Interactive Group Distro Review
We are doing a live group distro review of OpenSuse 11 on Friday June 20 at 3:30 PM EDT.
Most reviews work something like this: a reviewer plays with a product or piece of software and writes what they think of it. Particularly with something like a Linux distribution where the artwork can be a big piece of it and where one person can have some random issue with their hardware, the old method of reviews does not really work very well. That is why I am planning, if there is enough interest, to try a new type of review. I am planning to live blog an upcoming distro release (probably OpenSuse 11) and while I am installing and playing with the distro, viewers (hopefully you) can also install and play with the distro and give their comments, which can then be published into the live blog.
The idea is that the distro will not just be reviewed by one person, but by as many people as wish to contribute. Instead of publishing a review and then being told why I am wrong, I can be told why I am wrong, or right, in real time.
As I said before, though, this will only work if there is enough interest. If you would be interested in participating in a live, group review of OpenSuse 11 on June 19 or the day after, please vote below. You don’t have to commit, I just want a general idea of the interest level.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
[...] So what will Linux be doing well Apple and Microsoft are essentially standing still? The short answer, I hope, is: running. There are two reasons why Linux will not have to take time off for a “maintenence release.” First, Linux has not made mistakes such as dramatically increasing resource requierments. Second, even if some people (even an entire distribution) decide to work on only behind-the-scenes stuff, new features will continue to flow in from projects that are moving ahead. No one project or person can stop Linux innovation. Because of this, I am hopeful that Linux will be able to push ahead of Microsoft and Apple as they stand there correcting past mistakes. Anyone thinking of the tortoise and the hare? Also, please check out the information about the live, interactive, group distro review. [...]
June 11th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
[...] Microsoft may yet manage to pull out of this situation and get OOXML approved. But today’s news makes it seem just a little more likely that OOXML will fall by the wayside and Microsoft actually will adopt ODF as I discussed in an earlier post. That would be the better outcome. Of course, the future is hard to predict and something completely different might ultimately come out of this. It looks like we will just have to wait and see. Also, please check out the information about the live, interactive, group distro review. [...]
June 12th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
[...] Hartely’s first suggestion is that Linux PCs sold should not use such low-end hardware. At first this makes sense, but if you add higher end hardware, the PC gets more expensive. The problem with this is that the $50-ish price saving you get from Linux is much less relavent if the PC costs $1000 than if it costs $200. That might be fine if someone was looking for Linux, but most Wal-Mart shoppers are probably just looking for a good deal. Perhaps a better solution than adding more expensive hardware is to use a less resource-intensive Linux distro such as Xubuntu or DSL. It would certainly be interesting to see a stripped down Linux compete with Windows Vista. Also, if you are interested in a live group distro review, please vote in the poll by clicking on th… [...]
June 13th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Just found your blog tonight through Linux.com. This sounds like a fantastic idea. I’d definitely be interested. I’ve bookmarked the site and will check back to see if this will become a reality.