The Latest in Open Source Heresy

This article tells it pretty straight. Best quote comes from an OSS inner-circle member:

‘It costs a huge amount of money to develop a single innovative software product. You have to have a business model that will let you recoup those costs. These arguments are exceedingly unpopular. Everyone wants everything to be free. They say, ‘You’re an evil corporate guy, and you don’t get it.’ But I’m not evil. I’m well-known in the open source community. But none of them can show me how to build a software-development house and fund it off open source revenue. My claim is it can’t be done.’

Interesting perspective to chew on, and sure to cause some debate.

Networks, advocacy, cults and communities

I am reading a really good book for marketeers. Jeff Allen, illustrious genious of marketing for Novell Linux Desktop, recently handed me a copy of Douglas Atkins’ The Culting of Brands. The book makes some really good points about how brands (like Apple, jetBlue, Nike, etc) become cult-like, where a brand’s adherents are it’s most vocal proponents.

Good read, and very relevant to the kind of advocacy that we see (but need more of) in open source.

Novell Linux Desktop Decal Kits

Since Novell BrainShare in Salt Lake City, my team and I have been getting slammed with “I gotta have one!” requests for the Novell Linus Desktop Decal Kits. What started as a fun little project for BrainShare has become a full blown phenomenon.

No, not a phenomenon. That’s the wrong word. Dare I say it has become a movement?

Here’s what the kit looks like:

We finally have a way to get the kits out to the people. It’s kind of retro…one of those SASE things. Click on the picture of the kit above to get the info.