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Date:      Thu, 1 Apr 1999 19:04:31 -0600 (CST)
From:      Licia <licia@o-o.org>
To:        Jim Mock <jim@corp.au.triax.com>
Cc:        freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: User Registration [was Is there a "how did you hear about us?" ]
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.4.05.9904011859020.26408-100000@o-o.org>
In-Reply-To: <19990327103601.A40738@corp.au.triax.com>

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[trimmed a bit :) ]

On Sat, 27 Mar 1999, Jim Mock wrote:
> On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 at 14:32:04 -0600, Licia wrote:
> > 
> > This is a good point.  I run into this problem now and then with
> > various applications I've worked on, and a similar problem with
> > phone numbers.  I'm not much of an international person though.  Can
> > you show me a simple template for addresses and phone numbers that
> > will work clearly and simply for US and international users?  If so,
> > even if this project isn't approved, I'll incorporated those
> > templates into other things I work on :)
> >
> 
> All it'd really need is Zip/Postal code box that doesn't complain if
> it's not 5 characters (mine's only 4) and a phone number box that can
> handle phone numbers that don't fit the US (xxx)xxx-xxxx format.  If
> the phone number box is just a blank line (instead of having ()'s for
> the area code) it should be ok.  Other than that, it'd be the normal
> address, city, state/province type thing.  Don't forget the country
> line either ;)
>  

(nod) I decided on a freeform address field for now, for any software I
do that doesn't need to parse out bits of it :)

> > I personally think this would be a Good Idea.  Would that person
> > accept responsibility for snail mailing confirmation back to the
> > user with their 'FreeBSD Handle' for future reference?  I could
> > handle doing so in the US, with no difficulty if need be...
> >
> 
> I agree.. I think this is an excellent idea.  I'm not quite sure on
> the 'FreeBSD Handle' thing though.. care to elaborate on that bit?
> 

I was thinking of using some sort of whois type handle in the FreeBSD user
registration database to allow us to separately track user demographics and OS
installs with the same system... then I came to my senses, and realized we can
do this basically with email addresses, and failing that just letting them
enter some string they want to use to identify themselves with :)

> 
> I can handle Australia.. or at least the eastern half of the country.
> I'm willing to do the whole thing if no one from the western end steps
> up to volunteer.
> 

Wow, we are getting -lots- of interest in this area! :)

> > I personally think it's a good contribution, and if this project
> > works out could be a benefit to the entire community... Imagine
> > actually having better numbers as to how many people are installing
> > FreeBSD, and on how many computers :)
> >
> 
> I agree.. even if it is a somewhat "small" thing to do, if it works
> out, the benefits could be huge.  Once we get some decent numbers,
> they can be given to Corel, Oracle, Star Division, etc., and say "hey,
> we've got some good numbers here, how about a native port".. it'd
> definetly be a step in the right direction.
> 

The only really 'small' contribution in my mind is not doing anything :)
Handling snail mail registrations is an unknown quantity I think, and could
turn into tens of hours a month easily in some countries which would mean
a huge number of registrations we just wouldn't have otherwise...

     [ licia@o-o.org ] [ http://www.o-o.org/~licia/ ] [ Alias : Ladywolf]
     [ Telnet to o-o.org and log in as bbs ]    [ ssh -l bbs -C o-o.org ]
     [        A happy user of FreeBSD : http://www.freebsd.org/         ]

  main(){int num[4]={1768122732,762265697,1919889007,103};printf("%s\n",num);}



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