanian (Rhaeto-Rumantsch, last place where this is spoken, like Basque it is completely different from all other languages in Europe).

      2. Belgium has the following national languages:
        • French
        • Dutch (Flemish, a dialect of Dutch is actually spoken but in school official Dutch is thaught)
        • German

      3. In Luxembourgh, the following languages are in wide spread use:
        • Lëtzebuergesch (A derivative of German, spoken only)
        • German
        • French

      4. To close it off, in the Netherlands, us poor souls have only one official language (Dutch) and one language local to a region (Fries). However, since we have been trading with the whole wide world since $DEITY knows when these languages are thaught in school to all children for at least a few years:
        • Dutch
        • English
        • German
        • French
      Now if you look closely at this list you will notice one thing: German is in all of these countries... The reason? because we are all only a few hours away from each other!Please remove your xenophobic head from your xenophobic behind and get a few language classes. Or just decide to stay at home and go to a local conference. Given the fact that the whole point of this article was that the attendance is high, despite most topics being in German, I doubt that you'll be missed.

      [/RANT]
      --
      Karma? What's that again?
    20. Re:Two critical notes by Espen+Skoglund · · Score: 1
      It's sort of fun to see people getting all agitated about this. You did fail to mention the French, though, and even if many people in Alsace speak pretty good German (at least people involved in the tourist industry) I'm afraid this isn't really the case for the rest of France.

      Anyhow, I happen to live in Germany myself and I've come to learn that English is by far the best language to use for communication within a group consisting of various nationalities -- in particular when applied to computer people (and I still haven't taken Brits and Scandinavians into consideration). From personal experiences I've also learned that many Dutch and Belgians are far better versed in English than in German.

    21. Re:Two critical notes by geschild · · Score: 1

      At least somebody is having fun then. I didn't mention the French because you yourself dutifully left them out of your list for some reason.

      I do not disagree that English is spoken by most here in Europe. However, I find it disturbing that a German thinks English is more appropriate than German on a congress in Germany. I think it to be no more than common decency to use the native language if at all possible.

      You seem to be of the opinion that everybody everywhere should learn english asap so that we can do away with the rest of the languages. How convenient.

      --
      Karma? What's that again?
    22. Re:Two critical notes by Jadrano · · Score: 1

      Yes, and therefore the fact that most of LinuxTag was in German rather than English shows that it was an event a broader public and not just for experts. In my view, that's a good sign.

    23. Re:Two critical notes by Qbertino · · Score: 1

      That wasn't 10% in english. That was much more. A lot put up with a serious effort to speak english despite 80% of the people being german. You may have noticed that the event is called "LinuxTag" (german for "Linux Day") and actually took place in germany. *nudge*nudge*

      Did *you* go up to the ones that nearly broke their tongue speaking 90 min. in english and thank them for it?

      BTW: I'm shure that allmost everybody was able and willing to answer your specific questions after a speach in english, even if the speech was given in german. And BTW again: That one Python speech was so difficult to understand, you wouldn't want to have heard it english, trust me. :-)

      --
      We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    24. Re:Two critical notes by Espen+Skoglund · · Score: 1

      Actually, France was the first one on my list. I also find it amusing that you assume I am German (and yes, I am still having fun).

    25. Re:Two critical notes by Jadrano · · Score: 1

      At events like LinuxTag, most communication probably isn't technical work as such, rather people talk about the possibilities and consequences of these matters.
      I work in IT in German-speaking Switzerland. English is, of course, important for reading documentation and finding information in the Internet, but that's mostly technical jargon and has relatively little to do with profound knowledge of the English language. However, when you talk to customers, you have to know their language well, and my experience has been that a good knowledge of French is more important for people working in IT here (France and the French-speaking part of Switzerland isn't far). While English is very important for technical matters, non-tech people who have to take decisions about IT investments or clarify something about details of a program don't want to use a foreign language (the matter is complicated enough for them already when they talk about it in their native language). Therefore, I think the significance of the English language shouldn't be exaggerated.

