Is this an official SuSE list?
Just so that I am clear on the origins and aims of this list (something I should have checked a short time ago): is this list "run" by SuSE UK and if so what are the aims of the list and is the proposed web site to be stored on an independent server or on a SuSE based server? I use SuSE anyway ;-) always have since version 6.0, so I'm not fussed about the *origin* of the list, but perhaps there needs to be some clarification from SuSE (as the originators) as to commercial and services promotion on the OSIE web site proper and also on the list. As an example (if I'm making sense yet), would it be a good idea to provide prospective school-users of Linux with commercial alternative ideas on the list and the web site, or is that taboo? If taboo, then how will we promote Linux services and commercial open source ideas freely within the OSIE? Maybe I'm just confused ;-) The pictures of the meeting were enlightening. Also, the work Michael Brown has done so far on a *test* web site is excellent! Will the site be permanently posted attached to the Fen Systems site or is there plans afoot to move it to an autonomous area?? Paul
Yes this is an official SuSE list. As you know, I started it and I'm the owner of it. However, in the spirit of open source and free speech it is available to anyone who wants to discuss Linux in education and is not limited to customers of SuSE. As to commercial recommendations / advertisements on the list, the short answer is no, it was never intended for such a purpose. However, factual comparitive comments of the type "on Red Hat/Mandrake/whatever you can do this and I find it useful/annoying/whatever" are absolutly fine as far as I'm concerned. As far as the use of this list to discuss OSIE structure and organisation is concerned, I think there is now general agreement that this discussion should now move elsewhere while the SuSE list can maintain its previous role as a place for general discussion of Linux in schools and technical help, at least until OSIE moves out of its current embrionic phase. OSIE organisation and structure generally - I think sourceforge is a good place to create a discussion forum. I have no problem at all with www.osie.org.uk as the website being hosted by Fen Systems - however I do think that Michael had jumped the gun a bit by putting a site up before a method of organising content had been agreed by the various interested parties. I'm sorry, Michael, but it also really bothers me that the site has a pop-up advertsisement on it for UK2.net - again I don't recall this having been discussed. I have been very busy in the last few days and I'm dismayed that the list has become a bit flamish - (please note that looking after education stuff for SuSE can only take up a farily small part of my time ...). The answer is to have a clearer structure for OSIE - note that does not necessarily mean a more formal one. But there must be a general consensus from those who are interested before actions are taken or statements made on behalf of the organisation as a whole. And though the group may be sponsored and supported in certain ways by commercial interests there must be a very clear separation between those interests and the official public face of the group, otherwise it will not gain respect. Michael and Malcolm - I'll contact you both off the list later today if possible to chat about these general issues. On Tue, 20 Mar 2001, paul.munro1 wrote:
Just so that I am clear on the origins and aims of this list (something I should have checked a short time ago): is this list "run" by SuSE UK and if so what are the aims of the list and is the proposed web site to be stored on an independent server or on a SuSE based server?
I use SuSE anyway ;-) always have since version 6.0, so I'm not fussed about the *origin* of the list, but perhaps there needs to be some clarification from SuSE (as the originators) as to commercial and services promotion on the OSIE web site proper and also on the list.
As an example (if I'm making sense yet), would it be a good idea to provide prospective school-users of Linux with commercial alternative ideas on the list and the web site, or is that taboo? If taboo, then how will we promote Linux services and commercial open source ideas freely within the OSIE?
Maybe I'm just confused ;-)
The pictures of the meeting were enlightening. Also, the work Michael Brown has done so far on a *test* web site is excellent! Will the site be permanently posted attached to the Fen Systems site or is there plans afoot to move it to an autonomous area??
Paul
-- Roger Whittaker SuSE Linux Ltd The Kinetic Centre Theobald Street Borehamwood Herts WD6 4PJ ---------------------- 020 8387 1482 ---------------------- roger@suse-linux.co.uk ----------------------
On Wed, 21 Mar 2001, Roger Whittaker wrote:
I'm sorry, Michael, but it also really bothers me that the site has a pop-up advertsisement on it for UK2.net - again I don't recall this having been discussed.
Let me clear this up once and for all: I registered the domain names osie.org.uk and osie.org shortly after BETT 2001. I did so simply in order that, when the time came to discuss names, the relevant domains for OSIE would be guaranteed to be available. I don't know how many people on this list will have tried to find names that fit all the criteria: a) Easy to remember b) Fairly unambiguous group name <-> domain name mapping (consider e.g. B&Q <-> www.diy.com for an example of what should be avoided) c) Domain name available d) Not already a registered company name e) Not a registered trade mark but it's not a trivial task. Item (c) in particular can be problematic - it is very hard to guess which domain names do or don't exist without searching for the specific domain name in question. There is also the risk that a domain name can easily be snapped up by someone else at any time. The solution is to register possible domains *before* deciding for definite on a name. You can easily spend hours choosing a name only to then find that the domain name is already taken - much better to register the domain first so that you can then propose the name secure in the knowledge that the domain is available for use. So, I registered the domains osie.org.uk and osie.org. With UK2.net, who (IME) provide an extremely good hosting service for virtually no cost. Since there was no guarantee that the domains would ever actually be used, I left them pointing to the only mildly suitable content I had available at the time: the Fen Systems Resource Library (which, if you care to examine it, contains no references to Fen Systems and no links (other than for feedback) to the Fen Systems main site). I did not pay to have the banner ad removed - it seemed pointless for a domain that was only registered to ensure that the name was free! I used osie.org.uk in a few e-mail addresses for posts to uk.education.schools-it; this was done in order to ensure that it did not (wrongly) look as though Fen Systems was organising the March 12 event. At no time have I *ever* publicised the web addresses www.osie.org.uk or www.osie.org. Kevin pointed out that some people were looking at www.osie.org.uk, even though I had never asked people to or publicised the web address, and suggested that, rather than the Resource Library, it might be appropriate to put some kind of placeholder page up. Since this seemed like a reasonable idea to me, and since no-one else objected, I did so. The UK2.net banner ad remains in place because I have not paid to have it removed - the site is *not* public and, AFAIK, we still haven't even decided for certain which domain(s) we will use. I hope that clears a few things up. If the temporary presence of a pop-up advert on a non-public site which no-one should be looking at with a domain name that may still be discarded offends anyone, then I will pay the £25 to have it taken off! :-) Michael
participants (3)
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Michael Brown
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paul.munro1
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Roger Whittaker