[advocacy-discuss] Proposal for new OSUGs in Hangzhou/Xi'an at China

[Jim Grisanzio]

On 10/31/08 16:28, W. Wayne Liauh wrote:
> I guess OpenSolaris/Solaris operates quite differently from Linux. In 
> the latter (e.g., SuSE or RedHat/Fedora Core), it is always local 
> people who are not related with the corporate entity who operate user 
> groups.

Sun has a lot of development going on in China, so it makes sense that 
those guys get directly involved in user groups -- either participating 
or starting them and driving them. Pros/cons, I agree.

> There are, of course, pros and cons with each model.  However, if anyone asks my opinion, I would say that I much prefer the Linux model, but to be actively assisted by Sun employees.
>   

We, too, feel that the model of community run groups is better in the 
long run. And this happens naturally, too. One example is Bangalore. 
That OSUG started with Sun guys driving, and now it's much more of a 
community group. It's difficult to tell where the lines of company and 
community are. It's quite cool, actually. And there are probably other 
examples of OSUGs started by Sun that grew into more community efforts. 
I'm on all of the lists and I see a lot of non-Sun addresses. :)

> OTOH, as far as software goes, Dalian is probably "the" most important city in China--if not now it will definitely be in the future.  

I've been hearing more and more about Dalian. Can't wait to get there.  
I understand that there is a big English-speaking population there as 
well as a lot of Japanese speakers. I'm especially interested in 
exploring those Japan-China connections. Interesting about the 
Taiwan-Dalian bit too.

> During my most recent trip to Taipei, I learned that the computer manufacturers in Taiwan have successfully lobbied daily direct flights from Taipei to Dalian.  This should underscore the importance of Dalian in the eyes of the high tech people at least in Taiwan.  And it is going to become very obvious in a year or two.
>
> Thus, I am wondering whether we should try our best to establish an OSUG in Dalian.  I will be more than happy to participate, and pledge our supports from Hawaii.
>   

I know the Sun team (can't remember specifically who) did some events in 
Dalian a while back. I'll check. I'd love to get a group going there 
since there are obvious connections to other Asian markets as well as to 
the West. Thanks for your support from Hawaii, too, by the way. I think 
we need an OSUG in Hawaii so we can hold an international Advocacy 
conference there in the winter. :)


Jim

-- 
Jim Grisanzio
Sr. Program Manager, OpenSolaris Engineering
http://blogs.sun.com/jimgris/