    26. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then come back here and you can be pissed at all the tourists that don't speak english.

    27. Re:Two critical notes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LinuxTAG wasn't a Source-Code-Conference, but one to reach a broader non-geek-audience. And you can't reach this audience, when you speak a language that can't be easily understand by that type of xenoform.

    28. Re:Two critical notes by geschild · · Score: 1

      I'm glad to hear you're still having fun. Over here, it's too hot to have fun. ;-)

      Anyway, I stand corrected. I 'overlooked' France, my bad. Thank you for completing the list though, France indeed has a German speaking population too.

      I meant to say 'as somebody living in Germany' but I felt it would complicate things. Your name seems to suggest you are from one of the Scandinavian countries but given the enormous ammounts of 'austausch' between neighbouring countries in Europe one can only guess at someones nationality. Still, if you are indeed a foreigner living in Germany, it may explain why you are in favour of English instead of the local tongue.

      As someone who works with many international co-workers, with whom I communicate in English only, I understand the importance of a common language. The problem with that one language is that only few people really master it and this causes all kinds of major trouble. What I find annoying, and why I am taking this so seriously is because I have a few co-workers that have lived and worked in this country for almost a decade who still don't speak the local language at all!

      The point? When in Rome, do like the Romans. Learn the local language, or not, but let people in a country use their own language and stop bitching about the audience being too small. It simply isn't your call to make.

      --
      Karma? What's that again?
  5. The next killer application... by heironymouscoward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... is simply Linux itself. We have moved from the early adopter stage to the mass market stage, and we can expect exponential growth of Linux adoption by business until only the late-adopters are still using old-fashioned stuff.
    For once this IT wave won't create an economic bubble: it is more like the waves of standardisation that hit new industries after their initial bubbles. Think railways in the 1850s(?) and standardized track sizes.
    The real economic boom will be in products and services that make use of this standard and modernised platform.
    If I was investing in IT today, it would be in communications systems that rely on a standard OS across multiple arbitrary systems. Think of 'your work anywhere', but relying on Linux on your PDA, mobile phone, desktop, etc.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  6. German article by Daengbo · · Score: 1

    Can anyone fluent post a good translation? Babelfish just doesn't do it.

    1. Re:German article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can someone please post a good translation for the article header? It doesn't seem like proper English

      "..according to pro-linux thanks to the strong signals that the city of Munich switching 14k PCs to Linux sent through Germany.."

    2. Re:German article by Hrshgn · · Score: 5, Informative

      Translation of the original article:

      The organisers of the LinuxTag are reporting an enormous growth of this year's LinuxTag. Two hours before the end of the fair they are giving preliminary results of LinuxTag 2003: more than 19'500 visitors were counted, an increase of 40% compared to last year.

      Numerous international guests like John 'Maddog' Hall from the USA and Yutaka Niibe of the Free Software Initiative Japan generated full auditories. Also in terms of content, the talks were mostly high class.

      Almost all exhibitors were positively surprised and satisfied. "An extreme number of business contacts" was registered. Many exhibitors saw their expectations fulfilled. Whoever saw LinuxTag as a community event with relatively few business customers was disabused(?).

      Oliver Zendel, head of the LinuxTag e.V., sees the LinuxTag as a big success which proofs that Linux and free software can also persist in the area of professional business. LinuxTag is the biggest Linux fair in Europe and according to his words a "worldwide leading fair in free software".

      Highly visible was the announcement effect of Munich's decision in favor of Linux. According to informarion from Pro-Linux, the number of accredited journalists has doubled compared to last year.

    3. Re:German article by KillerLoop · · Score: 1

      LinuxTag`s organizational staff announced an enourmous increase of LinuxTag this year.
      Two hours before the end of the fair they drew a preliminary summary over Linuxtag 2003:
      more than 19500 visitors were counted, that`s a plus of over 40% compared to last year.

      The many international guests, like John "Maddog" Hall from the USA and Yutaka Niibe from
      Free Software Initiative Japan, provided for full auditories. Even when it came to content
      most speeches were first class.

