Query results: May, 2007

After Gustavo, general secretary of GNU/Linux Matters, met with Richard Stallman at LibreMeeting, we decided to recommend a full-free GNU/Linux distribution on GetGNULinux.org . With a bit of work, and after Olivier (president of GLM) also met with Stallman, we completed the change.

The introduction is complemented with a (re-)write of FAQs:

• Why are some Linux distributions sold, not given away?
• Why are some Linux distributions not fully free?

Our thanks go to Dave Crossland for publishing his excellent gNewSense artwork under a CC-BY-SA license and providing us with the source files.

In the past two weeks, we have brought the following small modifications to GetGNULinux.org and its translations:

• All translations now have the same new GNU favicon
• The Credits and About page have been updated
• The Why not Windows page now mentions that Mac OSX isn’t much better; A new FAQ entry gives more details about that
• The word “Windows” loses its ® (not required by the Microsoft trademark guidelines)
• Many minor re-phrasings were made in the Windows section
• Some clean-up in the files and two broken links repaired
• The footer of all pages now features a “link to us” button linking to our link buttons

Meanwhile, we are working on an “affiliate linking” system, swimming in the legal paperwork to enable commercial activity, working to convert the site to DocBook format, re-touching the homepage slightly, and getting ready for T-shirts. Whew!

Most will have noticed that we have moved our “planet.getgnulinux.org” page to this new website, GNULinuxMatters.org . The changes are not very significant, although GLM.o will provide a much clearer centerplace for our non-profit organization.

Behind the website, GNU/Linux Matters is maturing slowly. We have now opened a bank account and are working on a donation system. Our financial planning is getting complete, and we are looking into partnerships and commercial operations. The trick is to sustain ourselves in a smart way, one that is respectful of, and relevant to, our readers, all strictly within the frame of a non-profit organization. And those who’ve been asking for T-shirts, there might be something for you soon… ;-)