Ray Olszewski wrote:
> >combo CD and floppy together. That might work...for those who
> >don't have a burner, somebody (me?) can burn & sell cheaply. ;)
>
> How realistic is this as an option? My guess is that it works at a very
> small scale (a few CDs per month), or on large scale (whatever volume places
> like Cheapbytes work at), but is tough going as midsize scales, the level
> where you have to be a real business (licensed, keeping tax records, hiring
> people, etc.) but lack the volume to be efficient.
Well, what volume do you suppose would require it to be a real
business? By the time it would be required to hire people, it
would be intensely more efficient to outsource it - just use an
existing CD duplication service.
Somehow, I don't see the near future requiring this kind of volume.
> There was one LRP-like company (using an RH-derived small distro, as I
> recall) that attempted to make money selling preconfigured, floppy-based
> systems for about $25 (for just the configured disk). If this rings a bell,
> you might see if that company is still operating, to get a sense of how
> realistic a business like this one is ... probably more realistic as a
> CD-based distro, but not sure if it is realistic enough ....
Ah, now there's where you got me wrong; the point isn't to run a
business or try to make money - the point is to get CDs to those
who don't have a burner (or a friend with one).
> (And yes, Rick, I did see te smiley, so I know that the suggestion is at
Yes, partly.
> least partly whimsical. I'm pursuing it because I continue to be skeptical
> of the viability of business models based on selling Open Source/free
Cheapbytes does well. Even OpenBSD, selling direct (I think), does ok.
> software. Here, I'm wondering whether the service component can be provided
> efficiently enough to allow someone to make a profit, at output scales above
> hobbyist level, by providing configuration and customization services.)
Well, not looking for any major profit; I'd be taking the $5 for cost
and my time - maybe $2 cost including cd, packaging for mail, labels,
and postage. The other $3, 'for my time', would prolly end up buying
a new CD burner sooner or later if the volume got high.
If the volume got to be too much for me, I'm sure there are others
here who have burners and are willing; and it wouldn't be hard to
recruit people, either.
So, it's not a business plan; just a supporting role for LEAF if it
went CD-based. Considering the size such a CD would be, it would
burn nice and quick anyway - it wouldn't be burdensome for me to
produce 10 cds per day, on my 2x burner, or maybe even 20.
Really, though, I don't think that users who don't have a burner
would be particularly interested in a CD-based LEAF, so I'd bet
on demand being _very_ low.
> --
> ------------------------------------"Never tell me the odds!"---
> Ray Olszewski -- Han Solo
> Palo Alto, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
--
rick -- A mind is like a parachute... it only works when it's open.
ICQ# 1590117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (work) [EMAIL PROTECTED] (home)
Help with LRP: lrp.c0wz.com 68 Camaro wanted: dingo.mcrnet.net
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My opinions don't exist, and as such, are not anyone elses. I don't
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