First year of MandrakeClub

Flash: First year of MandrakeClub
---------------------------------

One year ago, MandrakeClub was launched as a possible answer to the 
question: "How can a company be successful by selling free software 
while staying compatible with the ideals of Free Software?" Today, one 
year later, the entire staff at MandrakeSoft would like to thank each 
and every member who has joined the Club over the past twelve months.

When MandrakClub was first started, it offered very little in the way of
direct benefits to members; nonetheless, thousands of Mandrake 
enthusiasts soon joined which greatly helped us develop and release 
Mandrake Linux 8.2 and 9.0. These early adopters also gave us time to 
develop the MandrakeClub into something very special.

Today we would like to call on all Mandrake Linux users who have not yet
joined the Club: You can stay anonymous, or you can join the Club and be 
a part of something very important and extremely beneficial!

>From "donations" to "best service company"
------------------------------------------

One year ago, the MandrakeClub began its life with little more than a 
promise that "membership fees will be used to assure Mandrake Linux
development" and that "MandrakeClub will soon introduce additional 
benefits for its members". Despite some early doubters, the community 
accepted the invitation and proved that Mandrake Linux means much more 
than just a "free lunch" when thousands of people joined the Club in the 
first several months.

Now, one year later, MandrakeClub is not only a sustainable source of 
revenue for MandrakeSoft, but it also offers an impressive collection of 
valuable services and privileges to its members:

* MandrakeClub.com is turning into a major multilingual news and 
   discussion forum for everything related to MandrakeSoft and Mandrake Linux
* Club members can download all of the commercial software that is normally
   only available in retail packs (more than 130 applications are now
   available)
* The volunteer-run RPM voting system provides Club members the unique
   benefit of requesting (and receiving) new software packages
* Club members receive numerous discounts for products and services at
   MandrakeStore and MandrakeOnline. Additionally, the Club regularly
   negotiates special discounts on third-party goods and services for
   members. Past promotions have included TransGaming Kohan games, Hancom
   Office, Yopy, Win4Lin and many others
* StarOffice 6.0 with a complete OEM license is available directly from the
   Club download area ('silver' members and above)
* A special list of download mirrors assures that Club members don't have
   scour the Internet searching for Mandrake packages. Also, most Club
   software can be easily installed with the Mandrake Software Manager (no
   more dependency problems!)
* Last but not least, MandrakeClub members directly influence the direction
   of the distribution, and this influence grows stronger with each and
   every new member!

In July 2002, "Open For Business" realized the potential of MandrakeClub 
by awarding it "runner up" in the "Best Services Company" category -- 
and this was at a time when more than half of the current benefits 
didn't yet exist!

Since then, the Club has introduced many additional features and 
benefits (with even more to come); and for the first time, Club members 
are really having fun with the site and visiting regularly. A portion of 
the Club website is open to "guests", and thanks to the RPM-voting 
system, the Club is producing important new RPM-packages which can 
eventually be used by everyone!

In short, the Mandrake Club is where the real action is. Being a 
MandrakeClub member certainly isn't mandatory, but it's essential for 
anyone who is interested in the future of Mandrake Linux!

Join the Club today
-------------------

Christmas is coming -- you can either be a Scrooge, or become a part of
the merry members of MandrakeClub:
http://www.mandrakeclub.com (have a look)
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/club/ (to subscribe)