[opensuse-marketing] Ambassador Report - BLUG Installfest

Last Thursday, July 2nd, the Bellingham Linux Users Group held an InstallFest - inviting the community in to try out Linux in its various forms, or get help with any niggling issues. About two dozen people attended, with various degrees of experience. Questions ranged from issues with audio on an old laptop, to the relative merits of different virtualization platforms, to ext file system recovery tools. I talked a bit about features of the upcoming 11.2 release (I'm rather excited about RESTful YaST, myself), demo'd by HP business laptop running openSUSE 11.1, and worked on a few installs. Sadly, we were all thwarted by a newbie with a Dell laptop that just wouldn't allow for partition resizing, no matter what (Neither openSUSE 11.1, Fedora 12, Ubuntu 9.04, nor Debian Lenny would allow for resizing, and no amount of Windows repair would change the state... wierd.) But aside from that, it was a good time, and the Linux desktop was able to be spread to a few new users! The only area I fell short on was media... although I have a substantial supply of the freebie 32-bit DVDs, there was demand only for 64-bit for install. Luckily, I had my retail set handy to share. The DVDs are great for a live environment though, and I saw quite a few floating around. All in all, it was a good event! - James Mason 'bear454' -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 6:39 PM, James Mason<bear454@opensuse.org> wrote:
The only area I fell short on was media... although I have a substantial supply of the freebie 32-bit DVDs, there was demand only for 64-bit for install. Luckily, I had my retail set handy to share. The DVDs are great for a live environment though, and I saw quite a few floating around.
I'm a Luddite. :-) I still usually opt for 32-bit on 64-bit machines. Curious -- what's the breakdown on 64 vs. 32-bit? I'm a bit iffy on producing 64-bit DVDs for openSUSE, since we need to have the lowest common denominator available, and producing dual-layer DVDs is more expensive. Trying to produce 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs would be a bit of a headache, as judging the demand for one vs. the other would be difficult. We're a few months out from producing "promo" DVDs for openSUSE - thoughts? Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

- James Mason 'bear454' On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 10:17 AM, Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier<jzb@zonker.net> wrote:
On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 6:39 PM, James Mason<bear454@opensuse.org> wrote:
The only area I fell short on was media... although I have a substantial supply of the freebie 32-bit DVDs, there was demand only for 64-bit for install. Luckily, I had my retail set handy to share. The DVDs are great for a live environment though, and I saw quite a few floating around.
I'm a Luddite. :-) I still usually opt for 32-bit on 64-bit machines.
You, sir, are not a luddite. Your Eee just doesn't support more the 2 gigs of RAM ;-)
Curious -- what's the breakdown on 64 vs. 32-bit?
At the meeting, of the 20-ish laptops present, only 2 were not 64-bit compatible. But, this isn't an accurate sample. I recall seeing download statistics shortly after the 11.1 release but I can't find them right now - that would yield a better estimate, I think. Even better would be subscription numbers for the update repos, but I don't suppose that's available.
I'm a bit iffy on producing 64-bit DVDs for openSUSE, since we need to have the lowest common denominator available, and producing dual-layer DVDs is more expensive. Trying to produce 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs would be a bit of a headache, as judging the demand for one vs. the other would be difficult.
I see the value in 32-bit for the LIVE images, as that provides the broadest compatibility for first impressions, but for installation, there should be a 64-bit option.
We're a few months out from producing "promo" DVDs for openSUSE - thoughts?
Best,
Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 1:17 PM, Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier<jzb@zonker.net> wrote:
I'm a Luddite. :-) I still usually opt for 32-bit on 64-bit machines.
Curious -- what's the breakdown on 64 vs. 32-bit?
I'm a bit iffy on producing 64-bit DVDs for openSUSE, since we need to have the lowest common denominator available, and producing dual-layer DVDs is more expensive. Trying to produce 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs would be a bit of a headache, as judging the demand for one vs. the other would be difficult.
We're a few months out from producing "promo" DVDs for openSUSE - thoughts?
Around here (Chile and mayeb the same for most countries in Southamerica) there are more 32 bit machines, and hardly you'll find a 64 bit one with more than 2 Gb RAM. So 32 bit DVDs are fine. I guess in other regions 64 bit DVDs might help and work better, but as stated, for my region 32 bit are good. Bests. -- Ricardo Varas Santana http://ricardovs.wordpress.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Hi! I agree with Zonker. I think which is easier to find 32bit computers than 64bit in South America. A suggestion is: provide to install fests one copy 64bit(downloaded from the site) to Ambassadors, with some 32bit DVDs. If Ambassador needs more copies, IMHO, he can replicate this DVD. Best, 2009/7/13 Ricardo Varas Santana <rivarass@gmail.com>:
On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 1:17 PM, Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier<jzb@zonker.net> wrote:
I'm a Luddite. :-) I still usually opt for 32-bit on 64-bit machines.
Curious -- what's the breakdown on 64 vs. 32-bit?
I'm a bit iffy on producing 64-bit DVDs for openSUSE, since we need to have the lowest common denominator available, and producing dual-layer DVDs is more expensive. Trying to produce 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs would be a bit of a headache, as judging the demand for one vs. the other would be difficult.
We're a few months out from producing "promo" DVDs for openSUSE - thoughts?
Around here (Chile and mayeb the same for most countries in Southamerica) there are more 32 bit machines, and hardly you'll find a 64 bit one with more than 2 Gb RAM. So 32 bit DVDs are fine. I guess in other regions 64 bit DVDs might help and work better, but as stated, for my region 32 bit are good.
Bests. -- Ricardo Varas Santana http://ricardovs.wordpress.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
-- /\ Gabriel Stein gabrielstein@gmail.com +55 51 9953 1337 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 10:27 PM, Gabriel Stein<gabrielstein@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree with Zonker. I think which is easier to find 32bit computers than 64bit in South America.
A suggestion is: provide to install fests one copy 64bit(downloaded from the site) to Ambassadors, with some 32bit DVDs. If Ambassador needs more copies, IMHO, he can replicate this DVD.
What I want to avoid is pressing different discs. If we *have to, we will, but it increases costs and generates additional headaches for shipping, etc. Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

On Tuesday 14 July 2009 04:14:33 pm Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier wrote:
On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 10:27 PM, Gabriel Stein<gabrielstein@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree with Zonker. I think which is easier to find 32bit computers than 64bit in South America.
A suggestion is: provide to install fests one copy 64bit(downloaded from the site) to Ambassadors, with some 32bit DVDs. If Ambassador needs more copies, IMHO, he can replicate this DVD.
What I want to avoid is pressing different discs.
If we *have to, we will, but it increases costs and generates additional headaches for shipping, etc.
Best,
Zonker
Maybe what about creating a DVD with both 32 and 64 bit images of live CD's? It would be dead easy to fit 4 live CD iamges right? -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

2009/7/14 Piotrek Juźwiak <piotrek.juzwiak@googlemail.com>:
Maybe what about creating a DVD with both 32 and 64 bit images of live CD's? It would be dead easy to fit 4 live CD iamges right?
Not so much. Another consideration is that we don't want a separate image that has to be maintained. Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
participants (5)
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Gabriel Stein
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James Mason
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Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier
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Piotrek Juźwiak
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Ricardo Varas Santana