Tony Yarusso's Blog

As part of their promotion of Vista's release, Microsoft has set up an "ice house" in downtown Toronto, with various aspects of the new version on display in the different rooms. Now, just having the Microsoft folk there to present their product (and their side of the story when it comes to its "features"), a group of dedicated Ubuntu users will be on hand nearby with a ten-foot tall inflatable Tux (the penguin mascot of Linux) telling people about free open-source software and its merits over closed, proprietary, restricted systems such as the one showcased inside the ice house. They will also have laptops on hand to showcase Ubuntu and Kubuntu and let passersby check it out for themselves, and CDs to take home for anyone interested. The group will be on the sidewalk just next to Yonge & Dundas Square in Toronto from 4:00 to 7:00 PM EST today, Friday February 2nd - look for the penguin. If you're in the area, drop by, and if not, tell your friends!

The purpose of this display is to "promote software freedom, and to raise awareness about Microsoft's freedom-inhibiting software licenses." says Dave Sullivan, a freelance IT consultant specializing in Linux and open source, who has helped organize the event, and to educate visitors about the various increasingly widespread alternatives that exist to proprietary software. Also, the laptops on display will allow visitors to see features of Ubuntu and the opportunity to try it out on someone else's computer with knowledgable volunteers on hand to explain things as they poke around, which should be more comfortable and inviting than the prospect of installing a new system often is (which is also what Live CDs are fantastic for). There will be literature printed up (which I authored some of actually) for everyone to take home with them to learn what Ubuntu is and what this free software stuff is all about.

One of the points they will be making to the people considering using Windows Vista is the state of the End User License Agreement (EULA) for it. Microsoft licenses have long been restrictive, but with Vista they take an even larger step in that direction, leaving those who choose to use it very limited in what they are allowed to do with their own computers. Michael Geist, a Canadian copyright lawyer recently brought some of the items of serious concern in this blog post, and another analysis is provided at http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/%7Epgut001/pubs/vista_cost.html, with legal explanations at http://shearer.org/VistaForLawyers. If you would like, you can read the license yourself, and compare it to the GNU General Public License, a common license for free open-source software.

Ryan Kavanagh graciously accepted the challenge to put together a press release explaining the event, which has already been sent to various major local and national news outlets. David J Patrick, another organizer and the owner of Linuxcaffe, also contacted someone at CTV. Regardless of what official media is on hand, there will be people along documenting the event hopefully both in pictures and video.

Turns out a handful of people from the Microsoft display have already heard about the plans, and dropped by the Linuxcaffe, asking for the group not to wreck their ice house. David Patrick assured them then, and I will again to anyone concerned, that is not at all the intention. "We're all about freedom and interoperability" he said "collaboration, not knocking things down". This is supposed to be about making people aware of alternatives and knowledgable about the issues regarding freedom as they pertain to the software on their computers, hoping to empower users to work, solve problems, and create more effectively - not destroy or cause the problems. A number of people in the group have been doing background research on the legalities we need to be aware of and comply with, so you can be assured that this is a peaceful and well intentioned effort! It could even be good that some of the ice house workers know about us - maybe they'll even be intrigued!

Thanks to everyone who has already put effort into organizing and researching for this amazing opportunity to educate the public, donated their time or resources for the production of CDs and flyers, written items up, offered their suggestions and ideas, offered laptops for demos, and of course everyone who can show up and actually talk to people! We are still looking for people to contact more of the press particularly in the technology sector (online or otherwise), more happy volunteers to come out to greet and talk to people, more CDs or burners, and paper/funding for flyers, some more really decked out laptops - preferably with Beryl up and running, and another car type battery to help power ten-foot Tux. If you can offer any of these things, contact someone via the mailing list, IRC, by leaving a comment here, or just showing up!

For more information, see:
Dave Sullivan's post about it
David J. Patrick's post about it
The Facebook event entry for it
The flyer that will be handed out
The relevant page on the Ubuntu wiki
The threads on the mailing list here and here
The Ubuntu web site
Ubuntu Canada
Ubuntu Toronto