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January 27th, 2009

I am Linux (and so can you!)

Posted by Joe Brockmeier @ 11:21 am

Categories: Building Community

Tags: Advertisement, Video, Linux Foundation, Linux, UNIX, Operating Systems, Open Source, Software, Joe Brockmeier

If you watch TV, you’re likely to see tons of Windows ads and Apple’s “I’m a Mac” ads, but where are the Linux ads? There have been a few TV ad campaigns featuring Linux (thanks IBM!) but overall, Linux is absent from the airwaves. The Linux Foundation wants to do something about that.

Specifically, the Linux Foundation is sponsoring a “We’re Linux” video contest to drum up videos from Linux users about what Linux means to them. The grand prize is a trip to Tokyo for the Japan Linux Symposium in October 2009.

Originally the contest was called “I’m Linux” but was changed after feedback suggesting that “we” would be more appropriate for a community driven effort.

Can grassroots compete with big money? Well, the Linux community can certainly do better than Microsoft’s Seinfeld ads. But that’s setting the bar a bit low. Given the scope and breadth of the Linux community, I don’t doubt that some of the entries are going to be staggeringly good. (I really hope so, as I’m one of the contest judges…)

Certainly, they have to be good to compete with the big money in terms of distribution. As the Linux Foundation pointed out on its videos page, they don’t have the budget to carpet bomb the airwaves with ads.

To work on advertising Linux, the community will have to be creative and clever. To get people to spread the videos beyond the immediate ranks of Linux users, the videos are going to have to be worth people’s time. Either humorous, or really interesting in some way.

This would be a great project for film school students and budding marketeers. Success might not only net a free trip to Tokyo, but also wide-scale exposure.

The winning video will be announced in April at the Collaboration Summit in San Francisco.

Joe 'Zonker' BrockmeierJoe 'Zonker' Brockmeier is a longtime FOSS advocate, and currently works for Novell as the community manager for openSUSE. Prior to joining Novell, Brockmeier worked as a technology journalist covering the open source beat for a number of publications, including Linux Magazine, Linux Weekly News, Linux.com, UnixReview.com, IBM developerWorks, and many others. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations. Follow Zonker on Twitter.

