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Date:      Wed, 3 Mar 1999 22:49:59 +1100
From:      Jim Mock <jim@corp.au.triax.com>
To:        eT <eT@KryptoKom.DE>
Cc:        FreeBSD Chat <freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG>, FreeBSD Advocacy <freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG>
Subject:   Re: what's in a name?
Message-ID:  <19990303224958.A3681@corp.au.triax.com>
In-Reply-To: <36DD15A7.DB479EDB@kryptokom.de>
References:  <36DD15A7.DB479EDB@kryptokom.de>

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On Wed, 03 Mar 1999 at 11:57:44 +0100, eT wrote:
> you know, this whole lin*x thing has me baffled.  ... i am
> wondering why linux has a larger user/suport base in the first
> place?

Plain and simple.. publicity.  Linux is what's talked about in the
news.  Alot of people don't even know they have any other options.
Blame it on the media.. it seems they like to call all free unices
"Linux".

> could it be that the word linux just 'sounds' more like a friendly
> operating system than FreeBSD?  and that because of this new users
> are more susceptible to using it?
>

Eh?  How does Linux sound more user-friendly?  

> i mean, just all the different versions of linux out there would
> make me think twice about even starting off with it?
>

There's different *BSDs too.  

> is linux perhaps a more 'marketable' name than FreeBSD?
>

Doubtful.  Why would it be?

> why not let's change the name FreeBSD to some variant of linux?  i
> agree that the time for advocacy has come upon us more than ever
> before!
>

I think you've spent too much time "phoning home" eT.  There's nothing
wrong with the name.. the problem is getting the word out that there
are alternatives to Linux.  I mean you can call a lump of shit sugar,
but it's still a lump of shit right?  The point is, the name's got 
nothing to do with it, doing something about the situation is what 
it's all about.

Some media outlets are finally catching on.. there was a post from 
Brett Glass earlier about ZDTV mentioning FreeBSD, and even Bill Gates
himself has mentioned FreeBSD.  Articles need to be written and sent
to magazines.. writing articles for sites like The FreeBSD 'zine and
Daemon News.. posting stuff on Slashdot.. getting a friend to convert
from Linux or Windows to FreeBSD.. starting a user group in your 
area (unless you're in my boat and in a technologically challenged 
area, i.e., you mention the word computer and people look at you like 
you've got a big snot hangin' from your nose, let alone bring up UNIX
or FreeBSD).. those are the kinds of things that need to be done, not
a name change.

Anyway, I'm rambling.. time to shut up, but I think you get my point.
Btw, anyone interested in contributing an article to The FreeBSD 'zine,
drop me an email or hunt me down in #FreeBSD on Undernet, and we'll go
from there.

Later,

-- 
: Jim Mock			| [jim@corp.au.triax.com]	:
: System Administrator		| http://www.triax.com/		:
: Triax Internet Services	| -----------------------------	:
: Portland, OR USA		| The FreeBSD 'zine		:
: Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia	| http://www.freebsdzine.org/	:
: FreeBSD: The Power To Serve	| http://www.freebsd.org/	:


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