On 06/05/2010 08:24 AM, Satish Eerpini wrote: > I have seen the BOSS Linux ad on other regional channels too, but the > problem is they advertise it as Linux and not BOSS or atleast "BOSS > Linux" , it reads as "so and so program is sponsored by Linux, Rexona, > Clinic Plus .... etc etc " >
It is pretty much impossible to explain Linux or FOSS within a few seconds of advertising and if you try to conceptualize it, you will end up with something like the IBM Linux super bowl ad. Just in case you haven't seen that, take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL0G9wK8j4 I am not sure that is very effective. Although it is a not a TV ad, Red Hat's series of films (http://www.redhat.com/videos/opensource/films.html) including Truth Happens are quite popular and always evoke a great response. End users don't care about Linux or Windows or whatever. That is a implementation detail that people with a fascination for technology talk attach themselves to and that is always going be a very tiny minority. Consumers care about specific products if it makes a difference in their lives. People care about their iPod's because it plays their music. They don't care the operating system it runs or the format of the music. So effectively, if at all you see TV ads or ads via any medium with "Linux" in it, it is guaranteed to be associated with a (commercial) product. Be it BOSS Linux or IBM on demand services or Red Hat or Novell etc. We shouldn't be lamenting about it because regardless of the specific product being advertised, it raises the profile of Linux on the whole. When I originally started out with Linux, when I mention it in bookstores or something, they would try and correct me and ask if I was talking about UNIX. That problem went away years back and that is a positive step. I think these ads might help regardless of whether BOSS Linux itself succeeds in the market place or not. In short, a rising tide lifts all boats. Rahul _______________________________________________ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc