On Wed, Feb 07, 2001 at 03:39:30PM -0800 or thereabouts, Michael Hasenstein wrote:
I would like to point out that the US office did no development for SuSE Linux whatsoever. We had installation support here - soon handled by opur call center - and started professional services. As I said, we still have 600 people. Now come on guys. RH has layed of about the same number altogether not too long ago.
Guys, There is no question in my mind that SuSE has the finest engineering of any distro out there, and I have tried many of them personally. I have even convinced many of my professors at the State Univ where I am getting an Unix/Linux admin degree to use SuSE, and they love it. I am doing my part <g> I am going to make a statement, and really it is none of my business, I will be the first one to mention that. However, because I enjoy SuSE so much, I want to say my piece, for what it is worth, as a grain of salt, in the scope of corporate forcasting, and decision making. That is, I feel that reducing the scope (workforce) of your U.S. position will come back to haunt SuSE. I feel that a strong presence here is a must. Now obviously, I am not privy to your marketing plans or existing structure (it really is none of my business), but does not the California office also handle corporate sales and development? (retorical question)... If so, this will dilute, I think, SuSE's image or presence here, and perhaps have the opposite effect. If retail sales through mass markets are already in place *fully*, then additional areas can be explored, end-caps at the stores, perhaps rebates, more perceived value... If Calif handles both retail and commercial, (again just food for thought, as it is none of my business), then this reduction can be perceived as something more than it is. The US should, in my humble opinion, be looked at as viable growing market, both retail and commercial... /offofsoapbox Thanks, -- Best regards, Gary Today's thought: My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot.