The BeOSJournal.

Technix · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 8:01 am1 Post subject: BeUnited Seeks Donations.

The BeOS Journal would like to remind everyone that BeUnited is still actively seeking donations from the fine, supportive BeOS Community. Yes, I know that sounds cliche, but it's important to let everyone know of the struggles that BeUnited has taken on, especially as of late. If you have some extra dollars burning a hole in your pocket, consider helping out BeUnited stay afloat while they take on the task which I will now outline below, as from their website:

lichtgestalt · Pencil Pusher Joined: 02 Jun 2002 Posts: 37 Location: KDL

... and your chicks for free?

Seriously though, what exactly are the donations for? You know, I'd really put down some money if there were a clearly specified project to fund. But just "to keep them running" is too vague for me.
I donated quite a few dollars to the driver fund without seeing a single project finished and released.
I've spend quite a few dollars on BeOS software that never came or were dumped after a first release (-> pixel32 (still hope here...), titan, BeXL, VideoPro, personalStudio, DigitalTracker, GrooveMaker, Postmaster, ePicture, ArtPaint...).
Once bitten...
Have a specific project with chances of success and I'm your man. Until then it's wait and see for me.

lichtgestalt

vman · NewBe Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 9 Location: Halifax

Good question.

The money is not "to keep them running" but goes directly to pay for the legal work of beunited.org submitting a Trial Brief to the judge in the MS Antitrust case on behalf of you and all BeOS users. The brief, published on the beunited.org site for you to read, explains the issues that lead to the demise of Be and the actions that MS took that caused the current unfair market conditions we live in. Finally the brief proposes ammendments to the ruling against MS that makes alternative OSs, like BeOS, have a better fighting chance to enter the market.

That's what the money is directly for, not for beunited.org in any way. It costs money to be heard, and we had a teriffic opportunity to be heard at the highest levels of the system, and we took it and paid for it. All if it. All beunited.org asks is if the community could help out a little and donate what they can to help bring down the expense the beunited.org paid for on its own...

Technix · Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2002 7:56 am4 Post subject: Well said.

I absolutely agree with everything you and BeUnited stand for, vman.

I think that your initiative(s) speak for themselves, but should be recognized and promoted throughout the entire community and beyond.

That is why I will direct people to your website, and the various briefs contained there, in addition to advocating BeOS itself when and where I can. Keep up the good work, on behalf of all of us in this global friendship. It makes me glad to be a part of it.

To anyone reading this who doesn't have anything pressing to do for the immediate future: I would like to hear your comments, in addition to asking you to help spread the word further about BeOS, wherever and whenever you can.

It is you that helps market BeOS. It is you that are the eyes and ears of a new-age marketing engine. Let's see it put to good use.

Thank you.
_________________
-Chris Simmons,
Avid BeOS User.
BeOSJournal Admin...

vman · NewBe Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 9 Location: Halifax

Technix,

Thanks for the kind words.

You are absolutely correct when you say that the community IS the marketing engine for BeOS. The power of personal reference cannot be overlooked. When someone you know and trust says "hey, check this great OS out!" you will listen a lot more attentively than some glitzy advertisement with a Madonna songs playing in the background. This also leads to better support, since the entire community becomes a basis for support, rather than a central source you must pay too. Finally, the community is much stronger as it's distributed and harder to fall apart, like we saw with Be.

It's up to all of us, each one, to promote, support, and contribute to the effort. Every little thing we do will come back to help all of us in a much greater way. This is one area where we can all make a difference!

lichtgestalt · Pencil Pusher Joined: 02 Jun 2002 Posts: 37 Location: KDL

How about stating the total costs on the website and a countdown showing the amount of donations? That may serve as an incentive to bring the number down or at least provoke a guilty feeling, seeing how few have donated yet

Either way I think this is some crucial information and inspires trust through transperancy.

Take care
lichtgestalt