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He's a Mac, He's a PC, But We're Linux!
davidmwilliams writes "Earlier this year the Linux Foundation launched a competition for budding writers, film makers and just general Linux enthusiasts to make their own grassroots advertisement to compete with Apple's highly-successful 'I'm a Mac' series of adverts. The winner has now been announced."
Nothing quite as exciting as a spoof like two years after the original ads started and about a year after they stopped being cool.
I heard Weird Al was coming up with a parody of the Bee Gees next week...
See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
I watched a few of these videos and I'm going to admit that it's very tough to push an operating system in less than a minute. So that leaves you in the very department you don't want to be in--marketing.
I will congratulate Linux and the winning contestant on achieving what Apple did and Microsoft tried to. And that is simplify Linux down to an idea easy to grasp with no actual numbers or ideas surrounding it. Like the Mac ads, it's just "cool" to be a Mac. I like that they imply that to be Linux is to enjoy freedom but it's no more convincing to me than the Mac ads. I'm a Linux fanatic but I'm realistic.
I don't think Linux needs this kind of advertising. I would prefer the software to speak for itself--warts and all. I hope all the participants had fun and I also hope that this doesn't make an easy target for anti-Linux folks. The winning ad sidesteps some of Linux's difficult aspects (usability, third party support, etc.) and promotes its trump card. Linux is freedom.
My work here is dung.
I've been kinda surprised that with all the tech and science they throw around on that show, that they don't ever mention Linux.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
While that is a nicely produced ad, if its purpose is to promote linux use to the general public, it completely fails.
Nothing about it will grab their attention.
I especially love that you need flash to watch it off of youtube.
Okay, nobody get mad at me, I run my hosting business on CentOS and all my computers dual boot to Ubuntu. My six-year old son likes Ubuntu so much that he writes his name in that roundy Ubuntu lettering.
But when I mentally set the stage for this commercial, I imagine a little dwarf coming out and saying, "I'm Linux, do you guys know how to get my wireless card working? I'm having trouble printing. Why can't I play this damn DVD?"
Man, I hope I've got some karma to spare...
--I'm so big, my sig has its own sig.
-- See?
am glad it wasnt the "i, you, we are linux" ad... that one had me terrified that linux would inevitably pick up a phased plasma rifle in the 50 watt range and...well....try and find Sarah Connor.
Good people go to bed earlier.
It looks more like those microsoft ads, where they show white drawings on top of real life video.
what exactly is the winning video parodying? did you even bother to watch it before you came here to complain?
frog blast the vent core
And thus you have accomplished more than the average Slashdotter manages in a whole week.
is kinda too touchy feely. People won't know what that weird guy is talking about. And he has a funny accent.
He's a Mac, He's a PC, [and] We're Linux!
Can three operating systems from three different cultures get along in the same wacky network? Tune in this fall to NBC for _Broken Pipes_, the hilarious new sitcom from those nutty writers behind BSD and VMS!
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
The winning ad sidesteps some of Linux's difficult aspects (usability, third party support, etc.) and promotes its trump card. Linux is freedom.
No shit. And here I thought ads highlight the difficulties. Like Apple's ads. They're honest about the rich gaming experience you will have with them.
I took a gander at all the finalists of this contest and I felt like I could point out some problems with most of them. "Origin" had exceptional visuals but the voiceover suffered from poor pacing, another had a good script but Film School-esque visuals. I had a real soft spot for the French entry in a faux operating room - I watched it without subtitles, and I don't understand French. The image of a nurse-chasing Tux speaking an incomprehensible language had me cracking up, but I think it may have been too camp for the judges.
The winner by Armitay Tweeto is probably the most well rounded of the bunch, combining solid visuals with a solid voiceover and a really strong message: your freedom is waiting. Congratulations.
http://www.getgnash.org/
We need a poll. I vote for the penguin doctor video
The penguin doctor video was much better. Btw, the linuxfoundation.org site is already /.ed, so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svaHnha-PXs
They must be hosting this on a [Insert Your Least Favorite Underpowered Device Here].
Seems to be on the Youtubes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWEIQIv8zvY&feature=player_embedded
I donno, not a horrible video, but I have trouble seeing how that's going to convince anyone to switch to the Linuxes. I think it's a bit to idealogical and lacking in the pragmatic. It could use some, "the advantages of Linux over PC's or Mac's are thus:"
Mod my comments down. It'll be fun.
At least they didn't mention anything about a 'Whispering Eye' and start giggling... I guess that's a positive.
A video of Optimus Prime's ass farting "Linux is better"
Maybe we need the giant penguin to come and stick his flipper in the servers. (Fortunately able to access the Linux Pub video on Youtube -- hint hint -- before the Slashdotting was complete.)
Here's the old Linux ad by IBM. It's pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL0G9wK8j4
Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
Someone said that this was marketing fail and I completely agree. To some random consumer who has never heard of Linux, this commercial wouldn't give them ANY idea as to what it actually is or why they would need it.
It looks more like a commercial for a mouse pointer. _NOTHING_ in the commercial indicates that Linux is an operating system.
Mac: Hi, I'm a Mac
PC: I'm a PC
Linux: I'm Linux
FreeBSD: And I'm FreeBSD.
Linux: Netcraft confirms that FreeBSD is dead.
(Linux morphs into a T-Rex and swallows FreeBSD in one bite.
Linux: uuuuuuurp.
(Fade out)
i'm soooo glad i'm not linux. this crap is embarrassing.
Linux is freedom.
GNU/Linux is Stallman's idea of freedom.
I'm glad they went with an ad that didn't scream "Me too!" Out of necessity, Linux already copies Microsoft which copied Macintosh which copied Xerox in terms of GUIness and perhaps other programs. But it didn't need to do the same with commercials: copying Microsoft copying Apple.
