Since this is/was a Linux "End User" summit, and presumably you are also a user of Linux, could you not have gone as a "User"?

Or do they make "Users" sign a non-disclosure agreement or something which would prevent you from reporting what you had experienced? (This isn't intended as a facetious question - I'm actually wondering now...)

Not a particularly bright decision for a group whose founding principles include virtues like "openness" and "transparency."

I just left the conference. ('Decided not to go to the happy hour.) If there was something secretive ther, I must have missed it. The agenda is online and it accurately describes what was covered.

You might consider registering for the next one. (Oh, and no one made me sign anything.)

Having been fortunate enough to be invited to the Second Annual Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit, I found it odd that the press was turned away and I personally saw it on two occasions.

The Late and Great Joe Barr and I sat together often during the three day event and as humbled as I was to be invited, I seriously doubt you will find my name on any future lists for attendance.

On the first day, during a panel discussion with leaders from Dell, HP and others, I took the mic and asked the question others had asked me to pose.

"When is corporate Linux going to take some initiative and start marketing the Linux that paved their roads to wealth".

You could have heard a pin drop. Finally, the rep from IBM mumbled something about being in the business of offering solutions, not operating systems. John "maddog" Hall then stood next to me and clarified the question and asked that if indeed Linux was such a big part of their marketing and business plan, why wouldn't they advertise the fact that they used and supported it.

"Gee, we seem to have run out of time" said the moderator.

It was awkward to say the least but that is what I came there for...to rub shoulders with those who could help me market Linux. It has to happen if we are to gain market share.

I firmly believe THAT is why the press isn't allowed into these events. Marketing Linux has become a dirty phrase to corporate Linux. It did my heart good to see Dell finally step forward and begin television and radio ads for their Linux notebooks. LXer.com carries the story about it today.

It is happening, despite the Linux Foundation's love affair with Corporate Linux. End Users Summit? Please...did you see the list of big shots in attendance?

I can't tell much difference between the names on my event and the one in New York at this moment. It was clear then that these folks have no real desire to see the proliferation of Linux on the Desktop. I believe if he were so inclined, Stephen J. Nichols Vaughn would validate this...he saw it as clearly as I did and has written about it often enough.

helios

Thank you, helios. You are just like the press should be.

"Closed" should not be a part of any FLOSS event. It puzzles me what IBM and others are thinking. Their contributions to the kernel/projects/GNU/Linux on the server, etc. are well known. Why do they skip an opportunity for a little free advertising?

I can see where the inner sanctum of any organization or project may want a closed meeting to discuss strategy without intrusion to stay focussed or to avoid the competition gaining inside information but an end-user affair is way outside that realm. If they are not planning an assault on M$ (pity) or some such thing that benefits from the element of surprise why is secrecy appropriate? Maybe they are just shy and want to speak freely without statements taken out of context being in the headlines the next day.

It's odd that they labeled it an end-user summit. Have they not looked up the term? Before this event began I had assumed the reason for barring the press was to allow end-users to speak freely without repercussions, but watching the video of Helios' question and the response to it made it clear that that was not the case. After watching the video I feel quite foolish even being a Linux user, let alone calling myself an end-user. Who the hell do I think I am? This just made a joke of the whole end-user concept as it applies to Linux.