      For the most part exhibitors were positively surprised and satisfied. An "extreme number of business
      contacts" has been registered. Lots of exhibitors saw their expectations completely fulfilled.
      Those who up to now perceived the LinuxTag more of a community event with only a few business
      clients have been disabused.

      Oliver Zendel, head of LinuxTag e.V., sees the LinuxTag as a big success and proof that
      Linux and free software could prevail even in a professional business context. LinuxTag is
      Europe`s largest Linux Fair and in his opinion a "worldwide leading fair for Free Software".

      Conspicous was the signal sent throughout Germany by Munichs pro linux descision. According
      to information from Pro-Linux the number of accredited journalists doubled compared to
      last year.

    4. Re:German article by KillerLoop · · Score: 1

      damn. too slow.

    5. Re:German article by Scumbag+Tracker · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I see you're still deserving of being on my scumbag list. Scumbag.

      I hope somehow you ended up with HIV from your little experience.

      --
      I track known Slashdot scumbags on my foes list!
    6. Re:German article by Daengbo · · Score: 1

      Which one? I've had two girlfriends since I came to Thailand. Thanks for the show of love, though.
      BTW, Germany is being held as the example to follow for open source in government.

  7. So what... by Bio-Hazzard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Linux is a better product and is growing like hell in both the server and client market. So... Anybody who knows anything worthwhile about computers knows about Linux, and anybody who is into computers in a heavy way uses Linux. Old news, but what MS doesnt get is that the growth of Linux is inevitable. It's free (MS cant compete price wise), It's stable (everybody sees what it does and because the codes there somebody's gonna know what wrong and a patch can get produced real quick) and YOU CAN CHANGE IT YOURSELF! (goverments love this).
    It isn't "Will Linux rise?" it's "How long is it gonna take?"

    --

    Give a man a fire, he is warm for a day.
    Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.

    1. Re:So what... by GammaTau · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Linux is a better product and is growing like hell in both the server and client market. So... Anybody who knows anything worthwhile about computers knows about Linux, and anybody who is into computers in a heavy way uses Linux.

      How about people (such as you and me) just donated a bit of their time to make the system better instead of praising it like a Borg drone programmed to repeat a message. I guess that might be too much to ask for some people, but I'm asking anyway. The constructive way is to investigate what makes people use other systems (like MS Windows, MacOS, or Solaris) and enhance free systems to comply with the needs of these people.

    2. Re:So what... by ctve · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Good point. And even you can't code, there's plenty else to do. Like checking a few Mozilla bugs are valid and not just down to an old build/dodgy HTML.

      Or installing and using stuff, showing it to their friends and advocating it on their websites etc.

      Or writing documentation for the projects.

      The biggest thing IMO is getting people onboard the OSS software train, and keeping them there.

    3. Re:So what... by Lord+Kholdan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Even if I'm not a Linux user/advocate I'll still throw my spoon into the soup.

      Help people use Linux! Camp the #linuxhelp in IRC network, check the message boards. Helping people is good and fullfilling thing to do, even if you don't have a (socio)political axe to grind.

    4. Re:So what... by ctve · · Score: 1
      I agree. Given the choice, I'd rather encourage people to use products like Mozilla, as a 'I'd rather give to a community than help boost a corporation'.

      I do it because it's only fair to me to give back a little (even though I have a family etc) to those who have given so much.

    5. Re:So what... by Zebbers · · Score: 1

      so we need to force Linux on every pc we can find, make sure applications are made for only linux, strongarm vendors into supporting linux instead of other os. OH and turn it into a pile of bloat.

      no thanks, I could care less why others use windows ;)

  8. Translation by doktor-hladnjak · · Score: 4, Informative

    The organizers report an enormous increase in attendance at this year's
    LinuxTag. Two hours before the end of the convention they drew a
    preliminary conclusion for LinuxTag 2003: over 19,500 visitors were counted,
    more than 40% more than last year.