The only thing bad is that unless you already know what linux is, the commercial doesn't exactly inform you, even visually, albeit a single cartoonishly animated mouse cursor. It might leave common people scratching their heads.
Trying to push your operating system by running a website that can actually host the videos? I dunno, that might tell me that you have your act together better than some kids pushing back at "tha Man", man. Second story on this topic (that I have seen), second time I can't get to the videos. Or are they running IIS?
No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
I will congratulate Linux and the winning contestant on achieving what Apple did and Microsoft tried to. And that is simplify Linux down to an idea easy to grasp with no actual numbers or ideas surrounding it. Like the Mac ads, it's just "cool" to be a Mac. I like that they imply that to be Linux is to enjoy freedom but it's no more convincing to me than the Mac ads. I'm a Linux fanatic but I'm realistic.
But, see, there's a big, big problem with the winning ad.
Unless you already know what Linux is, which many, many people do not, it is utterly meaningless.
I know it has become popular to make ads that don't really explain what they're for in recent times, but that only works if the brand they're advertising is already recognizable, at least among their target demographic. But The Great Unwashed Masses don't even know what Linux is yet. Knowing that "it's freedom" tells them nothing, and the cute little animated graphics don't give any indication that it's even something to do with a computer—yeah, the graphics themselves are sometimes clearly computer-related, but these days, what isn't?
When Linux is already as recognizable a name as Mac, iPod, Coke, or Nike, and everyone knows that "it's just another alternative to Mac or Windows," then we can make ads like this to push the "freedom" aspect of it.
But until then, this ad doesn't tell a non-geek anything...except that Linux is pretentious.
Dan Aris
Fun. Free. Online. RPG. BattleMaster.
I went down to microcenter in cambridge, ma, a half mile from mit and harvard. they don't even stock linux computers.
I do my taxes on the computer (so even if they make linux tax software, i have to import, or run wine) my kids use windows for gaming (so i have to know something about it to help them).....
I actually installed ubuntu under wubi on my last laptop: it worked fine: so what
why should i switch if there is ZERO incentive for me to use linux - i get absolutely nothing from linux that i don't get from windows; it is not easier to use, it is not faster, it is not anything that i need
until the linux community patents a new type of software that i have to have and it runs only on linux, I' wont switch, even tho the thought of giving more money to redmond makes me want to puke
What could be better than Nethack?
Gnash is not ready for prime time and last I checked, didn't currently work with youtube. Supposedly swfdec does, if you compile the latest build, but I haven't done so yet. (I'm running Linux on PPC)
Just like linux. Can't get the stupid thing to work properly. Must be some backend driver problem.
Can everyone just stop with the "I'm a fill-in-preferred-OS-here" ads? They're getting really long in the tooth and they and parodies of them stopped being funny or witty a long time ago.
...or did anyone else think "we are Linux, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated" the moment they saw the headline?
This is Slashdot. Common sense is futile. You will be modded down.
The ad brings up the idea that Linux is about freedom. Does Linux follow through on that promise?
I started using Ubuntu in December (hand in my geek card, I know). I tried once before with Mandrake about 5 years ago and it was too much work (honestly) for a hobby OS.
How free are people under Linux? I understand that it's about freedom of information, but when I think about the other possibilities that I might want to have in terms of User Interface manipulation (like the ad seems to suggest) I begin to wonder. Is there an easy (non-code, maybe even scripting) way to change the look of the UI? Is the UI as easy, fun, and colorful as the ad seems to suggest? These may seem like dumb questions to some, but if Linux wants market share they need to build a brand and follow through on that brand promise.
About freedom and intuition in applications: When trying to play a DVD on my girlfriend's brand new Ubuntu build it was necessary to download 3 different media applications (settled on VLC, but even that had a fatal bug sometimes) and sift for a while through google just to install the correct libs. I understand that the DVD format isn't free, but getting everything to work correctly was a bit of a chore. THAT is not freedom. THAT is frustration to a new user. If I hadn't been there I know she would have ditched the OS and gone back to Windows. She even picked up an "Ubuntu for Dummies" book (which did not fully describe getting a DVD to play) so she's by no means lazy about learning Linux.
She doesn't use the computer for too much but shouldn't the bare basics work immediately?
"Basics" are different for everyone (Aha! Another chance to have Linux be about freedom!) so shouldn't there be an option to walk people through what tasks they might use the computer for, then show them to the new user and make it enjoyably interactive to CHOOSE those programs, with an option somewhere to try out and learn other programs?
It's about freedom AND communicating that freedom effectively, and I feel the Linux community would benefit greatly from taking the time to concentrate on that aspect. If Linux (whatever flavor) is really about freedom, then that gift of freedom from developers comes with responsibility. That is a responsibility to coherently express how and what the OS can do.
If there really are a lot of people taking Linux notebooks/netbooks/desktops back, don't you think they at least *tried* tinkering with the OS? To me that says that the initial impression Linux gives may not be a helpful one.
If Linux is trying to get new users, shouldn't the focus be on effectively presenting the OS to new users?
In short, the ad seems cool, but Linux should get that ad out there and they should find a way to follow through on what effectively seems to be Linux's biggest shortcoming.
-
What could be better than Nethack?
bzflag
Atlas stands on the earth and carries the celestial sphere on his shoulders.
Aren't Linux machines technically PCs?
Could anyone please mirror the video?
The problem with marketing Linux, or at least *Linux* people marketing Linux, is that they seem to think that your typical layperson will place value in the same things that a technical Linux user does.
What we have here is an overly-vague advert that places emphasis on it being "free and open" and "choices." A typical end-user does not care about these things. They want a complete, integrated product that works. Free and open means little if nothing to these people.
Where people advocating the wider adoption of Linux truly fail is in realizing what people want, and instead trying to tell them what they want and what they should place value in. What makes Linux so great for some people is what makes it less adoptable for most. The real question is, does your desire for wider Linux adoption trump your desire for an loosely coupled OS with little integration and many choices?
