Kevanf1 wrote:

On 08/10/05, Shriramana Sharma wrote:

...

In recent threads there has been a lot of discussion going on about how Novell did not include one of the manuals and the source DVD along with the package, with some disappointed about it and others justifying it on the basis that to reduce costs Novell had to do this.

I suggest that starting next version Novell/SUSE makes available different kinds of packages. One at 60 USD, another at 75 - whatever. The costlier one can have the source disc and the extra manuals, if indeed the reason for Novell not including them in the current shipped package is to cut costs.

Shriramana Sharma.

Well, it's probably nothing to do with Novell/SUSE but more down to incorrect reporting but, the latest edition of Linux Magazine states that there is no change in the boxed contents from version 9.3 Somebody reading that in the mag is going to be rather disappointed if they expect both manuals this time round.

I shall be letting Linux Magazine know about this reporting error.

eWeek also got this wrong. James W

Randall R Schulz wrote:

Since manufacturers and software vendors always operate with insufficient, imprecise and flawed market data, they don't always make the best choice.

Well, that certainly explains why MS won't support OpenDocument in Office 12. ;-)

On October Saturday 08 2005 12:49 pm, Ken Schneider wrote:

On Sat, 2005-10-08 at 08:50 -0700, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

Shriramana,

<snip>

...

No reason to change the box contents, just add the ability to order the additional sources DVD and admin book as separate items. Knowing that fewer with be manufactured the cost will be higher but people that want/need the items bad enough will pay the price.

Perhaps they should get a few heavy duty DVD copying machines and CD copying machines and hire someone to make the individualized items? Of course that isn't going to work out well either. Since someone is certainly going to be ordering at different times and their extra CDs or DVDs will have different content... I guess one , maybe two workers could be delegated to build the Admin (and any other guide) books a person might want. All they would need to do that would be one of the fancy Business-printer/copier/collator/binder machines. one of the Gee whiz Bang Xerox gems we see advertised on telly. Could be a great "make work" operation tho likely Any company doing this would give the job to interns. Oh yeah they would need to have a good phone system to answer calls perhaps even record them for later transcription. In that way we can each have whatever we are willing to pay for... but.... If either Novell or Suse decides on this completely customized system; all " economies of scale " will be lost making the end product for each consumer very likely beyond MS prices AND beyond the purse of each Suse or any other Linux distro. -- j registered linux user #363029 Mornings: Evolution in action. Only the grumpy will survive.