    The many international guests, for example John 'Maddog' Hall from the USA
    and Utaka Niibe of the Free Software Initiative Japan, ensured full
    presentation rooms. Also content-wise the presentations were predominantely
    high class.

    The exhibitors expressed themselves throughout positively surprised
    and satisfied. There were "extremely many business contacts" registered.
    Many exhibitors saw their expectations fullfilled. Whoever had seen
    LinuxTag still as a community event with relatively few business customers,
    saw themselves better informed.

    Oliver Zendel, the head of LinuxTag e.V., sees LinuxTag as a large success
    that proves that Linux and free software can also suceed in the field of professional
    business. LinuxTag is the largest Linux convention in Europe and
    according to his words, a "world-wide leading convention for free software."

    Highly visible was the effect, that arose from the decision by the city of
    Munich to use Linux. According to information from Pro-Linux the number
    of accredited journalists doubled from that of last year.

    1. Re:Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      damnit. i just had finished my translation as i noticed there already was one ;)
      good work anyway!

  9. LINUX is taking over, indeed. by banal+avenger · · Score: 1

    Yes, it's fantastic that LINUX is gaining such widespread adoption. The conference attendance increased huge time. Yippie!

  10. Windows XP Professional on the X-box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    > seeing Linux on X-box ;-)

    Hey -- this is old news. But I even saw Windows XP
    Professional on the X-box!

    Well, it was the new NX client
    for embedded Linux systems, which worked like
    "out of the box" on the X-box.

    It allows you to connect to any Linux or Windows
    system over the internet, and display that
    workstation's screen locally. It can use
    RDP/rdesktop (for Windows), or RFB/tightVNC (for
    any platform) or the NX server (on Linux). The NX
    server is the fastest, allowing even for a full
    KDE session running over 9600 Baud modem
    connection. X-box "developers" had the schock of
    their life when had turned their backs to the toy
    for a minute and this was enough to connect to
    Rome/Italy and display the WinXP Prof screen from
    there fullscreen.... ;-)

    I think, NX was the absolute innovation hightlight
    of the show. The excellent CUPS talk was even held
    using a remote NX log-in into a Linux/CUPS server
    from a WinXP client. Performance was excellent and
    not distinguishable from a locally run Linux
    session. I have now downloaded NX (the server is
    freely available for testing) and I am very
    pleased with the results.

    1. Re:Windows XP Professional on the X-box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't believe this....

    2. Re:Windows XP Professional on the X-box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      There are digital photos available about this
      unique premiere:

      http://www.nomachine.com/news_read.php?idnews=47

  11. Re:Join the GLAA by usotsuki · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Nice comeback ROTFL /me wants to send the GNAA back where they came from

    -uso.

    --
    Dreams, dreams, don't doubt dreams, dreaming children's dreaming dreams. Sailor Moon SS
  12. I get your point by Bio-Hazzard · · Score: 1

    I know what you mean 'bout studying the way people use systems and stuff, and to make contributions to the kernel (I consider myself to be a contributor to the linux kernel), but I think a lot of people just dont get the message otherwise, this is a pretty sad state of affairs. I think that by intresting people in the open source movement we can gain momentum and make a valid contribution to the IT industry of today.
    However after saying all that I still consider that developing is central to making free software worth everybodys while.

    --

    Give a man a fire, he is warm for a day.
    Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.

  13. Linux Growth Statistics by thelandp · · Score: 3, Interesting
    That's an interesting statistic for gauging the success of Linux.

    I tried to find other more general stats like say the market share of Linux and so on. They are very hard to find for various reasons. But here is one that's as good as any (especially since we win!): Linux vs Microsoft.

    --

    -- the only thing we have to fear is really scary things
    1. Re:Linux Growth Statistics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      try linux vs. windows to find out the truth.

  14. Don't forget the "free family tech support lines" by ctve · · Score: 1
    A friend of mine contacted me recently about the amount of spam he was getting. My advice - get rid of Outlook Express and get Mozilla and use the mail client (and he has lots of crashes with OE).

    The changeover is going to take many years, but it's going to start with those sort of small changes.