Similes are like metaphors
That video was awesome! Someone needs to do an English translation for us monolingual Americans.
God is imaginary
...but seriously, when was the last time the apple servers got crushed for hosting one video?
linux/apache/linuxfoundation fail
swfdec runs fine on PPC+Linux.
$ make available
The site video.linuxfoundation.org is dead as a dodo, presumably from Slashdotting. Anyone know of a Youtube (or whatever) mirror?
== Jez ==
Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
So wait, we are fighting to give the Iraqis Linux. Have we decided on a distro yet?
It's a really nice commercial, but it sells Linux to Linux users; plus as Bush discovered freedom is in the eye of the beholder. Linux is not a lifestyle product like Macs, but it could be a business product. If you want it to sell tell me (or in this case corporate middle management and small businesses) that it will cost me less, tell me that open office is compatible, tell me that Linux is interoperable, tell me it will run better on older lower spec hardware, and then tell me that the guys who set it up will cost me no more than the guys who set up my windows network. Talk about freedom all you want but freedom will not sell Linux because the OS may be free but the hardware, support and set up is not.
Is it just me or is the Linux Foundation site not working? Hmm... They must be running Windows Server. ;)
"Gnash is not ready for prime time and last I checked, didn't currently work with youtube. Supposedly swfdec does, if you compile the latest build..."
...and that's why "freedom" hasn't caught on with the general public.
Trying to respond to the Mac vs. PC ads is playing right into Apple's ad agency's hands. All doing that does is remind people of their ad. And if you do it badly (like MS did... of course I didn't RTFA so I haven't seen the Linux entrant) it makes you look really bad in comparison. Find another angle.
I think the general public is more concerned with freedom as in beer than the freedom of the software. Most of the general public has heard the term 'open source' but doesn't know what that actually means.
Furthermore, there really isn't much incentive for people to use Linux when their computers all come with an OS installed already, and there is almost never any savings in getting a computer without a proprietary OS installed.
I think a more successful tactic would be to illustrate that MS and Apple are in it for the money, and the GNU/Linux/OSS community is in it because they love it.
Of course, none of this matters until device manufacturers release open drivers for their hardware. Jane and John Doe are going to use what works before they use what's free.
Since the Linux Foundation's site is getting hammered, here are links direct to youtube. I hope that I got the correct vids...feel free to correct me.
First place: What does it mean to be free
Second: The Origin
Third: Linux Pub
Other two finalists: The Future is Open
Challenges at the Office
Maybe not for you. I've been using Linux exclusively on the desktop for the past couple years. In a business setting.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
You can download the flv, mplayer will play it.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
If it gets people scratching their heads - that's a good thing. Then they would at least know that there's such a thing as "Linux," and it can be used like "Mac" or "Windows." Let's at least get the name out. May be some people will even use the google to find out more information. Just don't mention that there's iTunes on Linux...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_fKq8cr2BE
That is the Amitay's ad, on youtube. Enjoy.
My other sig is just as lame
You're running Vista, and Linux is not faster? That's kind of hard to believe.
If your kids want the game everyone is talking about this month, then Linux is not going to satisfy them. If they want LOTS of fun games available for free (and Free), then Linux is the way to go. If they might want to play around with the idea of being a games programmer, Linux is the only way to go. They can take their favorite game and make small changes until they get comfortable making bigger ones.
Your tax software should work fine under Wine, which on Ubuntu "just works".
If giving more money to Redmond made you want to puke, you already have incentive. If making sure your kids can play the latest game is worth more to you than the money spent on Vista plus that pukey feeling, go with Vista. Otherwise, go with Linux.
First, try an Ubuntu Live CD to make sure all your devices "just work". They probably will, but with the Live CD it's so easy to check that there's no reason not to.
Then come back and talk.
No, it features no nerds. It features nothing but some animated coloured-pencil-type line art. It gives absolutely no clear indication that it's talking about something computer-related.
Dan Aris
Fun. Free. Online. RPG. BattleMaster.
The last one uses Ubuntu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAFy4F-Iwrc
Since that wouldn't help me make a pretentious linux nerd joke.
The enemies of Democracy are
Why did they chose that video as a winner? The finalists are way better in my opinion:
Check them out:
Linux Pub: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xceiMJSunIg
Origin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1GYHQhqtbU
The winning video was great. I can see why it was chosen. I think it showed simplicity and beauty for Linux. However -
Check out the one with the penguins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDOL7_7DB7k&feature=related
I nearly fell out of my chair that was so well done.
Sorry if I'm not jaded enough for this audience, but I loved that one. I'd love either one to go out in front of the public.
bzflag
bless you
Shure they all are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
Linux is freedom.
GNU/Linux is Stallman's idea of freedom.
I'll have to agree. Mac and Windows are platforms, Linux is simply a kernel, that doesn't even give you a shell w/out userspace. What people use and interact every day, is the whole GNU/GPL/whatever userspace.
As a matter of fact, you could replace the core kernel with some other Unixish, and most people wouldn't even notice it.
Here's one with subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xceiMJSunIg I wish this one had won, it's simply brilliant ^^
It never ceases to amaze me that people whose bread and butter apps only run on Linux never weigh in on these debates. Try running Cadence or Synopsys tools on Windows or a Mac. The other thing that I never see mentioned is that all development tools for Linux are completely free. I use Windows, OS-X and a couple of different Linux distributions on a daily basis. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I have no idea why this topic becomes emotional for many, however, their motivation is not my concern. Can't we all just get along?
Maybe you want to look up the definition of PC:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
Am I really the only person who's noticed that Microsoft completely failed to understand what the Apple ads were presenting? Apple had two actors who were *actually portraying* the computer/operating systems in question. All of Microsoft's ads seem to think that "I'm a PC" is just shorthand for "I'm a Windows (l)user."