Email Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 217 Talkback(s)
You forgot the exclamation point ! as in != (NT)
NT (Read the rest)
Posted by: alaniane@... Posted on: 02/06/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
No worms  Christian_<>< | 01/27/09
Open source = open security holes  shellcodes_coder | 01/28/09
Oh really?  storm14k | 01/28/09
If...  SimonUK | 01/28/09
security holes  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
Your analogy is exactlty backward.  Crestview | 01/29/09
No, looks like it's you that's backward.  GOTBO | 01/30/09
wow!  crabbypup | 01/30/09
Funny, the US Government ...  914four | 01/29/09
Tired old bromide.  akulkis | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  Zonker_zZDNet Moderator | 01/27/09
Who's going to pay to show these ads?  hickum | 01/27/09
Youtube is bigger than you think...  storm14k | 01/28/09
It is one thing to launch a career  GuidingLight | 01/28/09
RE: It is another thing to be as smart as GL  n0neXn0ne | 01/28/09
Freedom...?  Wolfie2K3 | 01/28/09
RE: dom-Free ?  n0neXn0ne | 01/28/09
I'm only responding to what YOU posted...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/28/09
Not really.  seanferd | 01/28/09
Response to Wolfie  914four | 01/29/09
You've not heard of L'Oreal?  slim@... | 01/29/09
show me the money!  Goodbye WinWorld | 01/30/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
The best pack of lies yet!  linux for me | 01/27/09
No lies, just truth  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Above post NWOR (not worthy of reply) (nr)  Basic Logic | 01/27/09
But you replied anyway.  James T. Kirk | 01/27/09
But what if they want to reply? (NT)  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Loverock isn't a profesional at anything  todbran@... | 01/27/09
OMG U TOLD M3!!!one1!  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Professional TROLL Maybe (nt)  Custard_over_2x_Pie | 01/27/09
Professional FUDGE dispenser maybe...  914four | 01/29/09
You're simply a Windows user  GoPower | 01/27/09
I do use Windows!  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Strict linux free environment ... NOT  Brent R Brian | 01/28/09
Wrong  Loverock Davidson | 01/28/09
Re: "I do use Windows!"  The Rifleman | 01/28/09
Re: "I do use Windows!"  AllTimeTechSlave | 01/29/09
Yep. Us "eagle-eyed" Linux user can see what's right in front of us.  bswiss | 01/28/09
ABSOLUTELY IGNORING LOVEROCK...(nt)  rjacksix | 01/29/09
Linux is all around you  david@... | 01/29/09
"IT employee" =/= "IT professional" (n/t)  bswiss | 01/28/09
RE: The best pack of lies yet!  Joe Dufflebag | 01/28/09
Windows and Linux  david@... | 01/29/09
Message has been deleted.  transposeIT | 01/28/09
Linux ads!  B.O.F.H. | 01/27/09
LOL!  JoeMama_z | 01/27/09
Those are pretty funny (NT)  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
I found them to be pretty lame. These are better IMHO:  914four | 01/29/09
those are the best  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
Crawl back under your rock, NOW!  InAction Man | 01/27/09
Lets direct that anger elsewhere  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Message has been deleted.  InAction Man | 01/27/09
Settle down  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Go back to your games and porn movies  InAction Man | 01/28/09
Yes!  Loverock Davidson | 01/28/09
He can't  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
There is something seriously wrong with you  Crestview | 01/29/09
RE: "There is something seriously wrong with you"  Dave32265 | 01/29/09
Shhhhh  kozmcrae | 01/27/09
Why would that bother me?  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Well, I actually know what you mean.  kozmcrae | 01/27/09
Dear Lovey,  914four | 01/29/09
Message has been deleted.  todbran@... | 01/27/09
duplicate post, deleted.  InAction Man | 01/27/09
That was his plead to be spanked again.  InAction Man | 01/27/09
How original  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
So...?  914four | 01/29/09
loverock? LOL!  Crestview | 01/29/09
We are Linux  Brent R Brian | 01/27/09
Very funny!  Loverock Davidson | 01/27/09
Reality can be funny, indeed (nt)  InAction Man | 01/28/09
You forgot...  914four | 01/29/09
non-techies can use linux  david@... | 01/29/09
I don't need no stinking Linux disk  Crestview | 01/29/09
Then why are you bothering  alaniane@... | 02/06/09
My goodness, Rockhead ...  OButterball | 01/28/09
Nah thats not it  Loverock Davidson | 01/28/09
Uh, no, Stonepusher ...  OButterball | 01/28/09
That right  wizardb@... | 01/29/09
The year is 2009.  SimonUK | 01/28/09
Questions/comments  Viva la crank dodo | 01/28/09
Hey Lovey!  djchandler | 01/28/09
The truth methinks...  914four | 01/29/09
There is nothing more scary than that, it seems. (nt)  hkommedal | 01/30/09
No text  seanferd | 01/28/09
Yep - we can all go home now.  Timpraetor | 01/29/09
so what is your connection to Microsoft  ismoore | 01/29/09
Ha ha ha!  spamagnet | 01/29/09
...nobody wants Linux  rcbarr83@... | 01/29/09
Yes, it must be a PICNIC  914four | 01/29/09
Talk about Fear  rarsa | 01/29/09
Turing test?  daboochmeister | 01/29/09
Now that is a lot of work just to get a linux system installed and running.  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
Yes Mr. Rock  Dave32265 | 01/29/09
People do want Linux  david@... | 01/29/09
I'm a technician  Crestview | 01/29/09
My cousin used to run Linux  Crestview | 01/29/09
overdone as usual  cwallen19803@... | 02/05/09
Why does "Linux" need to advertise?  ye | 01/27/09
Good question  AndyCee | 01/27/09
Actually you missed the biggest campaign.  kozmcrae | 01/27/09
Linux feeds on the community.  T1Oracle | 01/27/09
Now that's why a Linux killer is needed  Patanjali | 01/27/09
Really... Does it mean Linux is some sorta Vampire?  Wolfie2K3 | 01/28/09
Can't resist!!!  kingttx | 01/29/09
Firefox advertised, and it hasn't done it any harm.  Zogg | 01/27/09
Sales? No. Profits? No.  kozmcrae | 01/27/09
