They have already stated many times that making manuals here and even burning from a master CD (even one downloaded via FTP) is still more expensive than having the manuals and CD's made here. Why do you keep driving this case on this particular issue? They say its not cheaper so lets leave it at that.
Actually, I only saw it once, and it was after I wrote and sent this message (I write as a I read on an active day like this - otherwise I'd forget which messages I wanted to reply to!).
Onto the issue about having a $25-$30 CD set, how are you going to fit 7 CD's and a DVD onto a Jewel Case? The biggest I have seen only takes 4...If they could sort out the packaging issue, how much saving would this
SuSE 6.1 has a 6 CD Jewel Case... I'm not sure if they have an 8 cd one or not. But, worse case sinario, you simply shrinkwrap a 2-CD case on the 6 cd case for display. Or use one of those cheapy paper ones (although I sure like jewel cases better!).
bring to SuSE? Not selling the manuals does not mean that expense has been spared with releasing the cheaper version for $39. The expense is still there and needs to be coevered.
Well, I figure the manuals cost at least a few dollars in paper, ink, and the like. Additionally, and key to the way I lower price here, I omit support in my suggestion. According to Michael Hinestein (sp?), this is one of the big costs. If you don't include it, than a sizable amount of the cost could be taken off. For instance, SuSE takes $20 off the MSRP when you go from the Pro edition (6-books; 60-days support) to the Upgrade edition (3-books; 30-days support). If $20 is the cost difference for 3 books and 30-days of support, than an additional $15-$20 should be able to be rolled off the price with no books and no support (i.e. $30-$35 for MSRP).
I do very much disagree that SuSE should even be thinking about IPO at this time. However, even a private organisation still needs to show growth for it to get the funding capital it needs to continue onwards and upwards. Last month was bad, way bad across the board for Technology companies, most are being forced to consilidate....
Very true.
SuSE are the only ones to offer decent manuals....And to have a really stable system, at least they did not introduce a beta GCC compiler, now that was really stupid (and people pay way more for less; less and broken too).
I agree about the manuals, and at one time, that was of some value to me. I don't feel I really have the use for them now however. With several mailing lists I'm subscribed to, and an various other reasources I've found, I simply would rather save the money. Here's an idea. SuSE should manufacture extra CD's and manuals (beside those going into boxes), and then do the following on their SuSE online store: - Offer CDs with no support and no manuals for $35. - Offer the six manuals for $40 (perhaps with a CD with the "demo" iso). - Offer a Support License for $50 (i.e. 30-days of support, with no OS CD's or Manuals included) This would be a good thing. (tm) For instance, say I install SuSE on John Doe's computer, and he likes it, doesn't need a new copy, but could use the manuals (and let's say I want to keep mine). He can order just the manuals for $40. Same goes for someone who has just bought the Personal Edition, and wants more help. Secondly, people like me and Samy, and many others, who aren't really interested in the manuals or support (we just want to save a few bucks to go buy a pizza or something ;-), can buy the $35 CD-only kit (what I've previously nicknamed the "PowerPack" or Guru Edition). Finally, SuSE would benefit from buyers regret. Say John Newuser desides to save a few bucks even though he has never tried Linux before. Well, shortly afterward, he comes back and spends $90 on books and support. So, in this case, SuSE would benefit from those to cheap to buy what they needed in the first place. Since SuSE would only offer these two options on it's site, I think it would add very little extra cost to produce, and I bet both items would sell well. -Tim ----------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy R. Butler Universal Networks ICQ #12495932 AIM: Uninettm Christian Web Services Since 1996 tbutler@uninetsolutions.com http://www.uninetsolutions.com ============== "Information Powered by Innovation" ============== "If the atheists are right, I'll never know, but if I'm right, they will definitely know!"