Or is it the general public that's too stupid to understand the difference, and Microsoft is making hay off of that?
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
I am watching the video on Linux. Ubuntu at least has a flash player that works perfectly, at least at Pandora, YouTube, Addictinggames.com, and (unfortunatly) the very few flash ads that get past AB+.
Troll, n. - Someone who disagrees with me
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWEIQIv8zvY
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1GYHQhqtbU
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xceiMJSunIg
The two other finalists:
4/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwNQPairZEM
4/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwmfyeHBFlM
(since the linuxfoundation website is down)
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm one of those wanna-be Linux guys who loves the concept of a free operating system, but because I've never been able to get a handle on the command line unix-y stuff that would make me a linux power user, I've remained tied to Windows. I'd love to grok linux but so far my attempts over the years haven't gotten me very far.
But there's hope yet for Linux. My new HDTV is a Sony KDL40Z4100, which runs a Linux kernel (the printed GPL included with the packaging says so!) I bought a little NAS box from D-LINK, a DNS-323, which runs linux, and I've hacked that so I can log in with SSH and install 3-rd party stuff to extend its functionality. I installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my T61p notebook PC, and so now I can dual boot between XP and Ubuntu. My old tower PC runs Windows 2000, but I don't really use it for much anymore. My Wii is also on my network, and I haven't hacked it, and I don't know what the factory firmware actually runs for its kernel, but it's not Microsoft:) The next PC I build will likely have Ubuntu installed on it as well, since I don't care for Vista and likely won't want Windows 7, either, and based on my experiences using Ubuntu on my notebook, it's pretty close to being ready to replace Windows for me.
So, through no special effort on my part, Windows is actually in the minority among the hosts connected to my LAN at home.
Based on that, I'd say Linux is doing just fine, and is headed in the right direction.
I'll probably have to keep Windows around at home so I can keep up with it for use at work, but aside from that I'll be as close to Microsoft-free as I have been since I went from being a Mac user to Windows 95.
You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
These videos (especially the 'winner') are enough to scare away most beings from the Linux world. I can only hope they were produced during kernel 1 beta days.
I think the whole thing is a bad idea. The more people use Linux, the more malware authors will try to put exploits into the wild. With the current market share of the varied OSes, making malware that hits Linux doesn't give much bang for the buck. Keep the masses on the pay OSes and keep that extra layer of security.
Heroscape, it's like legos combined with anachronistic wargames.
Why is it that every time someone posts a "linux not ready for desktop" comment, at least one person has to pipe up that they're using linux exclusively on the desktop?
That's about as helpful as saying, "Well, the bug doesn't happen on my machine."
Ts. Maybe you are just totally uninformed? ffmpeg supports flv just fine. And it comes preinstalled with every desktop distribution. The only thing missing, is the small Firefox script, that transforms flv playback into a mplayer (or vlc) playback window. (pretty simple. I have done it for many sites myself). And so could every preinstaller.
But in reality (hellooo, yeah. reality. that world out there!), this all is completely and totally irrelevant.
Everybody just has flash preinstalled from his bought computer (noobs), or installs it himself (non-noobs). Same as with the nvidia-drivers. Same as with any program they want to have.
It's nice, that you can change the OS, and nobody can enforce anything. But those who care about openness, and those who are noobs, are two completely separate groups. So in reality, all your made-up problems about Joe and Jane Sixpack-Soccermom wanting open software are non-existant. They are completely shielded and unaware that that discussion even exists.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Comment removed based on user account deletion
They should really just start linking straight to the uTube page for vids. I've yet to see them get /.'d.
The problem with marketing Linux, or at least *Linux* people marketing Linux, is that they seem to think that your typical layperson will place value in the same things that a technical Linux user does.
So the end user wants a system that just works without getting bogged down in all the technical details. I got ya, we should tailor an ad to raise awareness of FOSS options, Linux in this case, without going heavy into the tech stuff.
What we have here is an overly-vague advert that places emphasis on it being "free and open" and "choices." A typical end-user does not care about these things. They want a complete, integrated product that works. Free and open means little if nothing to these people.
Er...ok...well... I guess we could get a little more technical but the whole message behind FOSS is it being free and open.
What I think your missing is that part of marketing, a big part in fact, is getting your name out there. Name recognition is so very important and making sure that name is associated with the right ideas. Having FOSS, Linux, associated with Free and Open seems like a good plan to me.
Once you get the name spread around then you can work on the technical points. However that is not going to happen in small ads.
Really, I know what I'm doing...Ohhhh, look at the shiny buttons!
I watched all 5 awarded videos. Winner fails to communicate, that its an operating system for your computer that is free. French comedians in emergency room are not funny and this big penguin is excellent in strengthening cliche of ridiculous Linux geek. Clay vs brick metaphores could be good, if cut and filmed properly. Never try to squeeze more than one message in one spot. Really, we do not know how to do better? Complaining is surely easy, especially as an AC, but with that many cameras and computers you could expect at least one person to do this right...
Opening - Sad Little Boy, Girl, Man or Woman you pick.
Dialog - My PC was killed by a drive by download. Even though I paid for protection. I couldn't get any Windows software to rescue my personal documents.
Fade to Happy face.
Dialog - Then a friend gave me a free copy of a Linux Live CD. It booted my computer right up. It was no longer dead! All my files were still there!
That was my first experience with Linux. Although I don't use Linux all the time, its nice to know its always there, will always work, and is always free.
How about: software that doesn't nag you, software that doesn't have radical GUI changes just to attract you to the new version, software that doesn't drop features to get you to buy new products or have Pro versions that you have to upgrade to, software that works together instead of trying to funnel you into its proprietary format, software that doesn't try to take over your preferences or install companion applications, software that doesn't expire.
