IMHO we are not looking for a definition, we are looking for concepts put in great sentences and visual objects that arise the interest of our "target markets" in GNOME, so they want to know more, test it, have it, enjoy it, be proud of have it and be part of it. I bet none of the things you love came to your hands because of a definition. Have you ever seen Nike, CAT, Lacoste or Kelvin Klein trying to define themselves? Maybe in the 50s. Try to define these brands now and you will fail (and I say brands because they are not products anymore). Maybe we should solve the difficulty of GNOME not being just a product by simply going ahead with the brand and its key concepts. We could leave the task of finding the appropriate definitions to Wikipedia. just do it - the dot in .com - anytime, anywhere - connecting people - sheer driving pleasure - where do you want to go today?... these are slogans I can remember, they are somewhere stuck in my brain even if I don't buy the products associated to them. They make me feel as if I already knew these products before having them. They don't relate to simple products such as sneakers, computers, game devices, mobile phones, cars and... eugh... web portals. They rather talk about power, reliability, excitement, friendship, comfortability... and power. Let's find the concepts to 'sell' GNOME (as Murray has started doing) and let's start getting excellent words, slogans, and visual concepts to package the excellent products the developers create an improve at every release. We don't need big discussions and arguments for this. Just throw ideas, words, sentences, graphics, animations... whatever. Entropy rocks in creative contexts. We do need a discussion on the targets we want to prioritise, though. Are they the end users? Mmmm, I'd say yes to the advanced end users, possibly not to the rest, definitely not those not even knowing about free software. I know it's more boring, but I think that IT managers and programmers are the ones that will decide (directly or indirectly) how many people end up using GNOME in the next 10 years. We should team together with the companies developing GNOME based distros, the hardware manufacturers willing to ship computers with GNOME inside, the software companies willing to develop mainstream application running smooth on GNOME. IMveryHO we have a much cooler brand than most of them - only unexploited (for the bad, also for the good). Think of the "Intel inside" stickers most computer users don't even fear to take way from the laptops they buy. Do you see Intel defining themselves? How does Centrino to achieve that friends come to me asking if they may have wireless connection without "a Centrino"? Marketing a processor for the masses (and the IT managers) is much more complicated than marketing a free desktop. Most users don't even see processors, GNOME users see the desktop all the time. The challenge is feasible. -- Quim Gil - http://desdeamericaconamor.org
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