OpenOffice Metro Ads

I fully support your project and OpenOffice.org Good luck.
Ken Saunders

I think this is a great idea, right in the tradition of Open Source: developed and promoted by the Community. Open Source, Open Funding.

Cosmo Lee

I contributed, but I'm not seeing the dollars going up very much on your chart, nor have I seen this as heavily promoted on the usual websites (e.g. Slashdot, Newsforge) as it should be. Newsforge, for example, buried it in one of their links on the side of the page that disappear really quickly, instead of making it a main article.

We're about to hit a long holiday weekend in the US (4th of July - it is on a Tuesday and I know a lot of people who will be away from their offices/their computers Friday through Tuesday), so US contributions will probably be nil during the holiday.

Before it gets really close to the deadline and then gives the appearance of a failure, it might be wise to early on (now!) extend the deadline out further, maybe until the end of the summer, even.

...why run an ad in a local NYC newspaper? Is NYC the centre of the universe? If anything, shouldn't you at least run it in a Washington DC newspaper so that some lawmakers might see it?

Best,
F.O.

I live in Washington state, home to Microsoft and a long way from New York City. I contributed and here is why.

The issue is getting exposure for OpenOffice.org. With no retail presence, few people are aware that OOo exists. NYC may not be the center of the universe but it is certainly one of the nerve centers of our world. The demographic cited in the project description makes it a pretty good place to start. Keep in mind also that the intended audience likely exchanges lots of email with people in other places.

As to why not publish the ad in Washington DC, it strikes me as a waste of time to target lawmakers who have largely become vassals to corporate lobbyists. You only have to look at the Massachusets experience with ODF to see how viciously they will attack anything that threatens their grip on the consumer's pocketbook. This battle will be won from the bottom up, not the top down, when people realize that they don't need MS any more.

BTW, does anyone else find it ironic that MS is also the acronym for a deadly and debilitating disease?

Mike Perrin

Has this been posted in the forums? You should put up a prominent banner or button to let more OpenOffice users know to contribute to this worthy cause. The more people that know about OpenOffice, the better.

hi,

Someone mentioned that we need to get onto forums. I agree. That is where the community can be helpful. Please email just two people about this effort, and please post a notice on just one forum. So far, here is just a few of the publicity links that we have achieved:

Newsforge:
http://newsvac.newsforge.com/newsvac/06/06/19/2128241.shtml

Mad Penguin, with 8,252 reads:
http://madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=7036

That Mad Penguin story appeared on Digg.com:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/New_effort_to_spread_OpenOffice.org_launched_in_New_York_City#c1991456

Spreadfirefox:
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/23847#comment-74259

OSViews:
http://osviews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7787&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

The Linspire forum:
http://forum.linspire.com/viewtopic.php?t=423869&highlight=

The OpenOffice.org front page (front page changes over time)
http://www.openoffice.org

The Mepis Lovers' forum:
http://www.mepislovers.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=16660&start=0#forumpost114812

Blog NYC:
http://blognyc.net/news/technology/open-office-to-launch-summer-campaign-in-the-free-nyc-daily-metro.php

DevPlug.net:
http://www.devplug.net/new-grassroots-effort-to-spread-openofficeorg-launched-in-new-york-city/

LockerGNOME:
http://channels.lockergnome.com/linux/archives/20060616_new_grassroots_effort_to_spread_openofficeorg_launched_in_new_york_city.phtml
The OpenOffice.org general discussion mailing list (one of the most heavily read):
http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=discuss&msgNo=57425

There is also a Google discuss group:
http://groups.google.com/group/ooads

There is Ben's Solid Office website:
http://www.solidoffice.com/archives/310

And Ben's home website:
http://homepage.mac.com/bhorst/

Solveig Haughland's OOo Training, Tips, and Ideas website:
http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/2006/06/be_part_of_some.html

The story was also on the front page of the Digital Tipping Point website, but has since rolled off to page 2:
http://digitaltippingpoint.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&limit=4&limitstart=4

And those are just the forums that I personally know about. Please feel free to post a notice about this effort, and please come back here and let us know where you have posted it! Thanks!

Read the comments on /.

Not to bash OpenOffice, I'm an everyday user of it, but I can't constribute to a project like this until the ad you're going to run improves. I'm ready to put up $50 or so to a great cause like this but only if I think it will have an effect. Get a new ad (look into who designed the Firefox one maybe?) and try a more mainstream newspaper (NYT, WSJ) and you'll have my full support. I just thing this project is currentley misguided. The Slashdot discussion has some suggestions on where to find good talent to improve the ad. It's true college students will do it for free for something to put on their resume. I'll submit something, but you have to do better than this.

the design mock-up of this ad is really horrible. go and check the for and against ratio in slashdot comments (i know, not the most trustworthy place, but still).

I agree...when I first saw the ad I thought "yuck"...it's just not very attractive and...well...crappy. For $10K I know I would want a better more professional-looking ad...I suck at design (what programmer doesn't?) but I can tell when I don't like something.

I support your ad and use openoffice. As a former graphic designer I have to say the design looks cheap.

I would seriously look into seeking 12K and hire a proffesional designer.

Furthermore I think you should consider joining with some other prominant opensource projects and hire a marketing firm.

I would donate $50/month to see adds supporting the software I use on a daily basis.

-Mike

It's a pity the add doesn't mention that it uses the new ODF iso standard.

The advert is really horrible, some of the suggestions in the Google group are (IMHO) worthy of consideration.

I *will* increase my donation if a more professional advert can be designed!

I love openoffice, really do, but like others are saying: I don't see how these type of actions show the open and international character of the project or open source in general.

Remco

You have earned my donation!
Rock on.

This add is MUCH better but I think it can still be improved. Listen to suggestions and you'll come out looking great!