MESSAGE
DATE | 2002-06-21 |
FROM | Ruben I Safir
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SUBJECT | Re: [hangout] IBM Space offers and Downtown Services
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Are they going to give us volunteer hours for the High Schools program?
On 2002.06.21 11:40 Jay Sulzberger wrote: > > > On Fri, 21 Jun 2002, Ruben Safir wrote: > > > > > That's something we would be willing to do since > > it's without hooks > > > > I don't personally have contact with them because I never > > tried to get space their. Maybe Jay can look into this > > > > > > Ruben > > IBM has, can, and will do a lot to help many folk on this front. > > oo--JS. > > > > > > > On Fri, Jun 21, 2002 at 10:26:01AM -0400, Ray Connolly wrote: > > > Think there is any chance they would donate a group of machines in a > > > classroom so prospective pupils wouldn't have to buy one to conform to the > > > class requirements? > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Ruben Safir [mailto:ruben-at-mrbrklyn.com] > > > Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 5:31 PM > > > To: hangout-at-nylxs.com > > > Subject: [hangout] IBM Space offers and Downtown Services > > > > > > > > > > > > There is a bit of noise around the net about the IBM offer to create > > > a tech center and space for Free Software groups in NYC. I feel, that > > > in light of this offer to the community, we need to look at a number of > > > aspects of this development. > > > > > > First of all, I would like to extend my personal thanks to the folks at > > > IBM for their years of ssuport of a number of groups and for providing > > > meeting space in Midtown for NYLUG, GNUBIES, Deludge, and a bunch of > > > other software organization. > > > > > > There has been much speculation about the motives of IBM in making this > > > offer, and how atruistic IBM is towards GNU/Linux. > > > > > > It's my belief that IBM is indeed excited about the prospects for > > > GNU/Linux as a platform to peddle their propeitary software. I believe > > > that IBM sees a future for themselves on this platform, and that the > > > collegiate nature of Linux developement and Free Software Developement. > > > The management of IBM sees Linux strictly in terms of it's ability to > > > generate revenue (and rightly so). I see no moral dillema in terms of > > > IBM's management profit driven motivations to exploit Free Software, > > > and Free Softwares need to create Free and Open platforms for software > > > developement. In fact, I see just the opposite. I want everyone to > > > run Free Software because the moral foundation of the software makes > > > pratical buisness sense. > > > > > > However, I think that Free Software and our user groups, especially > > > NYLXS, have reason for concern about IBM's offer and IBM's current > > > business plan. We should not confuse IBM's agenda for our own. IBM, > > > as a business which provides IT services for enterprises and government, > > > can not accomplish many of the missions which NYLXS, as Free Software > > > institution feels it must provide to the general public. This is most > > > obvious in terms of general computer education, and empowerment programs. > > > These are not business goals (unless your business is a University) and > > > it still falls on the shoulders of organizations like NYLXS to promote > > > general computer education for the public at affordable prices. > > > > > > IBM's educational offering are IBM specific. This should be of no > > > suprise. They're offerings are peppered with WebShperei, Domino and > > > DB2 offering, > > > neither of > > > which, to my knowledge, are free software. IBM also has licensing issues. > > > Obviously, they are targeting the use of propietary server applications > > > as their bread and butter on the Free GNU/Linux platform. And they > > > very focused on using GNU/Linux as a means to sell more close sourced > > > propietary products. > > > > > > So while I deeply apreciate IBM's efforts to Free many projects, > > > and to help improve many Free Software products, IBM is not necessarily > > > an all encompassing guardian angle of free Software. > > > > > > It was not long ago that IBM was proposing spyware in every IDE hard drive. > > > And the company has shown to be at times very sensitive to critism on these > > > matters, clumsy in their aproach (read the left hand doesn't know the right > > > hand is trying to patent common software discoveries), and often as much > > > of a threat to Free Softwares necessary political agenda as a help. > > > > > > Putting these issues to the side for a moment, most importantly, our > > > Computing organizations must be very careful to remain finacially, > > > politcally, > > > and organizationally independent. We must be able to make decisions without > > > wondering how IBM is going to react. There is a real danger of over > > > dependence > > > on handout, not just form IBM, but from ANYONE, at the cost of the real work > > > needed to forge long lasting and effective organizations. This can not > > > happen. > > > > > > >From NYLXS's prospective, we've already made this error once, against my > > > better judgement, and I care not to do it again. NYLXS's membership is > > > dependent on volunteer hours, and we will only accept help of this nature > > > from members. Our members work hard and have a full stake in our success or > > > > > > failure. This has the benefit of changing the very nature of the > > > conversation > > > between the people we depend on to get things done, and the organizations > > > leader > > > which is asking to fill the man and materials to get these tasks finished. > > > > > > If IBM's personel and board of directors wish to pluck $40 on the table > > > and then donate 20 hours of volunteer hours with us, in the trenches, and > > > as full equal partners, we would love to then use their space for our > > > regular inservices, lectures and meetings. And while we might consider > > > doing a special event with IBM, I see nothing changing in the goal of > > > NYLXS to develope it's own educational space and facilities. We wouldn't > > > take a dime from them unless they are members. > > > > > > Lastly, I think IBM is making a big mistake be focusing on the server market > > > for Free Software. I would ask IBM to invest in the GNU Desktop and help > > > us fill in the gaps of common desktop applications needed to run business. > > > As long as Microsoft control the desktop, then we are all just grabbing the > > > tiger by the tail. Microsoft can end IBM's ability to provide services > > > tomorrow > > > if it chooses to. Until we have a large installation of Free Software > > > desktops, > > > then we are at the mercy of others. > > > > > > > > > Ruben > > > > > > -- > > > __________________________ > > > > > > Brooklyn Linux Solutions > > > __________________________ > > > http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Consulting http://www.brooklynonline.com - > > > For the love of Brooklyn http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development > > > in Free Software http://www.nyfairuse.org - The foundation of Democracy > > > http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/resources - Unpublished Archive or stories and > > > articles from around the net http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/mp3/dr.mp3 - Imagine > > > my surprise when I saw you... http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/downtown.html - > > > See the New Downtown Brooklyn.... > > > > > > 1-718-382-5752 > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________ > > > New Yorker Linux Users Scene > > > Fair Use - > > > because it's either fair use or useless.... > > > > -- > > __________________________ > > > > Brooklyn Linux Solutions > > __________________________ > > http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Consulting > > http://www.brooklynonline.com - For the love of Brooklyn > > http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software > > http://www.nyfairuse.org - The foundation of Democracy > > http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/resources - Unpublished Archive or stories and articles from around the net > > http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/mp3/dr.mp3 - Imagine my surprise when I saw you... > > http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/downtown.html - See the New Downtown Brooklyn.... > > > > 1-718-382-5752 > > > > > > > > ____________________________ > > New Yorker Linux Users Scene > > Fair Use - > > because it's either fair use or useless.... > > > -- __________________________
Brooklyn Linux Solutions __________________________ http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Consulting http://www.brooklynonline.com - For the love of Brooklyn http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software http://www.nyfairuse.org - The foundation of Democracy http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/resources - Unpublished Archive or stories and articles from around the net http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/mp3/dr.mp3 - Imagine my surprise when I saw you... http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/downtown.html - See the New Downtown Brooklyn....
1-718-382-5752
____________________________ New Yorker Linux Users Scene Fair Use - because it's either fair use or useless....
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