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

[David Holden]

On Friday 18 Feb 2005 19:12, Rick wrote:


> > 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.
>
> They are offering a free one because they have to. Look at what your money
> actually buys if you go for the commercial version.
>
> http://www.xandros.com/products/desktop_matrix.html
>
> Apart from some distro provided pap software (and that depends on how
> deluxe your feeling) the only thing you get with the commercial version is
> "Installation technical support via e-mail"

 Now they clearly don't *have to*, they obviously think its in their business 
interest to do so, but I see nothing wrong with that. 
>
> > And yes, you can download all that stuff for free - but you can't create
> > a distribution from all that software for free.
>
> Of course you can (not that I am suggesting for one second that you
> actually try it), but you can run any other distro and have all the same
> free software installed by default.

Actually you probably can't.  I've run lots of distros and although they 
largely consist of the same free software how that is put together has a huge
bearing on how useable the distro is.

I don't use xandros but I have installed in on a machine before and at the 
time is was the only Linux OS that did ACPI properly out of the box.

>
> > What you get when you pay for the commercial edition is .. Well, stuff
> > you might want to pay for.
>
> But they don't have anything to sell (aside from the "Installation
> technical support via e-mail")
>
> > This is a good thing. I like choice like this.
>
> This isn't a good thing, this is using the open source software catalogue
> to ransom cash from users who don't know any better.
>

Sorry but I think you are way off here. Firstly  "Installation
 technical support via e-mail" is a requirement for many business.

"Users who don't know any better" are probably people who have better things 
to do with there time than to google/spend hours fiddling to get X working, 
and for a business time is money so if they are making money from 
"Installation technical support via e-mail" all power to them.


> "I tried Linux, but my version didn't have all the features I wanted. The
> super deluxe would have been great, but its half the price of Windows -
> Which I already own."
>
> Don't be fooled into thinking a lot of Linux vendors equates to a lot of
> choice, in reality the choice offered to you by different vendors is
> nothing to do with the actual software you will be running at the end of
> the day.
>
> You are choosing brand, support, a packaging system, security attitude,
> user community and feel good factor.

 Hmm, "support, a packaging system, security attitude, user community" - All 
things where choice is vital.


>
> > Sometimes it's good to get people using your product early - maybe you'd
> > offer a discount to early users as an incentive.
>
> If you have to give your product away to get people to try it, your product
> is worthless. You are in effect sacrificing your business for better sales
> statistics - usefull currency if your dependant on 3rd party funding
> (because your sure as hell not making any money yourself)

Again I think your way off. The whole history of commerce is loaded with try 
before you buy. This is particularly relevent for software, where it allows 
you to increase your community of users, some of which however will be 
willing to pay for extra services


>
> > You may want to do that even if it hits your margins.
>
> There is marketing, and there is offering every LUG member in the UK a 45%
> discount.
>
> > It doesn't seem very fair to beat somebody up publicly for offering you
> > a discount(and a choice) you don't want.
>
> The're selling something I already have, chopped into lumps to make me pay
> more for it, discounted in such a way as to make me wonder if they will
> still be in business in 12 months AND I have to be greatful!
>
> (I also love the way the boxed products are the exact same price as the
> download versions)
>
> Rick

 I don't get why your so heated about this, obviously your not there target 
audience, thats the point of choice.

 cheers,

         Dave.




-- 
Dr. David Holden.
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