I know take you back to your regularly-scheduled blog.

But anyway, my point is that an attempt to get the name out, any attempt to make Linux creep into the mainstream, should be welcome. Long as it’s not “Cannibalism Expo ‘07, sponsored by Linux!” that is The projector issue seems like a major inconvenience, and yes, steps should be taken to resolve the inconveniences, but one of the problems Linux has had for years is that an embarrassingly large number of people view Linux as either an impossibly-difficult OS made only for people who drink Jolt Cola and have no lives outside a text prompt, or as a toy OS for people who like to tinker with OS’es that give you real power, like say, Windows XP with Microsoft Office (because we all know Windows is the only serious operating system out there.)

As a tech, I can confirm the following statements by clients:

“I don’t want to install Linux on my computer, I’ve heard it slows down Windows too much.”
“Sure, Linux is free, but the hardware costs twice as much!”

I think that by itself, is enough to start advertising a little more

They would probably get more traction out of a Nascar spot. That being said, I’m not a huge race car fan, never really have been. But I do occasionally watch Nascar. As for Indy500?…I can’t remember the last time I actually watched it but I can say that I don’t watch it more than a few times a decade.

Others have suggested a more “international” event would have drawn much more interest. I agree with that. How about the Tour de France bike race…or maybe some Olympic sponsorship?

People just don’t care about Indy anymore. IMHO, it’s Superbowl Sunday, MLB Playoffs, NBA Playoffs.
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Actually, if you look at your average car in your average Indy 500, you’ll see myriads of companies that you could make that argument for. I’ve never liked Motorola phones, maybe they should stop sponsoring drivers like Danica Patrick and hire someone to work on making their phones better..

Tide Detergent? They need to make their powder less prone to caking up in the wash and leaving the occasional white clump on my clothes. Yet another company wasting money on a sticker…

Red Bull? Too pricey, save money by dropping sponsorship.

7-11? The coffee stinks. Spend your money better by buying a better ground bean.

Budweiser Beer? No problems here, they’re the king of beers! What would they need advertising for?

Some people want to get your projectors going, other people want to find cool ways to show off the fact that Linux is actually a viable product. Slow car or not, that’s a quarter million people sitting in the crowd you’re flashing your product to, and millions more on TV. More people seeing a product means more people using a product. Which means more people that just may be interested in getting your projector issues resolved. Just be glad it’s a respectable venue theyre trying for like Formula 1, and not NASCAR.

And if it’s still upsetting to you, look at it this way. Slower cars are easier to read

Here. There seems to be some things to straighten out:

“you haven’t even met half of what it takes for the lowest amount of sponsorship you have put on your website”.

This is a simple matter of logic. I’ve read your work, I know you are an apt thinker so I pose the question…and look, I’m coming here with a civil tone. I personally couldn’t care less of what you think of me. Could the money been spent in a better fashion? Well, yeah…why didn’t you raise it? Why did you leave it up to someone as inept as me to do it? You can not with any credibility scream about results you have done nothing to contribute to. Lessons to be learned here man, if you think something ought to be done, then GET it done.

I don’t think you or many people have a clue as to how much work this has been. And in all honesty, thank you for mentioning the 40 day short time cycle of this project. it only goes to show what can be done in 40 days…especially when someone sticks their leg out at the starting gate and trips you.

What you have here is a couple of guys pushing the iceberg and each side of the path lined with people slinging rocks at them. Where is the accomplishment in that? You want a project like you mention, then organize it, go with 3 hours of sleep a night until you see it through, then come see me for your wounds. I have plenty of bandages left over from this experience. Of course, I have no doubt I will be needing them for the next.

Ah, an exhibit of my greatest fault…taking the back roads to get to my point. I will pose the question again. You bring up the point:

“…you haven’t even met half of what it takes for the lowest amount of sponsorship you have put on your website…”

Then tell me what this is:

http://tux500.com/geeklog/mediagallery/media.php?f=1&s=20070511152945243

or this:

http://tux500.com/geeklog/mediagallery/media.php?f=1&s=2007051114094972

or even this:

http://tux500.com/geeklog/mediagallery/media.php?f=1&s=20070511152943850

Now, I believe you may be an open-wheel race fan. Tell me sir, what is the cost of that nose cone? How much is paid for that car chassis real estate by a sponsor? I know already…some of you think this was jumped into with no knowledge or research, I have asked 11 race teams/managers what they charge for that particular placement. I want to see the number you come up with.

It is, without a doubt, a substantial amount more than the money we have visibly raised. It has been brought up in various forums…and I am leaving the question unanswered for now. The Math doesn’t add up. How did Tux500 Get that placement for those few dollars?

Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, the name “Linux” has been exposed to a few million people who have as of yet, never heard of it. The questions are already being asked. We are answering them.

If we don’t raise one more dime, this project has achieved the goal it set out to do in the first place. and Stephan? Stay tooned. We are all a bit disappointed by Pole Day, but it’s not my place to comment on it. That is up to Tom Chastain to address. Why don’t the people who have showed such disdain for this effort go tell him how much he sucks. He’s accepting the money. He has given you much and it is being thrown back into his face by just a few. Which segment of the Linux Community is he going to think about when he thinks about Linux? In my heart of hearts, I can’t believe you would be one of them.

Ken