But there ARE LInux SALES;  nancyjones36507@... | 01/28/09
They don't know how to deal with the terrible security in Winodws.  kozmcrae | 01/28/09
Linux does't need to advertise...  storm14k | 01/28/09
Increase market share  Michael Kelly | 01/28/09
call it "mind share" instead, and I'll agree...  bswiss | 01/28/09
Corporate media support.  djchandler | 01/28/09
To raise awareness  rarsa | 01/29/09
We are Linux, resistance is futile.  mikefarinha | 01/27/09
Do you think you speak for all Windows users?  kozmcrae | 01/27/09
Says you. *NT*  mikefarinha | 01/28/09
And your Mother has a wooden leg.  kozmcrae | 01/28/09
Just wanted to make the point.  mikefarinha | 01/28/09
Good one!  none none | 01/28/09
To my credit  mikefarinha | 01/28/09
Oh, the irony !  bswiss | 01/28/09
Before using a Star Trek reference  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
Those are just labels  Crestview | 01/29/09
Linux Foundation is, in fact, big money. But why is server OS adv on TV?  Zukuzu | 01/27/09
The biggest Linux ad campaign is right under your feet.  kozmcrae | 01/28/09
Lovey, You lost it with "because nobody wants linux... big companies don't"  Basic Logic | 01/27/09
OOPS.... Above reply was to Loverock's original post (nr)  Basic Logic | 01/27/09
He was only pleading to be spanked again.  InAction Man | 01/27/09
DFTT!  rdiekema@... | 01/28/09
Just go to YouTube  JoeMama_z | 01/27/09
Why is it not ready?  Linux User 147560 | 01/27/09
It's not that hard....  JoeMama_z | 01/27/09
Yea that is the problem...  Qbt | 01/27/09
Many Windows users need the same amount of support  GoPower | 01/27/09
Most people on Windows, Mac or Linux  Custard_over_2x_Pie | 01/27/09
The only reason...  rdiekema@... | 01/28/09
Irony is these are the same people  Linux User 147560 | 01/28/09
The Devil you know.....  JoeMama_z | 01/28/09
Nice try...  Linux User 147560 | 01/28/09
@ Linux User.....  JoeMama_z | 01/29/09
average user  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
Hardly an "epic fail"  Dave32265 | 01/29/09
Thats also true of Windows.  storm14k | 01/28/09
I said eco system....  JoeMama_z | 01/28/09
Then I can agree with you...  storm14k | 01/28/09
Exposure to Linux is exponential  Ole Man | 01/28/09
What doesn't it have?  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
13-year-old, non-techie girls have been installing & using Linux since 2002  bswiss | 01/28/09
Since you were 7???  nrkmann@... | 01/29/09
The Windows techies have a reason to hate Linux  jvin248 | 01/30/09
"There"?  Qbt | 01/27/09
Then PLEASE don't go there...  storm14k | 01/28/09
*points to the future*  Ole Man | 01/28/09
Interesting analogy...  Dave32265 | 01/29/09
Desktop Linux  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
There....  JoeMama_z | 01/27/09
We are Linux  Ole Man | 01/27/09
Ah, Ole Man?  GuidingLight | 01/28/09
Have you not been versed in the theory  Ole Man | 01/28/09
I am Linux = I am Loser  Qbt | 01/27/09
You lose!!!  InAction Man | 01/28/09
Your self loathing is readily apparent...  Linux User 147560 | 01/28/09
Actually.  SimonUK | 01/28/09
Brilliant!  djchandler | 01/28/09
You forgot the exclamation point ! as in != (NT)  alaniane@... | 02/06/09
Great  NoThomas | 01/28/09
I think it would be cool if...  nancyjones36507@... | 01/28/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  SysAdminII | 01/28/09
have to jumpstart Windows to get it up an running....  Ole Man | 01/28/09
Delta Airlines embedded displays  daboochmeister | 01/29/09
Linux Guy Ads  Jkirk3279 | 01/28/09
Windows Vista Gameloader Edition  frederik1 | 01/28/09
Go buy another machine  tonymcs@... | 01/28/09
Gotta wonder...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/28/09
Re: Gotta wonder  frederik1 | 01/29/09
Hmm... Something wrong here...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/31/09
but  Azathothh | 01/29/09
If you like Vista on a 1GB Pentium M ...  mwagner@... | 01/29/09
Go Loverock!  simonjpearce@... | 01/28/09
Have pity on the poor guy.  FantaStyx | 01/28/09
Pacific Time Zone default...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/28/09
Holy Cow LOL...  Dave32265 | 01/29/09
No need to advertise. Linux zealots are already clogging the tech sites...  transposeIT | 01/28/09
check your facts  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  Zonker_zZDNet Moderator | 01/28/09
An Interesting Commerical  DarienHawk67 | 01/28/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  mwagner@... | 01/29/09
Linux is not a "consumer" OS  SteveMak | 01/29/09
Er, SteveMak...  enderland@... | 01/29/09
Perception (awareness) set ones reality  LazLong | 01/29/09
I would have to respectfully disagree.  jackdeth@... | 01/29/09
I got Dreamweaver working in Linux  david@... | 01/29/09
I do not know how you can be so clueless...  agohige | 01/29/09
Super Bowl ad?  enderland@... | 01/29/09
Chicken before the egg?  jef531 | 01/29/09
comsumerism  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
well said  david@... | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  el56 | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  andrwmund | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  varick | 01/29/09
because  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  LaVerne Wheeler | 01/29/09
Plain English  tmsbrdrs | 01/29/09
The Best Ads  rjacksix | 01/29/09
PLEASE...No Flames about Novell...(nt)  rjacksix | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  david@... | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  david@... | 01/29/09
The one thing, no worms  Crestview | 01/29/09
OS2 warp died a horrible death  Crestview | 01/29/09
OS2 is not like Linux  david@... | 01/29/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  jackdeth@... | 01/29/09
That's the way to go !  jlmuzzio | 01/29/09
Re-installing Windows illustrated the differences  Olorin_z | 01/30/09
Hi I'm a PC and I get lied to by da man  Randalllind | 01/31/09
RE: I am Linux (and so can you!)  Charles Norrie | 02/01/09

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