Twinstiq, game news
That's because you are not the target of this commercial. You already know Linux and why you choose it.
No, the goal here is to convince them to try Linux.
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
Both Gnome and KDE are both very usable. I am stumped what people mean when they say "Linux is not usable". Although each desktop is highly configurable and customizable, the fundamentals are still each enough to understand. Click the Firefox button for the web browser. Click the envelope icon for email. Folder navigation is just as expected. Common UI elements (buttons, menus, scroll bars ect) all behave as commonly expected. Exactly what is unusable about modern Gnome and KDE? I honestly want to know.
This exercise in "open source advertising" is a complete disaster.
I can't say I have read every single comment posted so far, but I am amazed that no one else seems to think that every one of those videos was absolutely awful. I mean, really really bad.
And I am not talking about whether they are informative enough or communicate their message well. I just think they are universally dorky. super super dorky.
There's an mplayer-plugin for Firefox that streams flash (and many other formats) right in the browser.
I don't think Linux needs this kind of advertising.
Actually, it does. Not to promote Linux as a product, but to create mindshare. That is, when people think of PC's, they think of Windows and Microsoft, and when they think of Macs, they think of Apple. This despite the fact that PC stands for "Personal Computer," of which Macs are a part. The key is to start getting people to think "Windows or Linux" when they thing PC. Even better to get people to think "Windows, Linux, or OSX." Once people recognize Linux has something to do with a computer, that's when you can let its merits and drawbacks speak for themselves.
Heck, just getting the word Linux out is important. Most people haven't even heard of it, much less know what it is about. And I think this ad really does a good job of that. Though, admittedly, I would have like to see that "O" turn into fancier things, like a computer, or cell phone, or whatnot.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
The desktop hasn't been ready for Linux.
That is changing.
I think the chosen ad is the worst of the nominees. It seems that the people judging the contests are the "linux purist" type. We shouldn't emphasize so much on freedom, as a lot of people don't give a damn about that and they also have the utterly wrong impression that they have freedom even if they are using proprietary software. A Linux ad should focus on the fact that Linux is gratis, stable and fast. "Freedom" is an ideologist's reason to use Linux, not your average Joe's. I'm disappointed.
So the entire point and message of the video is that we should value choice and freedom... and he decides to publish it only in the proprietary and non-standard WMV and Flash formats?
Have you ever tried to call Microsoft or Apple with a question?
Were they able to help you? Or was it easier to post your question to google and find someone else who had the same problem and found a fix?
I have been a Mac, a Microsoft AND and OS2. NEVER has customer service EVER helped with my problems. I guess easy problems that are easily solved are all the help lines are capable of. If it is an easy problem, heck, I have an Internet connection, I know how to type, and I know how to read.
- I live the greatest adventure anyone could possibly desire. - Tosk the Hunted
...who thought that with a few word changes that would make a great Scientology ad?
That last point is most likely the best way to promote the "freedom" side of it that will speak to people who will never see a byte of source code. We may think it's the best part of Linux, perhaps even its very essence, but advertisements should push the pragmatic benefits. I'm inspired by the approach that IBM took in its Linux ad, which should be an example for current efforts. But items #1 and #2 are the most desirable points to typical people, and item #3 makes it feasible to try Linux without doing scary things to your file system.
Also, the advertisements will really be more effective if they point newcomers to a particular distro. Audiences will balk if they decide to try out your product only to find that you're making them do the homework of researching distros first. Ubuntu is the best choice at present, especially considering #3 above.
(And yes, I freely admit I'm talking about what average users want when I myself am a programmer-geek. My guess is as good as anyone's, I suppose.)
I want to have that feeling that there is a company that I can blame, I need to have the feeling that there is a group of people that may benefit from my purchase, and who can be called upon to support that product.
Funny. I'm not getting that from the commercial vendors. Well... I can blame them, and they benefit from my purchase, but support? No, I'm not getting any support. And no, my Microsoft Windows XP Professional, and my Microsoft Office 2007 don't "just work". I get better support from the Linux community.
My other car is a 1984 Nark Avenger.
Yeah, they should have used Silverlight
I'm Linux.
* I am sick of your shit.
* I am tired of your bullshit shennanigans.
* I am tired of having to maintain a 3 language proficency to call your tech support.
* I live in America.
* We like to be self sufficent.
* I am Linux and if I fuck shit up, I have only myself to blame and only myself and the good nature of other to save me.
* I want shit to work.
* I need to know what the fuck I am doing.
* Linux forces me to know what the fuck I am doing.
* If I am not smart enough to figure linux out then I really do need a babysitting OS like Vista.
* I like chrome on my car and I like smoking, drinking, $)(%&#)$ing, and Bruce Campbell movies!
* Jar Jar is a tool.
* I want shit to work MY WAY, NOT YOUR WAY, HIS WAY, OR THEIR WAY.
* GET OFF MY LAWN!
* I AM GOING TO SNEAK INTO YOUR HOUSE AT NIGHT AND CUT OFF YOU BALLS IF YOU TELL ME TO REBOOT ONE MORE TIME!
* I spend my monkey on hookers, strippers, booze, and smokes and GOD DAMN IT I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO SPEND $200 ON THE SOME BS PRETTY LOOKING OS!
* NO ONE GETS LAID FOR RUNNING A MAC OR A PC BUT LINUX CHICKS DIG LINUX GUYS! You don't hear about the Vista hook ups do ya?
I am Linux and Quite frankly you can shut the fuck up!
Apparently my entry didn't make it... :)
-=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
LINUX SUCKS BALLS
THis is why i like Linux... is a about freedom, about doing it your self, about working together about just being different. About not being a company.. about having a nice mascot, about feeling you can do a lot + more.. love the ad..
