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fountai@hursley.ibm.com wrote:
On Wednesday 27 March 2002 2:12 pm, you wrote:
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I know its probably not going to happen, but how about a future version of SuSE being bundled with these products?
I think not somehow. Most SUSE users want proper Linux systems, not clunky ways to use Windows applications. Crossover is, relatively speaking, a niche product. Let those who need it buy it.
If you call all of the people who invested in Windows software before switching to linux--which is almost everyone-- a niche, then so it is. I personally don't know anyone using linux today who didn't buy their first computer with windows and some other software. I'm sure there are a few who started in college with unix, but the one thing most people who switch complain about, is having to discard all of the software they've invested hundres-to-thousands in purchasing and months-to-years in learning. I'm never going to buy another copy of MS Office, but since I *did* pay $329 for Office 97 and it still does everything I need, there is no reason not to use it (though I doubt I will). Secondly, if you read columns on LinuxPlanet.com, LinuxToday.com, LinuxJournal, ZDNet et. al., you see a real who's who of the linux community saying, if only they could get their wife/mother/child to forsake AOL/Quicken/Photoshop they wouldn't have windows at home at all. Now they won't have to forsake anything. Once they prove they no longer need Windows, they will no longer buy Windows. Remember, everyone who has someone else in their house or office who "needs" Windows has already tried to convince them that the linux equivalent is "just as good" and failed. When you can show your wife she can use AOL on the kde desktop, you'll be in business. In the long run, this will make linux more financially viable for software companies who only support Windows today. This can only be good for the rest of us. Keep an open mind. JHS