Debian GNU/Linux on CD in Germany at Lehmanns Bookstore
From Bernd Sommerfeld @ Lehmanns Buchhandlung
Hi there
Right now (and for the first time) there is a version of Debian
GNU/Linux for the PowerPC which is being delivered completely with or
without the source-code...
But, how did Debian become so famous in Germany anyway?
In the end of 1992 the special-interest book-seller Lehmanns
published the first Linux-distribution on seven floppy discs. We
started the very first online book-shop (http://www.lob.de/) with
this Linux platform.
Linux user of the first hour still remember the first "Linux &
Internet Congress" in Heidelberg in 1994 which Lehmanns initiated.
For the first time ever the international developer community
(including Linus) met - but not only virtual ; )
The first german handbook dealing with Linux could be published
because Lehmanns financed the first edition and promoted it on the
Cebit.
Since 1996 we are especially involved in Debian GNU/linux. The idea
of Open Source was far more important than just offering an operating
system for students and spare-time constructors.
Christian Leutloff and Frank Ronneburg put together our first
distribution and wrote the install-manual. We had agreed to sell it
for less than 20 DM.
Debian spread and soon we had about 3000 to 4000 customers which
regularly bought the latest version. As we were not able to answer
all questions concerning installation e.a. (hey, we're book-traders)
we arranged a mailing-list where professionals were ready to deal
with the problems of beginners. "debian-user-de" always was, is and
will be a good and easy way to get help with questions concerning
Debian. Other Debian distributors are active there, too, and there
is a "franc and friendly" athmosphere. The Lehmanns mail-sever run
by Debian GNU/Linux.
There are different ways in which Lehmanns supports the development
of Debian GNU/Linux. One thing is that we give 1,-DM to SPI for
every CD that we sell. But that is not all we have. Debian-mugs and
other merchandise can be bought in every Lehmanns book-shop.
Thanks to core prize competitions (http://www.lob.de/) and many
events in our shops Debian GNU/Linux got a lot of new friends. On
the other hand this distribution has made our firm quite popular.
But one thing was still missing: A german handbook for Debian. We
did find partners that wrote the installation guide but none of them
had enough time to write a complete book. Now even that is done: You
can find it at http://www.lob.de/linux. We were even able to
convince Addison-Wesley to publish the book this year.
Our biggest fear is that this distribution might come into the hands
of one commercial monopolistic firm someday. But as long as there
are many smaller traders, the spirit of Debian GNU/Linux will stay
alive...
Bernd Sommerfeld
B ------------------------------------------------------------------
O Lehmanns Fachbuchhandlung / Hardenbergstr. 11 / D-10623 Berlin
O Tel.030/61791121 email: berlin@lehmanns.de Fax 030/617911-60
K --> www.lob.de
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