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LinuxTag: 40% Growth Over Last Year

Posted by timothy on from the many-happy-returns dept.

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."

5 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. 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 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.

  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: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.

  4. 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?