Hi there.

Can I convince anyone to write a review about Zenwalk or ZenLive? I'd be glad to help ...

Best regards,
Claus

If I only have the skills to do it. And to where?

Claus,

I'd be more than happy to provide some help in this.

I have some experience in writing reviews on technical IT subjects for non-technical audiences. I'm not sure that I can provide a comparison between Zenwalk and other current distros, given that once I discovered Zenwalk, I stayed with it  . My  pile of other live distros seems to be ever increasing and gathering more and more dust. Do I really need additional eye candy and wow factor, or am I actually looking for an operational business platform??

There would be two types of reviews, I suppose. One that tries to convince current users of other linux distros to try Zenwalk. and the other, is to explain to Windows users, the advantages of using Zenwalk and to de-mystify some of the supposed terrors of a non-Windows environment. I'm not sure which sort of review you are considering.

Michael

I would gladly contribute some ideas, and answer some questions, if needed...

JP

When we are writing the review, it might be an idea to have a look at this survey report. Admittedly, it is about OpenSUSE users, but a survey of 27,000 linux user, their likes, dislikes, wants and desires is important for both how we position the review and how the push the overall development of Zenwalk is dirested.

If we are looking to increase the Zenwalk user base and to make it better known, then looking at what the users seem to want is probably a very good first step. I realize that Zenwalk is not aiming to the World's Number 1 distro, so it won't be able to handle all these requirements, but its a good series of pointers to increased participation (Zenwalk Rules, Perhaps?)

I think there is enough information in the overview article to generate a lot of discussion in the Forum. The question of resources devoted to a server and gnome version springs to mind as well as the handling of packages.

Perhaps a link to the article could be posted in a more prominat position, so that everyone who wants to can have a read.

Before I forget the link is

                  http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9755856281.html

and it has a link to the pdf of the full report in the text

Regards

Michael

Hi Michael.

Great to see your interest! Generally I probably should not turn you in a specific direction - and I did my share of writing (EDIT: What I mean is that my reviews were OK but other peoples reviews should contain their own content and style)    Instead, let's summarise your views:



YES - that's of course a big part of the intention.

It will be no problem to get either DesktopLinux or another internet media to mention your review (even print it, if you like). I have seen reviews on OSnews, Slashdot and others ... We also have a joint agreement with Linux+DVD magazine (a printed magazine) - but they want exclusive rights and it might be 3 months (or up to 6 months before it is printed) - this is OK if your review has a "touch" to it where it doesn't deprecate quickly.

I like your idea/consideration of the server and gnome versions ... other off springs could be mentioned as well.

You're welcome to look into what's hot and what's not - chew some thoughts on the openSUSE survey - and maybe conclude what's general and what's not general. I did something similar when I wrote: http://www.zenwalk.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5

Is it possible for you to make a draft within a week or two? I would be happy to give comments on a draft - as would JP - I am sure.

Best regards,
Claus

I don't have near enough technical knowledge, but I used to edit for a magazine so if you need someone to (sub-)edit for style/length/spelling etc. I'd be glad to help.

I'll have a think about what I want to say and see what I come up with. I'm not sure that I'm very much of the techo these days, more management and infrastructure architecture. But there were a number of reasons I was attracted to, and subsequently stayed with, Zenwalk, which might make for a rational article.

Once i have a line of argument together, I will post it for comment.

Michael

Cool 

"If we are looking to increase the Zenwalk user base and make it better known ....."
"YES - that's of course a big part of the intention."

This raises the question of from where you actually want to increase Zenwalk user base. There are two possible areas from which Zenwalk could attract new users 1) the established linux community or 2) the curious/dissatisfied/adventurous windows community, which is currently looking for an alternative OS.

Each of these target areas raise significant philosophical debates, in their own right, about the direction forward for Zenwalk. Having spent the last few hours reading the various discussions on this issue eg graphical installation, 400Mb size, newbie or technical or both, what packages etc, I have the feeling that I am taking a deep breath before open a large number of cans of worms.

Could I ask for some directions from Borromini, hyperion, axxium et al.?

1) Do we want Zenwalk to remain a niche market operating system?
2) Should Zenwalk attempt to increase the number of users who have Zenwalk installed on their computers and who utilize it for a significant portion of their daily computing needs.
Please Note: This is not the same as increasing the number of hits on DistroWatch
3) Is there a perceived benefit from an increase in Zenwalk's market share?
4) Questions of intellectual heritage to one side, is Zenwalk an operating system for only the technically literate, or is it also for the new/less technically literate user?
5) Do changes to user documentation, system administration or configuration tasks, in order to simplify the set-up and use of operating system, compromise the raison d'etre of Zenwalk?
6) For a significant number of users, their computer is a utility, much the same as their water or electricity (pace Carr "Does IT Matter?). Can such users be accommodated within the Zenwalk fold?
7) Should Zenwalk, or an associated project of it, be an ideal operating system for the small or home office environment? What changes would be needed or would be acceptable to the design team, if this marketing position was thought to be a desirable and achievable objective?
Is there a business plan, or some agreed vision, for the future positioning of Zenwalk within the overall computing market place, and if there is, is it possible to read it and discuss it with you?

