------------------------- Summary : The only strategy that could lead to GNU/Linux [Ubuntu] being adopted by a large number of users is to do what Apple has done with the "Mac" : sell specifically assembled computers with a distinctive brand (e.g. the "Tux") and build a user-friendly brand-image through marketing. -------------------------
1. Harware compatibility is the number one problem I've been installing Ubuntu on friend's computers since 2010. I installed 12 different machines (4 desktops and 8 laptops). I had various harware compatibility problems on 75% of these machines ! (mainly related to GPU, Wifi, Bluetooth, ACPI (suspend), brightness, keyboard special keys, touchpad, kernel mei module and black screen on the first run). Plus compatibility problems with peripheral hardware (smartphones, printers, scanners, TV tuners...). This is exhausting. (And people are not won for Ubuntu : when a friend buys a new machine I have to do the job again.) I do it only because I am highly motivated. Highly motivated people are scarce, they cannot change significantly the marketshare of GNU/Linux. It is not true that ordinary users can simply download and install Ubuntu easily on their machine. This will never happen because new hardware are constantly been released without Linux compatibility. Ordinary people will never buy PCs to install Ubuntu on it. (Ordinary people never install OS anyway !) ***Ubuntu need to be sold pre-installed on 100% compatible harware.*** But this is not enough, people will not buy PCs with an alternative OS on it. People buy PCs with Windows because they know it and expect it to work 100% (or they install a cracked version of Windows on their new PC) - or - if they can afford it - they buy Macs*. *In the last years a lot of people have switched from PCs to Macs. This was a lost opportunity for GNU/Linux. But it is not too late. ***Ubuntu need to be sold pre-installed on 100% compatible harware that has a distinctive GNU/Linux branding.*** Let's call these machines "Tux". There should also be Tux-certified peripherals or even Tux-peripherals. When these machines are available in stores, then people will have the choice to buy either PCs, Macs or "Tuxes". Why would people buy Tuxes rather than Macs or PCs ? 2. GNU/Linux is unknown or has a "designed-for-geeks" reputation They will buy them if a succesful marketing campaign convinces them that : - Tuxes are as innovative, stable, user-friendly and cool as Macs ; - Tuxes are even better than Macs because they bring more compatibility with other systems and more freedom ; - It should also be clear that "Tuxes" are fully integrating with Ubuntu phones and FirefoxOS phones. Tuxes then should sell better than Macs because they will be cheaper. (Tuxes should be at the same price as PCs or a little higher.) Apple is the most successful business in the world. Mostly because they were very succesful in building a brand-image. We have the OS to do better than them. What are we waiting for ? -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu 4 dz, which is subscribed to the bug report. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1 Title: Microsoft has a majority market share Status in Club Distro: Confirmed Status in Computer Science Ubuntu: Confirmed Status in LibreOffice Productivity Suite: New Status in dylan.NET.Reflection: Invalid Status in dylan.NET: Invalid Status in EasyPeasy Overview: Invalid Status in Ichthux - Linux for Christians: Invalid Status in JAK LINUX: Invalid Status in LibreOffice: In Progress Status in The Linux Kernel: New Status in The Linux Mint Distribution: In Progress Status in The Linux OS Project: In Progress Status in Neobot: New Status in Novabot: New Status in The OpenOffice.org Suite: In Progress Status in Tabuntu: Invalid Status in A simple player to online TV streaming: Invalid Status in Tv-Player: Invalid Status in Ubuntu Malaysia LoCo Team Meta Project: In Progress Status in Wine: Unknown Status in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in Arch Linux: Confirmed Status in Baltix GNU/Linux: Confirmed Status in Debian: In Progress Status in Fedora: Confirmed Status in Fluxbuntu: The Lightweight, Productive, Agile OS: Confirmed Status in openSUSE: In Progress Status in Tilix Linux: New Bug description: See Mark's closure comment here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1/comments/1834 ------ Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC marketplace. This is a bug which Ubuntu and other projects are meant to fix. As the philosophy of the Ubuntu Project states, "Our work is driven by a belief that software should be free and accessible to all." "Ubuntu software is free. Always was, always will be. Free software gives everyone the freedom to use it however they want and share with whoever they like. This freedom has huge benefits. At one end of the spectrum it enables the Ubuntu community to grow and share its collective experience and expertise to continually improve all things Ubuntu. At the other, we are able to give access to essential software for those who couldn’t otherwise afford it – an advantage that’s keenly felt by individuals and organisations all over the world." * http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/our-philosophy Non-free software leaves users at the mercy of the software owner and concentrates control over the technology which powers our society into the hands of a few. Additionally, proprietary software stifles innovation, maintains artificial scarcities, and enables malicious anti-features such as DRM, surveillance, and other monopolistic practices. This bug is widely evident in the PC industry. Steps to repeat: 1. Visit a local PC store. 2. Attempt to buy a machine without any proprietary software. What happens: Almost always, a majority of PCs for sale have Microsoft Windows pre- installed. In the rare cases that they come with a GNU/Linux operating system or no operating system at all, the drivers and BIOS may be proprietary. What should happen: A majority of the PCs for sale should include only free software. * http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html * http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines * http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/clubdistro/+bug/1/+subscriptions _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~algeriatul Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~algeriatul More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
