MapServer Foundation - Open Letter

[David Bitner]

I agree that the Mascot should be secondary and a nice little thing to
use for logos etc..  I think that having two products Mapserver Foo
and Mapserver Bar are going to make it sound like they are two levels
of the same product (like ArcView/ArcInfo) rather than two distinct
products.

I like the proposal of something like Community Mapserver and
Mapserver Enterprise and then having a logo mascot of some kind that
represents the Mapserver Foundation.  If it was a natural thing, I
would vote for something found in Minnesota to reflect the heritage of
Mapserver (Perhaps the Aspen reflecting the interconnected root system
with a nice simple leaf as a logo, or the Eagle as stated before, or
why not the loon to represent ....).  Basically, keep the names of the
products descriptive and then back that up with having some kind of
symbol to use across all products that come out of the Mapserver
Foundation.

On 11/28/05, Fawcett, David <David.Fawcett at state.mn.us> wrote:
> Thomas,
>
> I like the idea of the inclusion of 'Community' in the name.  It shows
> the roots of the product and the responsive support that has built up
> around it.  We could still pick a Peregrine, Shrew, Slime Mold, Cyano
> Bacteria, whatever as the mascot...
>
> Of course, IANAMC  (IANA Marketing Consultant)
>
> David.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On
> Behalf Of thomas bonfort
> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 2:06 PM
> To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open Letter
>
>
> +1 with david, I don't think adding a somewhat artificial suffix to
> mapserver adds any value.
> how about a simple "Mapserver community edition" or something in the
> likes?
> --
> tb
>
> On 11/28/05, Fawcett, David <David.Fawcett at state.mn.us> wrote:
> > My frustration is that there is a need to pick a random animal or
> > additional name to add to the product.  This just dilutes the value of
>
> > the current brand.  To me, MapServer is the product that we all use,
> > love/hate, contribute to, etc.  Not even U of M MapServer, just
> > MapServer.
> >
> > I hate to lose that brand.  AutoDesk taking on MapServer Enterprise, I
>
> > believe, will confuse a lot of people to think that it is a code
> > extension of MapServer or a Deluxe version of what is currently being
> > called 'Cheetah'.  They get more of the name than the original product
>
> > does.
> >
> > Maybe MapServer and MapServer Enterprise, just as confusing, but at
> > least we get to keep the original name and brand.  MapServer Core?
> > MapServer Foo Edition? ...
> >
> > My concern with branding has nothing to do with whether or not the
> > foundation is a good thing.  I think that it could be.
> >
> > David.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU]
> > On Behalf Of Andy Canfield
> > Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 1:18 PM
> > To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> > Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open Letter
> >
> >
> > Do we get a say or is this already a done deal? From what I read on
> > the DM Solutions site it seems like this is pretty much a done deal.
> > If it's not I like "Osprey" as they have always been my favorite bird
> > of prey and I like the raptor idea way better than the cheeta thing.
> >
> > On 11/28/05, Abe Gillespie <abe.gillespie at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I like the raptor idea.  You got my vote Chip!
> > >
> > > See, this is how "community" is *supposed* to work.  :)
> > >
> > > -Abe
> > >
> > > On 11/28/05, Fawcett, David <David.Fawcett at state.mn.us> wrote:
> > > > The dolphin may be taken in the opensource world as well....
> > > >
> > > > http://www.mysql.com/
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: UMN MapServer Users List
> > > > [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Sears, Jeremy
> > > > Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 1:04 PM
> > > > To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> > > > Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open
> > > > Letter
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I concur.
> > > > How about a dolphin? They're fast, agile and intelligent. If TV
> > > > has taught us anything they are also friendly and fun to work
> > > > with... just like Mapserver.
> > > >
> > > > Jeremy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: UMN MapServer Users List
> > > > [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU]On
> > > > Behalf Of Abe Gillespie
> > > > Sent: November 28, 2005 1:55 PM
> > > > To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> > > > Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open
> > Letter
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Honestly, Cheetah?  Hasn't Apple already monopolized all the large
>
> > > > cat names?  Besides, there's an HTML server named Tomcat.
> > > >
> > > > Let's start our own naming cliche.
> > > >
> > > > -Abe
> > > >
> > > > On 11/28/05, Tyler Mitchell <tylermitchell at shaw.ca> wrote:
> > > > > > Are there any graphics wizards out there who could doctor a
> > > > > > photo of
> > > >
> > > > > > a cheetah to look something like the cow in the attached jpeg?
>
> > > > > > (I'm told that's a moo-cator projection...)
> > > > >
> > > > > You guys are sorta twisted ;)  and I'm even worse because I'll
> > > > > probably
> > > > try something tonight :)
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm really excited about the foundation developments.  I have
> > > > > some
> >
> > > > > notes
> > > > online about all the possible things a foundation could do:
> > > > > http://ms.gis.umn.edu/community/foundation
> > > > >
> > > > > I look forward to your comments/feedback (but suggest it be
> > > > > moved over
> > > >
> > > > > to
> > > > the foundation mailing list instead).
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>