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ago
September 4th, 2006, 05:43 PM
www.linux.org is the first result if you run a google search for "Linux" (http://www.google.com/search?q=linux).

Linux.org is in not the official Linux website (there is no such a thing save maybe kernel.org), but in practice, for most, it represents the very first face of Linux, and we all know how important first impressions are...

This website should make you salivating and your geek pulse should go through the roof...

Instead, if anything, it will turn you off... You can bet that many people will give it a 2 secs look and come back convincinced that linux might well be an enterprise oriented product but that there is no hope for decent interfaces and polish. And that is where their linux trip will end. The information contained is generally accurate and useful and the effort put into the website is appreciated, but it will not have you reach for a blank CD...

I am no web designer myself, but I am sure that on these fora there are many talented experts that may be able to help enhance the linux.org appeal. Why not get it in touch with the maintainers of Linux.org and try to help them? Maybe even organizing some sort of project to coordinate effort (possibly attracting web developers from other distros)? Soo...

Is anyone interested in making linux.org one of the most kick-*** websites around?



By the way, the second hit in Google is linux.com and that too is not very welcoming for the enquiring soul. In fact it is explicitly targeted to the enterprise ("Linux.com, the enterprise linux resource"). It does not look bad, but it certainly will not help convince newcomers to try Linux on their desktop either... Third entry is RedHat, with another enterprise oriented website... Fourth is... ...yes!, you guessed it!

ago
September 4th, 2006, 08:13 PM
As mentioned the website is packed with ads... But so far I had never noticed the "sponsored links" at the bottom... At the moment this is what I see...



River Belle Casino
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I can maybe understand the need to rise some cash...
...In fact I don't uderstand that either... I am sure there are plenty of people who would have been glad to host the website, without any need to pack it up with casino and other ads...

I do not know about you, but it really upsets me seeing the main linux website in these conditions, I do not question the usefulness of its contens, but for the rest, I think it is doing more damage than help...

GeneralZod
September 4th, 2006, 08:20 PM
I can offer no ways to fix it, but I agree that it's pretty lame. As far as I can tell, there's no RSS feed, either, which is crazy for a news site.

ago
September 4th, 2006, 08:20 PM
It gets worse...

http://www.linux.org/advert/

Just an extract, from the enjoyable read...


Very Desirable Audience
Linux Online can bring to your company or organization a slice of the most sought after marketing and advertising audience in the industry. Based on a recent survey, we found that the typical Linux Online visitor is male, 31 years old, earns $42,000 US per year, has a post-secondary degree and uses Linux on his home PC. 73% of our Linux Online visitors are responsible for purchasing computer equipment, software, and services for PCs for end-use or for their company. With over 58% of those buyer's responsible for a department or entire company, we've got your market's attention! Additionally, 29% put Linux to use in their work environment


What I do not seem to be able to find is what they are doing with this money. Quite clearly they are not investing them in the website... ](*,) :evil:

ago
September 4th, 2006, 08:23 PM
I can offer no ways to fix it, but I agree that it's pretty lame. As far as I can tell, there's no RSS feed, either, which is crazy for a news site.

I fear it is not going to be as easy as I originally though. I start having strong suspicions that the website is simply milking the domain... I really hope to be proven wrong on this, but the situation is upsetting me...

bruce89
September 4th, 2006, 08:24 PM
Very Desirable Audience
Linux Online can bring to your company or organization a slice of the most sought after marketing and advertising audience in the industry. Based on a recent survey, we found that the typical Linux Online visitor is male, 31 years old, earns $42,000 US per year, has a post-secondary degree and uses Linux on his home PC. 73% of our Linux Online visitors are responsible for purchasing computer equipment, software, and services for PCs for end-use or for their company. With over 58% of those buyer's responsible for a department or entire company, we've got your market's attention! Additionally, 29% put Linux to use in their work environment
Oh dear, I don't really fit the bill then.

Male
17
Earns £312 a year
3 Highers
Linux user

Engnome
September 4th, 2006, 09:11 PM
www.linux.org is the first result if you run a google search for "Linux" (http://www.google.com/search?q=linux).


Not to me...

IYY
September 5th, 2006, 12:17 AM
This site made it very confusing for me to choose a distro a few years ago, when I was starting with Linux. In fact, I just chose to use FreeBSD instead because of their easy to understand website (there was no Ubuntu back then ;) )