  15. Highlight of Technical Innovations: I nominate "NX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I even saw Windows XP Professional on the X-box!

    Well, it was the new NX client for embedded Linux systems, which worked like "out of the box" on the X-box.

    It allows you to connect to any Linux or Windows system over the internet, and display that workstation's screen locally. It can use RDP/rdesktop (for Windows), or RFB/tightVNC (for any platform) or the NX server (on Linux). The NX server is the fastest, allowing even for a full KDE session running over 9600 Baud modem connection. X-box "developers" suffered the shock of their life when had turned their backs to the toy for a minute and this was enough to install NX client and connect to Rome/Italy and display the WinXP Prof screen from there fullscreen.... ;-)

    I think, NX was the absolute innovation highlight of the show. The excellent CUPS talk was even held using a remote NX log-in into a Linux/CUPS server from a WinXP client. Performance was excellent and not distinguishable from a locally run Linux session. I have now downloaded NX (the server is freely available for testing) and I am very pleased with the results.

  16. Being silly by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just from
    """
    19500 visitors, up +40% from last year and the number of journalists covering the event increased twofold.
    """
    We conclude there were ~14000 people last year, i.e. 5500 more people turned up.

    Imagine if last year there were 8500 members of the public, and 5500 journos. And this year there were 8500 members of the public, and 11000 journos.

    Sorry, there's no conclusion; I just wanted to insert some deliberate distortion. I in particularly like the idea of journos outnumbering their readership!

    YAW.

    --
    Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
  17. I loved it ;)) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting


    I was the first time on the LinuxTag and I absolutely love it ;)

    I have realy enjoyed the talks, people, presentations, the atmosphere ....

    I am advertising it to my friend allready for the next year ...

    I can not find a single minus ;))

    Iztok (Slovenia)

    I also loved the kebab store on the corner of hotel ... they make excelent kebap's ....

    1. Re:I loved it ;)) by DataCannibal · · Score: 1

      Totally off topic but this reminds me of when I first went to live in Germany, many moons ago, and people asked me what I missed most about the UK and I always replied "the Indian restaurants." Since I've returned to live in the UK people ask me what I miss about Germany and I always reply "the Turkish kebab shops".

      It's a funny old world innit ?

      --
      No but, yeah but, no but...
  18. Re:But by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Mac OS X: To quote the HIG on instant apply:

    Do not make the user press an OK or Apply button to make the changes happen, unless either:
    • the change will take more than about one second to apply, in which case applying the change immediately could make the system feel slow or unresponsive, or
    • the changes in the window have to be applied simultaneously to prevent the system entering a potentially unstable state. For example, the hostname and proxy fields in a network properties window.


    Win3.1: The file dialog is a couple monthes away (GTK+ 2.4). They're changing the (code's) interface, so it has to be prefect for current and future expansion.

    Eugenia: No one really listens to most of Eugenia's ideas. Even if that GUI were possible without warping the GTK+ codebase, not many people like it.

    Bad troll! :P
  19. O_o by $alex_n42 · · Score: 1

    40% growth over last year

    Does that sound like a user testimonial from some kind of an email ad campaign? Only there should a lot more exclamation marks and $ signs. Oh well, can't something something. Where is my coffee?

  20. Still got to get over MS Orafice by ratfynk · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I wish it were true, but there needs to be effective software Linux training for it to succeed in North American business. I do not see any institutions teaching the Linux system as a replacement for MS Access. I can see that a logical replacement for Access is already in the Linux system itself. One could develope an integrated user multi-tasking, paging, db quiery system from what Linux already has available to root and extra Gnu sources.

    The problem is business courses at all the accredited institutions are run exclusively by Microsoft trained people.

    So until training in Linux user control, db quiery and simple software admin becomes common we here in North America will need to bow to Redmond six times a day. If we want to work in any form of business other than Inet Server Admin.

