Guerilla Marketing GNOME

[Marcus Bauer <marcus bauer gmail com>]

I just came across a website [1] from a guy doing Guerilla Marketing of
Linux in Paris, calling it "PC Jacking". The idea is to burn liveCDs and
go into the big computer chain stores and start it on the computers. He
then simply leaves the CD-R in the drive. 

There is a message on the CD-R which reads as: 

        "This is a Linux CD to protest against the forced sale of
        Microsoft Windows with every computer bought in this store. This
        CD leaves the computer totally unaffected. Just take the CD out
        of the drive and reboot to let the computer back in its original
        state."

The whole thing has some potential, however it is most likely a more
successful approach not to protest *against* somethingy but using a more
positive approach instead.

Keep in mind the stores want to sell/make business and it is just
amazing that they forget about potential linux-using customers.

Thus a bit of grassroot marketing may just make the way to upper
management which seems asleep and missing out a already quite big
customer base.

Nowadays necessary disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, check with your local
laws first. Always stay friendly and explain that for linux users it is
important to know if the hardware runs linux and that the best way to
test it would be a liveCD.

Last not least GNOME might start a "GNOME friendly" campaign with a logo
program and links to all shops that allow for testing before buying and
having a couple of recent liveCDs ready at hand of <put in your
favourite distributions here>.

Have fun
Marcus

[1] http://www.manucornet.net/pcjacking/index.php