SI Reasoning wrote:
This would be a mistake. The best thing about having the iso out before
the boxed set is that you have all of these people testing and reporting
problems back to get fixed. By the time the boxed set is available, many
bugs have been squished and the paying user gets a very fine distro. It
is really as if the final is really a final release candidate and one
gets a whole lot more eyes to help clean everything up before the boxed
set is available. I think that is a huge benefit.
I believe Mandrake's best shot is capturing market share by getting as
many people to use their software as possible. Here is a simple plan:
Create a demo cd ala Knoppix and try and bundle with everything you can
(new computer, etc).
The demo cd has the ability to install a basic version of mandrake on
the computer while the demo is running ( so one is actually using the
computer while the installation is taking place... maybe a great time to
have an easy walk through on how to run Mandrake for newbies.
The demo cd offers a discount to buy one of the complete mandrake boxed
sets. Many people, being impressed on how the demo cd booted and ran on
their computer, may then either install the basic version or go ahead
and buy the boxed set for themselves. They may also go and give away the
demo cd to someone else or use it (with a usb pen drive) to be able to
take over any pc with 128+ meg ram and make it theirs. Either way, it
continue to give Mandrake free exposure which will translate into
increased sales.
I still believe that iso's for everything should remain free and
downloadable at the time they are complete. Make connections with
businesses for bundling the demo cd (such as earthlink which will have
connection info burned into the cd with free minutes ala AOL, just pop
in, boot and use.) I can also see every mom&pop computer store bundling
the mandrake demo on low cost company built machines. It will allow them
to say that they have a computer that is up and ready to go... maybe
even make arrangements with local isp's with specials such as the one
mentioned below.
These are a couple of ideas but the main emphasis is that Mandrake will
be offering their software as a means to give value to other products,
which should increase awareness, circulation and profits for Mandrake
also.
On Thu, 2002-12-26 at 20:51, Jason wrote:
And so can the general public after "the cooling off period" of say 1 month. Is that so long to wait for a FREE ISO?? I think not. Alternatively, users can pay the fee for the newly created cheaper tier for the club and get the ISO's when released. Sounds very fair to me. This all may be moot very shortly if Mandrake doesn't do SOMETHING.
Cheers
Jason
Jason Straight wrote:
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On Thursday 26 December 2002 08:53 pm, Lea Gris wrote:
Jason Straight wrote:Ok - so mandrake members can download iso's then.
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On Thursday 26 December 2002 05:54 pm, David Walser wrote:
ISO availability when the product is finalized paysI dunno - personally I wouldn't care if the iso's required payment. It's
back all the people who gave their time to beta test.
Take that away you'll lose the beta testers, and the
quality of the product will decline. There's no easy
solution.
It *would* be nice if someone would answer my question
about educational institutions and LUGs joining the
club though...
not that hard for those of us who maintain cooker mirrors locally to make
cd's with MakeCD. It might be a good way to keep get some money from non
cooker contributors. On the other hand the freeness of mdk no doubt has
contributed to it's advertising by putting it out where more people can
see/use it. But what's more important? Getting more people to leech or
get some money to continue to offer the product? I say charge for iso's.
I would definately hold the ISO's for a while after release.
Most people I know have a virtual fire under their ass when a new version
comes out - they are looking for the fastest way to get the new candy, if
the iso's are out first they get them and skip the box. If the boxes were
first no one would want to wait for the iso's to be available.
I don't care the newbe (not needed and redondant manual)
I don't care shiny stickers
But I love single DVD whole contained Mandrake
I love reliable, few bug and up to date distro
I love using a free operating system and softwares.
So I don't like the idea of having to wait for the shiny box and manual
to get printed, boxed and distributed.
Of course I agree to pay a mandrakeclub member account to download ISOs
or having to pay to recieve pre burned DVD or ISO.
- -- Jason Straight
ICQ: 1796276
PGP: http://www.jeetkunedomaster.net/~jason/pubkey.asc
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