    --
    OH THE SHAME I fell off the wagon and use sigs again!
    1. Re:Still got to get over MS Orafice by Rinikusu · · Score: 1

      Actually, take a gander at your local community colleges. Sure, they're "tech schools" and don't teach all that lovely theory behind the Operating System, but they're starting to warm up to linux, big time. My local community college, Southwest Tennessee Community College offers a degree in "Programming, UNIX Concentration", where most of your skills are honed on Redhat systems (we also got development exposure on AIX, SCO and Solaris). There were always 20-30 people in all my classes, so the interest is definately there. Granted, the "Windows" side is a bit larger (not by much, and most of those guys are also in the UNIX track.. remember that just because some people are "Linux-only" zealots, a lot of us like diversity), its definately not by a giant, overwhelming margin. Take a look around, you might be surprised where you can find *NIX centric instruction.

      --
      If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
  21. Some other statistics by parbot · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Being a Linux user myself I really like the idea of Linux gaining market share.

    But.. Can somebody explain why according to Google's zeitgeist Linux is still at 1% market share? According to Google's statistics, the market share of Linux hasn't change since at least August 2003.

    1. Re:Some other statistics by Bio-Hazzard · · Score: 1

      Hate double-rplying i just checked it out and i see what you mean, I thought you meant market share as in capital and sales an' stuff.
      I dunno maybe the Mozilla browser announces itself as win or other, something like that.

      --

      Give a man a fire, he is warm for a day.
      Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.

  22. Not all are counted by Bio-Hazzard · · Score: 1

    Linux isn't a commercial product.. ;)
    They dont count downloads and pass-alongs because they cant monitor them.
    1% of bought products are linux (not bad considering you can download source code, binaries and your mate can cut you a copy (no copywright protection)).
    It ain't as bad as it looks. :)

    --

    Give a man a fire, he is warm for a day.
    Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.

    1. Re:Not all are counted by BenjyD · · Score: 1

      No, the Google zeitgeist reports hits to its pages from different operating systems. Assuming that google usage is pretty even across users of desktop operating systems, the zeitgeist is a reasonably accurate measure of how many people actually use GNU/Linux.

      Of course, not many people browse the web from their file server, so it doesn't measure server usage.

    2. Re:Not all are counted by AllUsernamesAreGone · · Score: 1

      Except for spoofing. Some distros even ship browsers (konq, mozilla etc ) set up to spoof as IE from the start. And then there's the problem that a lot of people will be searching from work - which almost always means IE (and that's without spoofing). I've never thought that Google zeitgeist is a realiable measure of anything except how futile measuring things based on user agent strings can be.

    3. Re:Not all are counted by rsheridan6 · · Score: 1

      What distros actually do this? The distros I've tried come with default browsers that tell the truth. I think Linux usage on the desktop really is about as low as Google Zeitgeist would imply.

      --
      Don't drop the soap, Tommy!
    4. Re:Not all are counted by BenjyD · · Score: 1

      Yes, measuring something like linux usage is next to impossible. For example, I would imagine that linux users tend to use the web more, being more techy people. But then, do they know what they are looking for more and use bookmarks etc rather than google?

      Personally, I think 1-2% is probably about right. It seems more when I go on academic conferences and am surrounded by Gnome/KDE + linux laptops, but that is a biased sample. As much as it pains me to say it, Linux usage is pretty damn rare "in the real world".

      (posted from browser:Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Konqueror/3.1; Linux; , en_GB, en))

    5. Re:Not all are counted by AllUsernamesAreGone · · Score: 1

      Off the top of my head I can't give a list, certainly can't give links to proof, but I'll dig later. One name that sticks in my mind is Konq on Mandrake 9, but I'll have to check that.

  23. no shit it grew. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    but only cause of the WIFI for everybody and the prospect of pron leeching over the fat Karlsruhe University pipe.

  24. Re:Highlight of Technical Innovations: I nominate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where can you download NX? Google does not know anything about it.....

  25. Re:Linux Growth Statistics - o/t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  26. Re:Highlight of Technical Innovations: I nominate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as said before, you can find NX at www.nomachine.com

  27. The hint is in the event name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    LinuxTAG, and no that's not tag as in html tag, but TAG as in the German word for day. See, German word, there's your hint.

