[SC.LUG] [Fwd: Xandros Desktop OS Open Circulation Edition]

[Andy Roffe]

Rick,

What is it you don't get ?

Open Circulation a free as in beer release. As in you don't have to pay 
for it.
They are offering you a choice - a free distro or a commercially 
supported one.
And yes, you can download all that stuff for free - but you can't create 
a distribution from all that software for free. 

What you get when you pay for the commercial edition is .. Well, stuff 
you might want to pay for.

But you don't have to.. You can have the free one they are offering here 
(Open Circulation)
or have a discount of 45% if you’re a lug member.

This is a good thing. I like choice like this.

So tell me what I'm missing. Why don't you get it?

Sometimes it's good to get people using your product early - maybe you'd 
offer a discount to early users as an incentive.
You may want to do that even if it hits your margins. 

Don't they have marketing in your industry ?

It doesn't seem very fair to beat somebody up publicly for offering you 
a discount(and a choice) you don't want. 

Andy
- Not bothering to reach for flameproof suit - I can get one for free.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick [mailto:rick at ninjafoo.com] 
Sent: 18 February 2005 10:50
To: South Cheshire GNU/Linux Users
Subject: Re: [SC.LUG] [Fwd: Xandros Desktop OS Open Circulation Edition]

I just dont get it.

> We, at Xandros, are thrilled to introduce the world to the Version 3  
> Open Circulation Edition of the award winning Xandros Desktop OS. The  

> new release provides a new Internet experience with Firefox Web 
> browsing, Thunderbird e-mail, and Skype Internet calling.

Hurrah, lots of free software everybody else can get. For free.

> Xandros is the first Linux distribution to include the native Linux  
> Skype client for crystal clear Internet voice calls.

Where as everybody else just gets it from skype.com .....

> A trial version of
> CodeWeavers CrossOver Office 4.1

BE STILL MY BEATING HEART - I have only ever had 1 reason for buying 
something because of a demo, PC mags before I had broadband because 
downloading said
(game) demos on dial-up was painfull.

> Discover crystal clear and free Internet voice calling with Skype! Get 

> to use your favorite Windows applications using the trial version of 
> CrossOver Office 4.1!! Rediscover the Web  with the secure Firefox Web 

> browser and Thunderbird e-mail client!!!

Behold our reflected glory! (in case you missed it in paragraph 1 & 2)

> Please feel free to download the Open Circulation from 
> http://home.xandros.com/. For those that are interested in the 
> commercial products, please feel free to use or pass the following 45% 

> coupon to other LUG members.  Just follow through the ordering process 
 
> at http://www.xandros.com/shopping.html and use the following 45% 
> Deluxe discount coupon at the Payments page.
>
> Coupon Code: uklug2005

Personally I prefer to use a free distro and donate funds to the 
maintainers, failing that get your Linux for free and put some cash in 
the pockets of an open source application you really like. (don't miss 
the oppertunity to make a feature request)

If you have no cash you can contribute in many other ways, spending an a 
couple of hours a week on the forums of your disto of choice is a very 
important part of supporting the open source movement.

Being in business myself a 45% discount says 2 things.

1. We are overpriced and can afford to loose a substancial part of our 
GP for marketing purposes.
2. We are desperate.

Rick

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