Re: [Ambassadors] Free Media Distribution
As I understand it Fedora media distribution has really three
sources.
(1) The FreeMedia Program:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/FreeMedia
This is designed to help Fedora contributors get Fedora into the hands
of people who have either economic or network hardships that make it
difficult for them to acquire media for themselves directly. Pretty
packaging of the media isn't an objective, although each contributor
can handle that however they choose. If volume is a problem in your
area the best solution is to recruit more contributors to the program
to ease the burden on each contributor and to get as many requests for
media satisfied as possible.
(2) The Sponsored Media Program:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/SponsoredMedia
This program gives one the opportunity to fund free Fedora media
produced by a vendor to distribute through the Free Media Program.
(3) Pressed Event Media: This is normally intended to be very high
quality in terms of production value and is funded normally by the
Fedora Project for use by Fedora contributors at events where they are
representing/promoting Fedora. So if you are attending events where
you are handing out Fedora media you can request a supply of these
through whatever process exists in your region.
Periodically the question comes up as to why we don't use this same
media and packaging for the Free Media Program? Some people think we
should, at one time I thought that way myself. There are a couple of
things to think about here. The Free Media Program is a way for
individual contributors to help others acquire Fedora. Part of this
contribution is providing the media itself, the postage required, and
the time to transfer the bits to the media. This is a very personal
way to contribute and in a way that makes this a special program to me
now. When you contribute some code to a package you generally don't
know who you are helping. When you spend a few minutes preparing Free
Media for Bob in Topeka, you know exactly who you are helping.
It is pretty much logistically impossible to produce fancy pressed
media and distribute it in small amounts to hundreds of people around
the world so they can use it for the Free Media Program. This would be
very expensive for the project.
To everyone who recently burned a few CDs or DVDs that they could
spare, wrote Fedora 10 on them with a Sharpie, and mailed them off to
someone they have never met through the Free Media Program please do
not feel uncomfortable with the "production value" of the media you
shared with others. All contributions to this program are acts of
generosity and kindness to others and I think it is one of the very
best examples of why the Fedora community is so great to be a small
part of.
John
--
ALL excellent points, especially last paragraph. The only way I've been able to
keep media looking static across the board was doing one of two ways. (#1) Making sure
your burner is lightscribe capable and buying optical media (CD-R/DVD-R) to match. (Those
are the ones that look the same on both sides making it a PIA when burning if not paying
attention when taking out of canister). (#2) Buying a kit that comes w/ 8 1/2 x 11 (US
meas) stickers where part is perferated representing the CD and also containing a round
platter dealie with a push center to afix label evenly on media. It works great (label
goes right into tray) in laser printers and allows you to purchase whatever media is on
sale... The only one that does not work from a price point is the media where top portion
is already white, may work if you have good handwriting (steady hand) and non-smear marker
but mainly requires special Epson printer w/ feed tray that CD fits in.
Other than that, it really is inconsequential because John summed it all up
perfectly...
-david.