Announcing the "Will Linux Work?" Contest

Plat’Home’s OpenMicroServers are known for being tough. Their compact, fanless, diskless design combined with the stability of Linux creates a product that is great for companies to configure once and then stick in a corner for weeks and months or years even - without checking on the condition. This “benign neglect” is tough on normal servers, but not for Plat’Home’s OpenMicroServers.

We want to put our servers up to the test though. For five weeks - from August 1, 2008, through September 5, 2008 - Plat’home will conduct an online contest to solicit ideas for the most interesting and challenging conditions to successfully run Plat’Home’s OpenMicroServers.

Does your small business in Arizona have a server room with no air conditioning? Do you live in Alaska and need server(s) that might be subjected to cold conditions? Are you an archaeologist that needs a computer that can be taken on a dig with you and survive dust and bugs? Tell us about it! We want to know if Linux is the solution! “Will Linux Work?”

Participants are invited to submit ideas to our blog by posting a comment below or on any of the following blog posts. You can even direct message us your ideas on our Twitter account. We will discuss the most interesting submissions and ask for reader’s weigh-in on this blog and Twitter to help us choose the winner.

At the end of the five-week period, we will choose our winner to receive 5 free OpenMicroServers. You get to try your idea for real!

Upon acceptance, the winner will be asked to test the server in their suggested condition and report the results back to Plat’Home. We really want to know “Will Linux Work?” You receive the 5 servers, test your idea and then report back to us with a short description and some pictures. If it works like you wanted, you get to keep the OpenMicroServers.

Hope you are already thinking of some great ideas! To get started, simply just submit your idea(s) to this blog and/or the Twitter account.

The Plat’Home “Will Linux Work?’ Contest Rules

Here are the rules for our "Will Linux Work?" contest. Please let us know if you have any questions though!




1. The “Will Linux Work?” contest is open to anyone besides employees of Plat’Home.

2. The prize (five Plat’Home OpenMicroServers) is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.

3. The winner will be chosen by Plat’Home based on the most creative and plausible submission. The selection is completely subjective.

4. All decisions by the contest judges are final – no substitutions will be available.

5. Once chosen, the winner must test the Plat’Home OpenMicroServers in the submitted tough condition and report results to Plat’Home within one month (30 days).

6. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation or follow up, of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph for promotion and/or public relation purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation blogs, social networks, newspapers, print and online publications, radio, slides, videotapes, over the internet) which Plat’Home may deem appropriate.

7. In accepting the prize, the winner, and any participant, acknowledges that Plat'Home may not be held liable for any loss, damage or injury associated with accepting the Plat’Home OpenMicroServers and/or its testing.

8. This contest is subject to all United States federal, state, and municipal laws.

9. Plat’Home reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice.

10. Multiple entries per person are allowed.

11. According to the rules of this contest, the software and appliances from Plat’Home that are awarded to the winner cannot be used in violation of all applicable copyright laws. Further, copyrights belong to the copyright owner. In the case of any copyright violations, neither Plat’Home nor Page One PR shall be held accountable.