Thanks Wire for those kind words.
But it is not entirely a matter of being shy. It is a good question
what value there is in shouting out loud, indiscriminately, in the
market. For Butterfly, street-level tactics seem to work best. For the
other open source stuff like Mbuni which you mention, all are
referenced on the website (www.dsmagic.com/os ), and some noise made
how it should be. Not enough? Perhaps, but I think you decide what
your objective is and design your methods to suit that and what you
have in hand. And you improve. Or something like that.
More important is that we continue to do the stuff that makes a
difference. Some stuff is done as part of making a living, other stuff
you do because you can and should. While I have my 15 minutes, let me
give you a fairly neutral example: www.rwenzori.com
I first read an account of a Rwenzori ascent way back in 1994, while
still a lowly undergrad. A book called "Touching the Moon". In 2004,
while planning the second of what would ultimately be three ascents
with a friend, it struck us that for such an incredible 'gift of
nature', there was so little information to be found in public
sources. Why not take a stab at it ourselves? And so we converted a
domain Digital Solutions had purchased for other reasons into what is
perhaps the most comprehensive public resource on trekking the
Rwenzoris. As a company or otherwise we don't make a dime on this.
Value addition? I'd like to think so: The travel guide Lonely Planet
used (free, with permission) our info and photos for their 2008 East
Africa guide. A German guide book on Africa did the same last year as
well. Worth a few tourist dollars I should think. And far better than
moaning about the inability of GoU to do it.
Tales abound, one for each project :)
P.
On Jul 17, 2009, at 06:14, Wire James wrote:
Bagyenda
I am very grateful that for once you have stood up and claimed your
rightful position. As one who has watched Butterfly evolve over the
years from when it was first released, I should say I am very
impressed by the work done. To me, it is one product that I will
always endorse whenever I get a chance.
Unfortunately I keep telling people that the developers of Butterfly
and Mbuni are too shy to say that their products are the best. Did
you go for a marketing course lately?
Wire
On Wed, 2009-07-15 at 12:20 +0300, Paul Bagyenda wrote:
Indeed :)
Butterfly for Windows (with Linux or Windows backend) has been FREE
for a while now. We have recently been live testing an all-linux
implementation. In the past you could use Linux for the clients and
use Butterfly's Hotspot control feature to control the clients/
workstations surfing abilities. (If you've been to any Infocom
Hotspots such as Humura, Cafe Pap, etc. then you've seen this in
action.) The snag with this version is it required a Windows machine
for the administration component.
Not any more. The all-linux implementation has a GTK-based app that
provides the administration component, and a full client-side
controller for the desktops. We don't have any installations in Kla
running this but we do have some in a neighbouring country. Since we
consider it in test still, product plugging has been somewhat muted.
Now, because Simon has tempted me into the territory of product-
plugging, I should say that Butterfly is older and perhaps more
mature
than most other Cybercafe systems *in the world*. Some of the core
functionality dates back to 1997. Since it has been continually
developed since then, I feel almost brave enough to state that I
don't
believe many such systems will serve you as well as it will.
Enough!
P.
On Jul 15, 2009, at 10:56, Simon Vass wrote:
> Paul,
>
> If you have it why not share? This is supposed to be about Linux
> advocacy? This isn't I-network so you can plug a paid for
package? ;-)
>
>
>
> Simon Vass
> Technical Manager
> E-Tech Uganda Ltd
> http://www.etech.ug
> Tel: +256 (0) 312260620 or (0) 312260621
> Email: [email protected]
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul Bagyenda" <[email protected]>
> To: "Linux Users Group Uganda" <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, 15 July, 2009 09:35:50 GMT +03:00 Iraq
> Subject: Re: [LUG] RE:THE EQUIVALENT OF BUTTERFLY ON A LINUX
PLATFORM
>
>
> We have it. I'll have somebody contact you off list.
>
>
> Paul.
>
>
>
> On Jul 15, 2009, at 08:40, Ahmed Senyonjo wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Dear Friends
>
> Asking again, I need a program that can manage an Internet Cafe, to
> say it in another way, i need the equivalent of Buterfly, Nettimer
> etc.... both client and administrator versions that can run on a
> linux platform.
>
> Please advise.
>
> Thanks
>
> Med.
>
>
> View your Twitter and Flickr updates from one place – Learn more!
> _______________________________________________
> LUG mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
>
> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them
> (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible
> for them in any way.
> ---------------------------------------
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> LUG mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
>
> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them
> (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible
> for them in any way.
> ---------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> LUG mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
>
> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them
> (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible
> for them in any way.
> ---------------------------------------
>
_______________________________________________
LUG mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
%LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them
(including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible
for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
LUG mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
%LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them
(including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible
for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
LUG mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
%LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