Saludos, Anibal Ojeda http://anibalnet.nl
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xceiMJSunIg
Needs a better penguin suit though...
No sig today...
Or you can use Gnash, which works fine with youtube.
Shift happens. Fire it up.
Why is it that every time someone posts a "linux not ready for desktop" comment, at least one person has to pipe up that they're using linux exclusively on the desktop?
That's about as helpful as saying, "Well, the bug doesn't happen on my machine."
Because most people don't realize that "the desktop" is not the same as "a desktop".
Let's face facts here people.. Microsoft owns the desktop. Because of that fact, "the desktop" has implied rules. Apple doesn't really fit into "the desktop" because they are a successful niche, and make their own rules and control their own domain.
Linux is not ready for "the desktop" because there is no way to strongarm companies for drivers, whether directly or indirectly by the sheer business sense to provide them. Linux is not ready for "the desktop" because it doesn't fit into those rules. However, it is ready for many many people. I have been running it exclusively at home since 1999. Sure, there are problems with it, but I have just as many problems at work where it's Windows. You work around them. Linux has proven that it is ready for "the server".
I don't want Linux to be ready for "the desktop" because I am not convinced that it would be beneficial to Linux to be on "the desktop". All I can visualize is it losing what makes it special.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
Worksforme (TM) was a valid reason to close bugreports last time I checked...
I haven't seen these commercials, is there a single one like this:
---
I am GNU/Linux operating system. First time I publicly announced on September 27, 1983. I was growing for the past 26 years and I am just becoming mature for personal use though I was available for professional use for at least 15 years now.
My design and implementation are open to everyone's eyes and I can be freely modified and distributed by anyone and this will let me to stay around and become more and more capable regardless of what happens to software and hardware corporations, governments, economies, all while closed source proprietary systems will come and go and their support will fade into history.
I will see you around, our paths will cross now and then and I will be happy to be as useful to you as I am to millions of people around the world.
I am GNU/Linux and I will be there for you.
You can't handle the truth.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Apple's OSX backend *nix based and everyone is loving the new MAC OS. So it's not really Linux itself that a casual computer user is scared of, it's the fact they have to face it head on. OSX takes care of so many things for people, they don't have to worry about learning how to install various dependency to watch a video. They should just be able to watch it. There is plenty of great software for Linux, but there is a good chunk that don't have installation packages (RPMs, etc) which means you will need to compile it and that is very intimating for someone who is use to simple checking email and browsing a few of their favorite sites.
I believe their needs to be an easier way (RPM is close) to installing software and this needs to become the defacto method for software distribution and still provide a way to get the source for those who want to do everything themselves.
I love Linux and three out of four of my computers have Linux, but I deal with computers/servers for a living and so I spend 10+ hours almost every single day with them so I am very comfortable with PC's, most people use them for simple tasks and don't want to get into that much detail, so their needs to be an easier option for them.
Last I checked, gnash worked with youtube. I don't use it now because it doesn't handle all the flash crap that other people in the house want. Youtube is supported though.
You can still get about 99% freedom with a distro that just happens to also ship non-free Adobe Flash (and other single pieces of proprietary software where needed). Since those distros haven't really caught on with the general public either, the reason is clearly somewhere else.
Right, 'thats the only thing missing'
Until someone points out the next retarded lack of polish in Linux, and then that will be the 'only thing missing'
You fanboys really just don't get it, and never will. And next year will always be the year of Linux.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
you have to make sure you have the right codecs as well they might be disabled in ffmpeg as well
... if the "vimeo" video streams had actually RUN on my at-work linux box. (Gentoo, Firefox, ...)
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
So pony up and give them money, and they'll give you a phone number where you can get the handholding you want.
No. The goal here is to "build the Linux brand".
This is like the Aflac duck.
Most people STILL don't know what Aflac sells but everyone knows their name.
Advertising is meant to build name recognition. It is not
intended to make you run out to the corner store and buy
a tub of Pringles.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
...because it's an obvious fallacy and any obvious fallacy should be challenged.
If you let a lie go unchallenged then people get the idea that the lie is true.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
Couldn't have put it better myself. I fully realize that I'm one of two people in a 50 person enterprise that uses Linux on the desktop. But I use it as a consultant, going to customer sites and working with them, training them and so on. An anecdote is not data, but it is proof that Linux is not incapable of being used on the desktop successfully, by more than just developers and admins.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
So sorry that you don't have a family that's friendly to freedom.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
Then Windows hasn't made maturity yet.
If you ONLY take those things windows does well and require Linux do them, then Linux today is as immature as 2000. So it's been 20+ years to get to maturity for Windows too.
And that had a $100Billion company behind it!
I think that might have been part of the point, they go and google "Linux" and find out about it. Or it could have just been bad design.
Which is a somewhat selfish idea, you're right. Everyone who wants to contribute to the community, but wants others to do the same in return if they want to contribute to the same project, is somewhat selfish for that. However, that's what being copy-left is essentially, instead of being copy-neutral. Copy-left means fighting *against* copy-right by forcing it to remain available to the community. I don't mind this force, because I think most businesses play mean, so for them it's saying "Well...I guess we will contribute some code, but only if others give their contributions to us too!" is something that happens naturally for them. They are naturally selfish, and ultimately I think it's good for computer users. Why? Well, look at how much bigger Linux is than BSD, for starters. Essentially, it enforces perpetual openness, and as a user of "free software", I obviously have no problem with that! ^^
I can still install and use commercial software if I want, too, so, I'm OK with this "Freedom Police" situation. lol. That's what it is though, since countries which don't have "copyright" laws, don't care to police them and thus it becomes the same thing as the BSD license for them, aka no license at all.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
If by your comment you were meaning what I think you were meaning, let me elaborate for you:
Linux needs universal packaging to make it EASY to download and install any LINUX program regardless of your distro. Linux software needs to be click, (maybe one or two more clicks), run. Until it gets this right, users will be stuck with a proprietary repository and the software it provides, and not free to easily try out other programs. When Joe Six Pack can use Linux easily by clicking, Linux will be 1000 times more ready for his or her desktop.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
With a decent voiceover it could work. The concept definitely has potential.
