On Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 2:34 PM, Bryen <suserocks@bryen.com> wrote:
- As the x.x.x version is specifically marketed as a perfected version, we're selling an expectation to potential customers. The expectation being that this version really does work and is better than the original version x.x. That means we would have to go through a testing process to ensure the validity of our claim. Because this is specifically designed for situations where money changes hands, we have to back up the marketing claim of the media.
How do we do this in a way that doesn't conflict or become a drag on our regular x.x testing process?
Well, it will be happening 1+ month(s) after the x.x release. And the only changes would be stuff that have been pushed to x.x (which presumably means it has been tested). We're just updating a few packages and rebuilding the image. In fact, I don't see why we can't do this every month -- for downloaded copies too. Why make someone download/get the old version, to only have to update it immediately -- when he have a capable and automated build service. And I must admit, I'm not a big fan of the whole x.x.x naming idea -- it seems too long and unintuitive for users to understand. Why not recycle a bit of terminology from the Windows world, "Service Pack". When it gets to a critical level, we whip up a new image AKA a new "openSUSE x.x service pack x". It'll help people understand that x.x.x is a not a new release compared to x.x, and use the same term Windows users are familiar with.
- The obvious goal here is to increase purchases of packaged openSUSE (in whatever format is decided upon.) If we do this, how do we market it? It is already determined that stocking shelves has become cost-prohibitive.
Through existing openSUSE fans/users. As I said earlier, I'd personally buy a couple dozen copies (if it's got a nice little paper sleeve, and a nice looking DVD) and hand them out. (Perhaps even ask for the money I paid, if I was feeling particularly cheap).
There's also the problem that the media may not consider it a big enough story to write about like they do for standard releases. So there's no guarantee that we'll get the publicity we need to boost sales.
True, but there are no such guarantees now -- and it's important to not compromise too many good practices in search of short term publicity.
I do think we should adopt a model that many software companies are adopting in which they leave most sales in the hands of resellers. Community members can be considered as resellers. They can purchase packaged media in bulk at a discount rate and then resell them at whatever venue or face-to-face they choose, and at a price they choose.
It has two benefits: 1) Potential resellers are more motivated to push openSUSE to the masses and 2) Potential resellers understand their local markets better than any mass global marketing effort could. (okay, not always)
It's not a bad idea, but it's targeting the wrong people in my opinion. Very few people care about their operating system, or would be willing to change it. And those people will tend to find it on their own. Our advantage is price, and end users have already paid it. They are the wrong market. We should be targeting OEMs, schools, universities and work places. I know of a (not so large) businesses that has budgeted over $100,000 _per year_ towards software licensing (+ the cost of a couple fulltime windows sysadmins). They do nothing that requires any of this crap. I'm sure they'd be happy to pay $100,000 up front for a smooth migration to Linux. That's a 100% return in a year! And something a few Novell staff could manage in a week. The main resistance will come from FUD from existing sysadmins because they don't know how to use Linux and don't want to learn it. I'm sure the case for Universities is no different. And for the life of me, I can't see why OEMs aren't falling over themselves to slash $80+ (depending on the edition of windows) off the prices of their machines. If doing saw causes Windows to start charging them more on the Windows they do sell, I believe it would be a textbook antitrust case. But leave that to the OEMs, we should target them heavily. Let's find out what they want, and lets do it. But I'll stop now, as I've somehow ended up talking Novell business strategy rather than openSUSE. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org