[plug] Closure of OSWA

[Kai]

Stuart Midgley wrote:

> I posted this to the forums on the saveopensourcewa.com website... I  
> would be interested in people's perspective here.
> 
> I have watched with interest the discussion and observed the emails  on 
> the PLUG email list.
> 
> What functionality of OSWA did people actually use? What  functionality 
> do people want in such a centre? Did people use the  demonstration 
> centre much? Or was it more a point of contact and  advocacy?
> 
> I'm concerned that people have jumped onto the (general) opensource  
> bandwagon without clearly articulating what functionality of the  centre 
> or use of its resources they are concerned about.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dr Stuart Midgley

I first saw OSWA's roadshow and met Kevin and the crew at Kimberley Expo 
in Broome on the 6th of May, this year.

Photo's starting at the bottom of this page and a few more on page 4...
http://www.vk6ksj.net/gallery/nwe2006?page=3

The advantage from a regional perspective, where most people would never 
actually get to see OSWA's central office and therefore never get to see 
open source outside of a home environment, is the technology on 
demonstration at the roadshow and the knowledge of staff who come with 
it is much greater than the resources available in remote area's, like 
Broome.

Our local IT group has often thought of holding a small stall all or 
something at one of the shopping centre's, but our problem is getting 
approval from the shop managers, then finding tables, sourcing power and 
all that....on the other hand the roadshow brings all that, and 
brochures, free CD's, staff with experience, advice and ready-to-go 
machines on demonstration that anyone can walk up to, use and ask 
questions about.

I was in Perth a little while ago, called Kevin and even though most of 
the staff at OSWA were not available I got see a little bit of the 
place, and had a good chat to him about a heap of stuff which we never 
got around to chatting about last time he came here (Broome) to catch up 
with our IT group.

I think if people knew they had choice, and they had a chance to test 
it, live, right there and then and (unlike most of the Windows info 
you'll get which is mostly hype) at the roadhsow they get given factual, 
usefull information (eg likelihood of virus and worm infections) and 
CD's with usefull stuff on it, they might be more inclined to try Linux 
rather than "playing it safe" and sticking with Windows...and of course 
the avantage of the roadshow, it comes to the customer !

Cheers
Kai

-- 
Photographer and severe weather fanatic

Organised by shooting date: www.vk6ksj.net/gallery/
Organised by category: www.vk6ksj.net/photography/

Favourite recorded storm to date:
www.vk6ksj.net/photography/2006-01-17_Thunderstorm/