On Friday 10 February 2006 22:20, Nick Rout wrote: > On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:32:58 +1300 > > Christopher Sawtell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Friday 10 February 2006 16:39, Nick Rout wrote: > > > On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 16:17:23 +1300 > > > > > > Christopher Sawtell wrote: > > > > On Friday 10 February 2006 15:40, Nick Rout wrote: > > > > > Back On topic, what is an application that has a real WOW factor > > > > > on a demo day? I am not sure that it is enough to say "Look at > > > > > linux, it will do the same things as your windows machine" - > > > > > people want a reason to go through the (greater or lesser) > > > > > degree of pain involved in switching. > > > > > > > > Frequently a very beguiling reason is $0. > > > > > > > > I remember some years ago I prepared a set of policy papers for a > > > > small primary school using the LyX / LaTeX / TeX tool chain. > > > > > > > > I was waylaid by female parent who had a small office cum > > > > typesetting business. Upon her seeing the printouts, the > > > > conversation continued in this vein:- > > > > > > > > She: "OOh! that's nice work, what software did you use"? > > > > Me: "The LyX front-end to LaTeX and TeX". > > > > She: "Never heard of it, where did you get it? How much does it > > > > cost"? Me: "It's a free download off the Internet, but you have to > > > > know how to set it up". > > > > She - with emotion: "I've just spent $12,000 on a supposedly top > > > > notch typesetting system, and it doesn't produce anything as nice > > > > as that. Me: "I'm so sorry." > > > > She - now in fairly full flow emotionally: "These conputer > > > > companies are just rip off artists. I've just been conned out of > > > > twelve grand"! > > > > > > > > Or words to that effect. > > > > > > > > -- > > > > CS > > > > > > But they do not need linux to run latex or lyx! Lyx is available for > > > windows. > > > > > > On the other hand I am thinking there are so many people out there > > > who do not pay for software for windows either. If you know where to > > > look you can find about anything in the software line for nothing: > > > > > > * tools to make serial numbers that convert 30 day trials or cripple > > > ware into fully functioning product. > > > > > > * full iso's of expensive high end software. > > > > > > In other words I am not so sure that price is necessarily a huge > > > factor for the average windows home user. > > > > Possibly not for the 'average', whatever that means, home user of less > > than stellar means. > > What I meant was that people are so used to not paying for their > software that price is not so necessarily a difference point on its > own. I tell you, lots of people really do think there is not much wrong > with getting a serial number or complete CD from the internet. And with > reference to your comment below, these people are not my clients who > appear in the criminal courts. The average criminal court consumers are > too busy trying to keep food on the table and pay the rent to be > worried about having a computer. if they get their hands on a laptop it > will get sold for money for food or drugs. The people who cheat on > their software are the middle class, people who you and I meet > socially, in business or commune with over the internet. They are > almost conditioned - after all once you get past "what is the harm in > downloading an mp3 of the latest U2 release" its not far to "whats the > harm in getting a free password for photoshop". I constantly hear > people saying "have you got a copy of Office I can install on my new > computer?" - and they are not talking OOo. > > Yes economy is a good reason to use linux, but I am not sure it is a > powerful differential for many users. Maybe I am just being cynical. It > certainly is a good "selling" point, but IMHO it has to be combined > with linux's other attributes to make a real difference to many people. > It's almost the last stage. Whats needed is a hook, which is the kewl > stuff. Once you have the hook in, you get down to the other advantages, > and the price is the final clincher. > > </rave> I fear your are correct.
> > > I suspect very many of them are > > > playing the piracy game. There may be many businesses in the same > > > league. Whether they will switch to linux just to legitimise > > > themselves is unclear to me. > > > > Seeing as NZ has one of lowest rates of piracy in the world, and if > > you remember we had quite a few business people turn up to Ian's OOo > > talk, I think honesty has quite a decent following in the NZ business > > world. Certainly that's my impression of the place. wadr & imho, you > > have been overexposed, by reason of your profession, to that certain > > echelon of society which has unfortunately altered your perception of > > mankind. We're not all thieves and vagabonds you know. Also the risk > > of being 'potted' is quite high. One only has to have one slightly > > disgruntled employee who is delighted to get the BSA's reward, and > > then one has the BSA and the Police hammering at the door ready to > > haul you off to be a new client for you. Probably not too good a look > > on your reputation. > > How does the average employee know whether the new version of Office > that got loaded over the weekend is legit or not? http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/default.mspx My understanding is that they use the registered name in conjunction with the MAC address of the network card. > Rememeber the average > office computer user still thinks the backspace is just a more > convenient twink. Sad, but true. The level of training needed to get a Cert. is pretty abysmal. -- CS
