Free Software Advocacy Website???

[pabut]

Does anyone one know of a simple website designed for the common man that advocates free software??

FSF.org isn't it .... I'm talking something that would make sense to the casual computer user ... the kind that goes to BestBuy to buy a computer.

I've had this idea of printing up a flyer and posting it in places like the bulletin board in the supermarket ... or public library ... with little tear offs on the bottom with a URL for a website to go to for more information ...

My thought is something like:
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FREE SOFTWARE!!!!
Totally legal
no strings attached
no kidding

Discover the world of FREE / OPEN SOFTWARE
Find free community supported alternatives to applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Photoshop, and even WINDOWS.

To find out more go to http://www.blah-blah-blah.org

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Then the hard part if the website ..... I could put something together ... but I don't want to re-invent the wheel ....

Needs to be simple .... not a hard sell .... not just advocating Linux .... If we could just get folks to you open office on Windows that would be a win. Then maybe after they've had a few good experiences they'll come back for more ...

Any thoughts???? Has it been done before???? Anybody want to help???

[greggh]

Does anyone one know of a simple website designed for the common man that advocates free software??

FSF.org isn't it .... I'm talking something that would make sense to the casual computer user ... the kind that goes to BestBuy to buy a computer.

I disagree with you on FSF.org not being it. I think FSF.org explains clearly and simply what free software is and why people should use it. http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software

[pabut]

greggh,
Thanks for the reply ..... I agree with everything on the page .... but to the average casual computer user ... they don't care ... and they never will ... I'd be surprised if they got past the first paragraph before their eyes glossed over.

I'm looking for something that puts it in simple terms .... if you need a word processor use Open Office, if you want to edit photos use GIMP ... and here's where to download it .... and here's how you ask a question.

It's like global warming (if you believe it) .... most people don't care ..... but if you tell them they can cut their electrical bills in half if they put solar cells on their roof ... you get their attention.

[dann]

I guess that would depend on what you goal is here. Are you promoting FreeSoftware or Free Software? Those two ideas are not necessarily one and the same.

You are looking for a list that says if you want a word processor like Word try OpenOffice and have that appeal to the "common person" because it is free as in cost. But that ignores the point of FreeSoftware with regards to the 4 freedoms FreeSoftware provides. It promotes the software as free in cost not free as in liberty.

That being the case you may just want to make a flyer on your own. It would be a easier.

[pabut]

I guess what I want to do is a "bait and switch" or "hide the vegetables in the casserole"

I subscribe to the four freedoms .... but to the casual user it's a lot to hit them with when all they want to do is use a word processor ..... understanding the four freedoms shouldn't be a prerequisite to using FLOSS.

However, I think as the casual user has some success with FLOSS maybe the deeper meaning will become evident.

I've tried to have this conversation with the "soccer Moms and Dads" I socialize with ..... first they don't get it .... then they think I'm nuts ..... or at the very least a deranged socialist "why would anyone spend time writing software just to give it away?" I ask them why they give of their time to maintain soccer fields or coach teams? The usual answer is because their kids play ... and they do it for their benefit ... but then I ask about the kids that aren't theirs ... how come they don't send those parents a bill??? So then they say they do it because they enjoy it .... and the other kids appreciate it (well most of them any way ) Well I say ... now you understand why someone would write software and give it away .... usually there's an need .... then the fun of writing it ... then the joy of others using it.

The problem is ... thanks to the software mega-millionaires everyone thinks you get rich by writing software. So there is an irrational monetary value put on it ..... perpetuated by the outrageous prices software companies charge for their product. It's like breakfast cereal ... you're paying more for the package and the marketing then the contents of the box.

I assert that if we just looked at the programmer effort that goes into commercial software vs. the effort that goes into FLOSS and assign values to that effort .... the FLOSS software would cost more. We need to make this value evident.

I think they need to experience the value first ..... then hopefully they will become members of the community.

So .... I guess in summary ..... I want to promote FreeSoftware by using Free software

[dann]

When you put it that way it seems like you already have your answer, it just needs refinement. You did a fantastic job making your point. Create that brochure and put what you said somewhere at the end.

[eddie]

caveat emptor

http://cli.homelinux.net/CLIapps.html
http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html
http://www.osalt.com/
http://downloadpedia.org/Open_Source_Al ... l_Software
http://whdb.com/2008/the-top-50-proprie ... ernatives/

google "list of open source equivalents"
google "list of open source alternatives"

[pabut]

Thanks guys! I plan on working on the flyer and the website mock up soon ....

Having a "planned" power outage this weekend at work .... the only difference between planned and unplanned is I can arrange my social calendar around the planned outage .... the pain is still the same