I hasten to point out that I don't expect a detailed response to these questions and I realize that some of these questions have, can and undoubtedly,will, in the  future, generate intense discussion within the community. However, I do this sort of thing for a crust, so the questions are seriously meant.  There is ,of course, another sequence of questions that positions the future of Zenwalk in a more techie mold, but I am interested in finding out if it is considered to be acceptable to try and take Zenwalk into that area that is currently colonized by Microsoft. Hopefully, I have taken every nuance, that could possibly cause any angst,  out of the questions, but if I have trodden on anyones sensibilities, I apologize profusely in advance.

If one is going to attempt to market Zenwalk to the computing community, by means of a positive review or analysis, one not only needs to know what the target group is supposed to be, but also what the future direction of the product is going to be, otherwise one could be totally misleading.

Regards

Michael

Hi mprimrose

When I wrote a couple of reviews I took a start in my own situation. I hope you will take a start in your own situation. If you came from another Linux distro to Zenwalk - talk about this. I came from Windows 98 to Zenwalk Linux and that's why I wrote about this.



Yes, thinking really hard can make a clear picture look very muddy all of a sudden ... but, I have no problem if you contact other Zenwalk team members for directions or information. I also don't think any of them would mind - after all you're the one doing Zenwalk a favour.



I don't think so - but this kind of general strategy around Zenwalk is a question for JP. What - to you - makes Zenwalk a niche product? ... It's Slackware origin? ... Please be specific.



Yes, why wouldn't we want this.

I think everybody understands what DW hit ranking is. Did you read http://www.zenwalk.org/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=7?



My initial target with "pushing" Zenwalk up the DW barometer was to get enough attention around Zenwalk that people would be interested in helping (active members). Being popular to a certain extent also means that people who leave Zenwalk are replaced by new people ... which keeps Zenwalk alive as a project. Many Linux projects die after a while - it has been my target to not see Zenwalk die ...

Besides, being popular is fun.

Probably other team members see this differently (feel free to respond here, anyone).



What do you think? Your review should reflect your views ...



I don't understand french, so I don't know what your question is (and I'm too lazy do load the Babelfish translator in my browser).



I am such a user - so the answer is - yes.



I'm not sure anyone can answer this question ... but, feel free (anyone) to try to answer this question. I have thought of "strategic positioning" in the past, if nothing else then to understand what animal Zenwalk is. You're welcome to also do so. If your review treats this directly and explicitly then I think it will contain a high degree of speculation (not meant positive) so I recommend a less advanced content in the review itself.



This is a question for JP to answer. I think he has answered this question at least a couple of times before (also in several interviews available on the internet). I think you're welcome to discuss. 

Best regards,
Claus

... P.S. I said I'd be glad to help 

5) Do changes to user documentation, system administration or configuration tasks, in order to simplify the set-up and use of operating system, compromise the raison d'etre of Zenwalk?

Sorry, Claus, but being Australian, I thought everyone understood French   

"raison d'etre"  is equivalent to reason to be or what I suppose the forum community refers to as the Zenwalk philosophy or set of under-lying guiding principles for the operating system.

In seeking some direction from Borromini, hyperion, axxium et al. I didn't mean to imply that I wasn't interested in other people's answers to these questions. It was simply that some of these questions were about the strategic direction of Zenwalk and might need an authoritative .answer.

Regards

Michael

Hopefully I will take a look at the questions tomorrow.

JP

As far as I'm concerned, it already is. But yeah, that's just my opinion.

Unfortunately, when it comes to writing reviews, I kinda suck.  I'm the worst at knowing where to start on something as complex as an OS/Linux distro, and how much info is too much about a particular feature/subject, etc, and how to word it (ie, point of view).

Dear everybody.

I don't think we quite made it - i.e. as far as I know we havn't seen a recent review. I wonder if there's someone out there currently working on it, or if there's someone who would like to give it a shot? Please do not hesitate to come forward ... 

Best regards,
Claus

[EDIT] The last one I know of, which is shown on Distrowatch, is http://www.linuxseekers.com/content/view/81/1/ and it is from March ...