Hi Telesto,
On 28/07/2020 21:35, Telesto wrote:
I'm still getting a little annoyed by the 'free beer' matter.
=)
While at GNU they state "We sometimes call it “libre software,”
borrowing the French or Spanish word for “free” as in freedom, to
show we do not mean the software is gratis."
Imagine the ensuing terminological confusion if the Libre-Office
project builds a self-defeating over-emphasis on gratis ;-)
About terminology: 'gratis' is a normal/regular Dutch/German word; used when
you get something for free. Surely not with a negative connotation as here
presented. And 'gratis' has - in surely in Dutch, but also in German I think -
they same issue with possibility of 'strings attached'. A gratis product sample
(to convince you to buy). Gratis software (bundled with spyware) Is this some
kind of regular expression in English country's? Or who came up with they
'gratis' as alternative for 'free'?
So please communicate this properly. You can't expect people to know
what is meant.
I think there has been a long term attempt to encourage marketing that
emphasizes the project and our values, and the goodness of those over
the gratis nature of the software. This is often stated as Project over
Product - though of course there needs to be a balance here.
Will post something related to 'Project' 'Product'.
Especially in context of commercial context. As a 'Project' will become/ be seen as
a 'Product" in commercial enduser context. Low level (individuals) as High
level (Enterprises/Goverments).
For them a Office Suite a tool to realize their objective. They Office Suite
only means to an end. They are not interested in (reporting) flaws or project
progress. It needs to do what they expect of it, reliably and conformtabily.
And kind of things allowed in a Project perspective (say unpolished - marketed
standard - features) are commercial far more problematic. Especially if the
competitor delivering a more polished version out of the box.
We end up in an chicken and egg situation. With more revenue features can be
more polished, but more polished features you get more customers and can ask a
higher price (IMHO). And I personally prefer stuff working out of the box. Or
what you see is what you get. Instead of a service contract or a promise it
(might) will be better in the future. Of not say service contracts or
consultantency, customer modifications can be part of the package. But prefer
paying an initial higher price (even if this means double, triple quadrupple of
basis fee) for full fletched program compared to servicing contract to solve
issues. Solving productivy issues means (end) customer time being wasted (as
didn't function as expected) and cause all kinds of (hidden) costs. Servicing
contracts L3 are last resort. Customer specific (integration) customizations;
that's something which is worth selling. If it are extensions, modifications to
core, or if building templates with certain functionality. If they pay, they
can get it. And as smaller company you're by far more flexible to adapt and
include services big company's dropped as beyond them (why serve small fish in
niches, if you have money making big fish)
I think LibreOffice has to grow from bottom up. So from Individuals, to SMB, to
Enterprise. Of course if you can get a Enterprise/Goverment/University or what
ever on board, fine. But with I would also tap into to large market with lesser
requirements to functionality (where the acceptance for unpolished stuff bit
higher). So easier to meet expectations. And at the same time have far larger
market to cather.
I'm tending to a (paid) LTS for individuals too (deliver by eco-partner of TDF
subsidairy or whatever legal contruction needed to makes this happen in an
exactable way); TDF for free being more 'fresh' (un)stable builds; that's the
price for being for free :-). So TDF not advertising a 'stable' build. And the
revenue generated should currently be used to get stuff bit more polished.
There is lots of low hanging fruits; they small annoyances; details, which a
rather inexpensive to solve, but influence to product experience. Kind of a 100
paper cuts.
Not only sold at some creapy store (sorry, dislike Windows Store, Apple Store.
Yes, of course get be ignored.. but not my prefered.. and doens't fit to nicely
in open source ideology either). I would like to be able to buy at
LibreOffice.org itself. Their where some (rundimental) idea's already
(including voting for fixes?). Wich blown apart for various reason. However
must be revived in one way or another; in my opinion. I don't think the idea
itself was the problem. More they participation, communication, method of
implementation. However not sure if there was business plan (including
marketing plan, marketing communication plan) in that case. Or only some hunch
of need of selling in a Store.
About pricing. Sometimes a thing about flexibily pricing for LTS. So people may
enter a they amount they are willing to pay. With a default set (nudge).
Britain Goverment did have special departement for it, IIRC? And maybe a bottom
price, if experience learns people tend to set it to 0. Still like possibity
set it to 0; as people are free to do what they which (and make it accessible
to even they poor). And if this become abuse, you have they statistic to proof.
With they argument we tried hard to even allow using LTS without payment, but..
And you can get out of the discussion of you made me pay X, and now I want
problem X, Y, Z fixed asap. As it is their own doing ;-).
LibreOffice being free of charge is an result of the philosophy/ideals.
It's not something needing extra attention or emphasis. It's merely a
fact; at state of being
Hopefully we are going in a good direction there - I think people just
being aware, and starting to notice / call-out the more gratuitous
"discover why no-one is paying anything for Office" type stuff when they
see it. I think largely this is a lack of awareness of the impact of the
gratis framing.
They framing doesn't help; true. However, bit persimistic about human kind (or
culture we live in).
So if it we be enough. Everbody is using Wikipedia, and nearly nobody cares
about how it financed. Or even interested in it. And I'm quite often seeing
banner asking me to donate; so surely obviously clear they need money.
They whole 'open source' model is equivalent for free (of charge). From
perspective Linux distro's; desktop enviroments etc. So even if TDF marketing
'gratis' stops, you still have an issue. And that's a message of the open
source community as a whole. And the IT writing about open source projects
being free of charge.
I can assure you, I never paid much attention about how it has made; not
interested/ other priority's. And if I have to pay for software, I'm still
looking for a nice bargain. So my support for developers of paid software isn't
that great either. Even being happy long term user.
You need to create a story around LibreOffice; mission, vision, goals.
Making interest/vivid to read.
...
This is part of the business plan/ marketing plan/ marketing
communication plan from TDF. The ideals should be compatible with they
vision of the eco-system partners
I agree,
Thanks,
Michael.
