On Tuesday 10 August 2010 07:26:21 C wrote:
On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 04:04, Graham Lauder wrote:
People who want to try Linux on the Desktop think in terms of Brand! Ubuntu has high brand recognition. Unsophisticated Desktop users don't think "I want Linux", they think more along the lines of "I want an alternative to windows" The default to them is either Apple or Ubuntu because to them Linux IS Ubuntu. That's a function of brand recognition. Ubuntu have done their marketing well lifting their brand recognition
This concept of Linux IS Ubuntu is so all pervasive that everywhere you go on the web to find software, research how to do something... it's Ubuntu Ubuntu Ubuntu. Software vendors always provide Ubuntu builds, and it's a tossup if they provide an openSUSE build.... some do, most don't. Solutions to common problems and issues... you can count on there being an Ubuntu solution.. openSUSE solutions might be there, but they are harder to locate, and often very very outdated (ie for 9.1).
Brand recognition is a major factor... and we're missing that.
It's less about clear image than about a distinctive, recognisable image. Firefox and Ubuntu have both done well in the visibility stakes. High recognition, warm colours and Ubuntu added a good back story. That's good marketing and at the sharp end of that is the idea that "Ubuntu is the only economical alternative to windows".
Yet... openSUSE does have a clear and recognizable image... the colors... the desktop design... the Geeko. Anyone can instantly pick out openSUSE (assuming default setup) in a screenshot lineup.
We need to increase our brand recognition..... no argument there, although there maybe debate as to how we achieve that, I have some ideas but that's for another thread.
This is a big one, and can cover a huge range of what openSUSE is.
Let's take the branding discussion to the marketing list, plz. I'd love to hear your ideas there!
Set our install up so it's possible to get a functioning install with minimal interaction from the user. That means a default desktop: KDE to emphasise the point of difference.
Add to this.. make it easy to build bootable USB installs from ALL isos, not just the LiveCDs.
Yep. Meanwhile, this is technical, put it on a technical list/thread :D
Additionally common proprietary codecs and drivers should be on the DVD or at first launch a script should launch asking the user if they want Video and Audio codecs installed so they can play their windows media files. Graphics drivers would be good, but the Nvidia ones have been a bit too variable, so for reliabilities sake..... For OEM, that would obviously be a different issue
I think everyone should have to install Ubuntu and use it for a few hours to see what they have done to resolve this issue. openSUSE has definitely made incredible strides to resolving this, but the Ubuntu solution is... so simple.... and so user friendly.
Somehow it's a bigger legal issue for us than it is for them - we can't even point to the codecs (and they do). I don't know why, others here might know more. Either way, technical, not for this thread :D
A word of caution: "Easy" to market often ends up in lousy uptake. Find the area of achievable growth. Define the demographic, then create to pitch at that target market. Strategies that fail are those that try to be all things to all people and thus lose focus. Define your goals, test results against those goals and modify to suit.
This is well stated. This, in my mind, is the goal of defining the goals and strategies.
Agreed. Part of the strategy is to define target users and focus on what makes them happy. Notice that in the way we approach strategy, the traditional 'vision, mission, strategy' flow into each other.
C.