What fallacy? It's not the year of Linux. An anon saying he hates Linux means as much as some anon saying he hates Windows/Mac/Unix/whatever. And stating I use Linux, is pointless. SO fucking what if you use Linux, the reasons anon doesn't use/like Linux hasn't gone away.
However, that isn't demonstrated with one person saying "I use linux." PitaBred's post was worthless.
Everybody just has flash preinstalled from his bought computer (noobs), or installs it himself (non-noobs).
And that right there is the problem. Your distro shouldn't have to come with insert-specific-program-you-want-here, you should be able to easily download and install it from the net in a few clicks. Right now Linux can't do this, because of proprietary Linux packaging. Straight binaries are a pain, and users shouldn't have to deal with files like that, they should be able to easily *install* and upgrade, if it's already installed, and Linux program regardless of their distro.
This is a VERY important feature that Linux needs, and as soon as distro companies stop ignoring this problem and getting off on their proprietary repositories so that ALL Linux users will have freedom by helping the community create universal standardized packaging systems and formats, this will remain an issue. You should not be tied to the select software your distro wants you to have, but you should have the freedom to get your software fix directly from the developers themselves if you want to.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
It comes across to me as "feeding the trolls". I see your point, but a naive part of me would like to think that the people reading slashdot have at least a little common sense - enough to not take a childish AC post at face value.
Usually "works for me" posts come across as an attempt to deny than an issue exists, by trying to speak louder than your opponent. If you think it doesn't exist, and want to make a point, that's great -- but only saying "Well I'm using it" doesn't prove anything and it makes the poster come across as defensive.
You mean like this? Or would you rather it have a "Click to install!" button?
Blame your distro if it makes that hard, but I do not think any of the popular distros have trouble with what you are describing.
could have been selling soap. As for free, I continue to be restricted by Linux, it's lack of driver support, those querky things that are different from distro to distro, the app install upgrade and removal process. bah!
For the last time Linux is not an OS. It a kernel on which lots of different OSes ("distros") are built. Package management is one of the main areas of disagreement among distros. For common distros, you pretty much have apt and rpm based distros, among which packages are sharable with little difficulty. In fact, with a little work, alien will convert between the two formats. The distributor of the package can label common distro versions where the package's dependencies are met.
What could be better than Nethack?
Slash'em.
I want an operating system that does what I tell it to and offers tools for facilitating this such that each new task does not require a new application.
That is Linux/UNIX.
Point: Operating systems don't want anything. That's anthropomorphism. People want things. Linux users don't want other Linux users. Linux users want Linux. That's why it looks like it does after Linux users built it. They built what they want. And it serves them well.
Somewhere this "Linux wants users" meme got blown out of all realistic proportion. Red Hat may want users, or Ubuntu, but again, those are people: CEOs, employees, marketers, etc., and they want users because they want revenue.
But Linux? Linux doesn't want anything. And Linux users? Linux users want Linux. That's why they're LINUX USERS.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
I'm a Linux user. I don't want more Linux users. I don't want users at all. I don't have space in my house for them. What I want is Linux.
I want an operating system that does what I tell it to and offers tools for facilitating this such that each new task does not require a new application.
That is Linux/UNIX.
Point: Operating systems don't want anything. That's anthropomorphism. People want things. Linux users don't want other Linux users. Linux users want Linux. That's why it looks like it does after Linux users built it. They built what they want. And it serves them well.
Somewhere this "Linux wants users" meme got blown out of all realistic proportion. Red Hat may want users, or Ubuntu, but again, those are people: CEOs, employees, marketers, etc., and they want users because they want revenue.
But Linux? Linux doesn't want anything. And Linux users? Linux users want Linux. That's why they're LINUX USERS.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
Apple sells an upscale urban life-style.
Microsoft, solid middle-class value. In the home and SOHO markets these strategies have been wildly successful for over thirty years.
These are not system builders - and the OEM Windows install is for all practical purposes free at every price point.
Familiarity breeds content.
Keep it simple, stupid.
Vista and Win 7 offer an attractive refresh of the familiar Windows GUI. Which is really all anyone was demanding.
The Atom netbook - soon to be dual-core - running XP or Win 7 is an attractive and versatile product.
The Vista desktop at WalMart is 64 bit and realistically spec'd with a quad-core CPU, humongous HDD, and 4-8 GB RAM.
Bring it on.
There is damn little in FOSS that isn't ported to Windows or begins as a native Windows app.
There is the enormous backlist of Windows titles.
Where is the single - compelling - reason to migrate to Linux?
Except that the original poster did not raise an issue, but merely said that this was not the year for Linux on the desktop. How else can one respond?
A two-second blast from a 50-watt laser is 100 joules, which is less energy than a baseball traveling at 60 mph.
Out of necessity, Linux already copies Microsoft which copied Macintosh which copied Xerox in terms of GUIness and perhaps other programs.
Linux uses the X Windows system, which, depending on versioning, predates Microsoft Windows. The first version of X, cunningly named "X1", was released in June, 1984, seventeen months before Windows 1.01. So how does Linux copy Microsoft Windows GUIness?
Except the "Free to steal Microsoft products" part. Microsoft both complains and agrees with that, by the way.
"Not ready for the desktop" has two different meanings. In the less commonly used version, it means what it says. In the more commonly used (99% of the time) version, it means "It's not ready to be Windows yet." Fucked up part is that it will never be ready to be Windows due to patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
The person saying "It's not ready for the desktop" wants Windows free as in beer. The person that says "It works on my desktop" doesn't want Windows.
