[dot] Linux Day Italy 2008

[Dot Stories]

URL: http://dot.kde.org/1231854331/

From: Giovanni Venturi <giovanni at kde-it.org>
Dept: nothing-interesting-happening-this-week
Date: Tuesday 13/Jan/2009, @05:45

Linux Day Italy 2008
====================

   A little bit in late to release this article, but important to let
know KDE community about our involvement to spread KDE to Italian
people.  Last October, three members of KDE Italia
[http://www.kde-it.org/] gave talks in three different Italian cities.
Daniele Costarella in Salerno
[http://www.hcsslug.org/?SEC=eventi&SUB=Linux%20DAY%202008&id=12],
Salvatore Brigaglia in Sassari [http://linuxday.plugs.it/] and Diego
Rondini in Castelfranco Veneto (TV)
[http://www.montellug.it/wiki/index.php/LinuxDay2008#Conferenze_proposte].



  I. UNIVERSITY OF SALERNO, ITALY

     The Linux Day begins with a day in advance here in Salerno. Despite
the inevitable unforeseen, the HCSSLug's boys managed to organise a
beautiful Linux Day. A large student participation, some of whom are new
to the "strange" world of Free Software, ensured the success of the
event. After a morning passed together with the very pleasant organisers
to work on the final preparations, in front of the Neapolis TV troupe
[http://www.hcsslug.org/?SEC=video], an informative show broadcast by
the national TV, the conference about Free Software begins. The first on
stage is Carmine De Rosa. I sit and assist with his introduction to Free
Software. The concept of Freedom is emphasized also during the following
presentations, the first one about FOSS projects and second about the
distribution (what they are and how they born). The discussions devoted
to Linux and its history make room for another topic that in recent
years has made itself heard, "virtualisation" and in particular the
security aspect that follow. At this point we have given to those
present a 10 minutes break. But, 10 min are not been enough to answer
all the questions they asked: "How do I install a Linux distribution?",
"Where can I ask support?" and similar questions. We were happy to
provide the answer. After the break it is my turn. With the slides that
I prepared, I illustrated an example of a desktop environment, KDE as
example :P, focusing on the pillars and all that makes KDE 4 a
state-of-the-art system and ready to take a challenge with the
well-known proprietary systems. I hope to have transmitted at least a
bit of the potential of an environment such as KDE. After about 30
minutes of presentation (I believe 30 min were enough to divert the most
of the new users and some users of other desktops), I returned to sit. A
comparison between the free and proprietary formats (and consequences),
a very good demonstration of Blender and some minutes on the vector
graphics concluded the event, or at least the part reserved to the
talks. I remained beyond the conclusion to answer the thousand questions
from enthusiastic users and people who wanted to live in this new free
world.  Thanks to HCSSlug for giving me the opportunity to take part in
the event. A big greeting to all participants, many of whom will surely
read this short article. See you at the next Linux Day!

     Daniele Costarella


 II. SASSARI, ITALY

     The was my first time for many experiences. First time on a Linux
Day, first time surrounded by kind free software fellows, first time to
have a speech in public about Free Software. Is it enough? I was a bit
scared, but my mission was most important: talking about KDE 4 (I will
not write here what I said. My slides are downloadable on the KDE Italia
website and are in Italian)!

     They gave me half an hour, which I thought was really a lot of time
but, when the organisation-guy looked at me tipping with his finger on
his wristwatch I realised that time flew!

     It was in general a really pleasant day with Giuseppe Maxia,
MySQL's community lead, talking about how he did business with Linux and
Open Source in general, a lot of Ubuntu and openSUSE CDs, public
administration and instruction chiefs present, a not-so-young couple
asking about how to install Linux and, in general, talks here and there
about what I care so much! Unforgettable!

     Salvatore Brigaglia