  28. Re:Highlight of Technical Innovations: I nominate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  29. Re:Don't forget the "free family tech support line by doktor-hladnjak · · Score: 2, Interesting
    This reminds me of what happened with my parents. Probably about a little over a year ago, they were having major computer problems (Windows ME I think). Although I think they had always used Netscape, apparently, my brother had tried to install the latest version of IE on the computer. During the install, a blue screen came up or something and the system crashed. Afterwards, the OS was basically toasted and would only start up in safe mode.

    Anyhow, the next time I was in town, I wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows. However, I also installed Mozilla and told them to just use that in the future and said it's really just a different kind of Netscape.

    Well, I was home again over Christmas and they were ranting and raving about how great Mozilla is. Apparently, they had had conversations with neighbors and friends about this "Mozilla thing" and how it crashes less, blocks pop-ups easily, etc. Of course, none of these people had heard of it, but their interest was immediately sparked. Maybe they're Mozilla users now even...

    The point is that Mozilla is a piece of free software that even my not-so-tech-savy parents can evagelize about, because it's a good product for a wide range of people.

  30. Linux is not an MS Access replacement by heironymouscoward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Uhm, one is an operating system, the other a database. Compare MySQL to MSAccess, if you like. Anyhow, I disagree with the substance of your comment: there are many companies that provide Linux trainings, and there are hundreds of books and thousands of web sites providing guides. I suspect the wealth of information is significantly wider and deeper than that available for Windows. I also suspect the same is true for MySQL (for instance) compared to MS Access.
    The problem of training and culture is one that affects new products in their early adopter phase. Linux is past this phase. No-one seriously asks for manuals for an OS, any more than you ask for a book with Windows (last time I checked, the book was about 25 pages long of which 24 were the license).
    The problem of accreditation is a false one, since the 'accredited' institutions are simply ones that have paid Microsoft for a license. It is a circular argument: the vendor is simply reinforcing their own image. Most businesses choose their suppliers on cost and performance and reputation, not simple credentials. MS do a lot of marketing to push 'accreditation', but it's a sham and stops working as soon as the pressure drops.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  31. Re:Highlight of Technical Innovations: I nominate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    They have even some digicam shots on their website:

    http://www.nomachine.com/news_read.php?idnews=47

  32. Aha! by Brad+Mace · · Score: 1

    4 years of German, and I still had to see the headline five times before I realized it was Linux *Day*

    1. Re:Aha! by steman · · Score: 1

      I don't know what they call it LinuxTag (Linux Day), as it is over 4 days maybe it should be called LinuxTage (Linux Days)?

    2. Re:Aha! by Brad+Mace · · Score: 1

      Go nuts, call it LinuxWoch. Then I'll know what's going on, instead of picturing a bunch of penguins chasing each other around the playground.

  33. I guess you don't live in Eskimo Country by ratfynk · · Score: 1

    Sorry I live too close to Redmond, in British Columbia and there is squat in the way of college courses for anything other than MS Access, and Visual .Net. I guess the mirmidons created uncle Bill and Co. have just made British Columbia and most of Canada a little fifedom. After they cloned WordPerfect what would you expect they even bought some dos windowing code in one hell of a hurry back in the early 80s from a guy in Quebec. Then proceeded to trundle on and steal the best people from our universities. Boy they hated having competition from Canada. They have effectively squashed all other forms of training in Canada, the funny part is we let them.

    --
    OH THE SHAME I fell off the wagon and use sigs again!
  34. Naaawwww.... by wolf2q · · Score: 1

    If you have a licence plate like mine "LINUX-X" on a 4X4 Dakota in the Canadian North ... You WILL get the message across!!
    At least I get"What The F.. is LINUX" and since i am the happy Penguin that I am, I tell them.... in detail!!

    --
    Where ever you go, There you are
  35. Re:MOD DOWN HOMOPHOBIC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AIDS cures faggots...