It's entirely dependent on your definition of "ready for the desktop", hence the reason the argument always goes like that. So it's kinda different from "The bug doesn't happen on my machine", since it's truly a matter of opinion.
Why is it that every time someone posts a "Windows isn't ready for the desktop" comment, at least one person has to pipe up that they're using windows exclusively?
That's about as helpful as saying "Well, the bug doesn't happen on my machine."
Thank You. Somebody else finally realised the true goal of advertising!
Now when you advise someone to try linux, instead of hearing "What is linux?", you will hear "Hmm, I've heard of that..."
I think there is a hidden ideology here...that the world should use open source software only. Otherwise, I don't see why it is that important for the average person to use Linux.
I'll go you one better than that: http://jcooney.net/archive/2007/02/01/42999.aspx
"A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
Whist I use linux as my main workstations, I don't think people value freedom (until it's gone - then they complain). What they want is comfort, because Windows tends to annoy you when you use it people want to be familiar with the familiar annoyances rather than the new ones. Thus I slowly refine my ways of introducing people to Linux.
Interesting in this climate where people are trading their freedom for security people don't get freedom or security. The saying works for computers as well, now there is an irony.
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
The problem with promoting Linux has been, and always will be, is the fact the non-computer savvy is leery about trying new things outside the status quo. To be realistic, there are FAR more non-computer literate than there are here on Slashdot.
Let me put it as an analogy: Windows is like a mini-van, Apple is like a VW Bug, and Linux is like a Ferrari. While the Ferrari is a fast and powerful car, it is next to impossible to sell to a family of 5 who weigh the practicality of the vehicle (such as the Bug or mini-van) over the stylish and speed of the Ferrari. In other words, Linux is a hard sell to people who know little about computers and don't want to be bogged down by things. For example, they don't want to have to download and install programs for an OS to play a game that they can install on a Win/Apple box and run without such things.
Linux is a great operating system, don't get me wrong. However, in my opinion (and strictly my opinion) it is WAY too powerful and complex for novice computer user. Also, considering big box stores do not push for giving alternatives to Win/Apple, Linux is almost nonexistent as a choice to anybody who wants something different. Although netbooks are starting to permeate the market with Linux, it is yet to be seen if that will get Linux's ball a rolling.
Honestly though, when it comes to Operating Systems - what a user wants to do with their box outweighs any ad points. I think all OS are great in a lot of areas and have their weaknesses as well. All it really comes down to is what the user wants and will that OS provide a clear and stable method to do such things? Also, will the OS protect it from the unscrupulous hacker in addition to the other safeguards in place? If you want a single OS answer, then I am sorry to say that won't happen. All three OSs do that to some degree and vary by user.
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with a little work
Ya. I know. Thanks for making my point for me.
Alien isn't automatic, and there are packages for specific *versions* of distros even and that should not be a requirement, that should be totally unnecessary if packaging was done correctly. RPMs do NOT work out-of-the-box on DEB distros, nor vise versa. There are no universal packaging formats yet that are used by the main distro package managers.
So-called "third-party" (it's all LINUX) Package management sucks on Linux, and is not yet ready for the masses.
And ya, by Linux I mean GNU/Linux, I don't want to take the time spelling that out every single damn time, so just unknot your panties already.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
You missed the point completely, and no not like that.
The weird meamo or whatever thing: That's how easy it should be, but it needs to be for all Linux distros, not just one.
The repository thing: Once again, no, it needs to be a UNIVERSAL FORMAT. Maybe you should actually read next time.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
Every person has a family, you dope. We have ancestors and collaterals, even if we don't all have descendants.
Yes, RMS is not impressed by people's ability to breed, and thinks we need to stop overcrowding the planet. Though he expresses his point with his usual lack of tact or appreciation of ambiguity or compromise, there's nothing in the least "distasteful" about those ideas. (If you think merely having a baby is some sort of miracle, let me recommend Bill Hicks on the subject, though of course he's even less tactful. But funny.)
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
You do know that this is intimidating and unintelligible gibberish to the video's target audience?
The general public can grab Ubuntu which will offer to install Adobe Flash Player when you try to watch a YouTube video. That's free enough (for the general public) (for now).
It's time.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Except that the original poster did not raise an issue, but merely said that this was not the year for Linux on the desktop. How else can one respond?
The issue here is that "linux isn't ready for the desktop". As it was stated without any supporting evidence and in obvious troll ... no response was necessary - and any attempt at a response to such a broad over-generalization just looks defensive.
Why is it that every time someone posts a "linux not ready for desktop" comment, at least one person has to pipe up that they're using linux exclusively on the desktop?
That's about as helpful as saying, "Well, the bug doesn't happen on my machine."
I largely use Linux on both my home machine, work machine, and laptop with the exception of when I've done Flex development.
I use linux for several key reasons:
1) I love open source software tools (Apache,Tomcat,JBoss)
2) find: When I want to move all the mp3s from a catacomb cluster fuck of directories ITunes duplicated them across to the one I'm currently in sorted by unique I can do it with a simple command.
3) The package managers are leaps and bounds better than anything similar on Windows and to my knowledge Mac, which is surprising.
4) A lot of the fun parts of the Mac OSX UI is available in Compiz.
5) Windows is slow as dog shit for doing most of the builds we do at work.
Honestly, could these commercials be any fucking dumber?
The only reason why people use so called FREE operating systems is because they can get it free of cost.Otherwise fate of these OS's is anybodies guess.
By
Prasoon Cheenan.
PS:-I see no point in registering on every other site on net.
Linux has nothing to do with freedom. It's all about competition. And even that fails miserable.
Let's face it, people love those Apple vids. Have them look at the Linux vids and they get this odd confusing look on their faces. Just like working with Linux is, odd and confusing.