Hello Florian,
Le Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:35:30 +0100, Monfort Florian <[email protected]> a écrit : > Le dimanche 31 octobre 2010 à 00:39 -0400, Marc Paré a écrit : > > Le 2010-10-30 23:05, Graham Lauder a écrit : > > > On Sunday 31 Oct 2010 14:24:08 Anthony Papillion wrote: > > >> On 10/30/2010 7:54 PM, Michel Gagnon wrote: > > >> <snip> > > >> > > >>> Which makes me wondering something. I know there is lots of > > >>> Redmond money involved in it, but would it be possible to > > >>> convince the major manufacturers to install the latest version > > >>> of LibreOffice alongside the other software and crapware they > > >>> include in their new computers? They typically "give" a working > > >>> version of Microsoft Works (no time limit, but a limited > > >>> software), as well as a trial version of Microsoft office (a > > >>> very good software that won't work after 60 days). I am sure > > >>> that an installation of LibreOffice (a very good software that > > >>> will work all the time) alongside that would help a lot to > > >>> penetrate the market. > > >> > > >> Hi Michael, > > >> > > >> I'm not sure this would be possible right now. Microsoft doesn't > > >> only make it easy and "rational" for the OEM's to put MSO on > > >> their systems but they actively campaign against having > > >> competing software on the system. I've even heard that > > >> Microsoft often has it as part of their agreement with OEM's > > >> that they will not have pre-install competing software. I don't > > >> know how prevalent it is but I was told this by someone in the > > >> executive suite of at least one major OEM whom I trust. > > >> > > >> What I *could* see happening, and where I think OOo missed the > > >> boat, is boxed sales. I still believe their is room for us on > > >> store shelves. For example, I was at Walmart the other night and > > >> checked the software isle out. There was Microsoft Office and > > >> that was it. I know there is one other that Walmart carries that > > >> I can't remember the name of but it doesn't hardly sell at all > > >> because of compatibility issues I've been told. > > >> > > >> I think LibO should work to get on store shelves. Keep the open > > >> source ideal but use the money from boxed sales to fund the > > >> foundation and future development. Definitely a HARD path to > > >> travel but one I think is totally doable if we work hard enough > > >> and do a few other things. > > > > > > I agree completely with this, however what needs to happen is to > > > make it profitable to distributors. This is other leg of the > > > type of business model that Ian is talking about. > > > > > > A distributor wholesales the software with a support package. > > > This support package is backed up by helpdesk staff who have been > > > through the INGOTs programme. The distributor purchases the > > > media from a Foundation approved supplier (OpenSLX do this for > > > the OpenSUSE boxed set for Novell), a portion of that wholesale > > > price goes to the Foundation. Included in the boxed set is a > > > manual as well to add value, OOoAuthors "Getting Started Manuals" > > > for instance then OOoAuthors could be funded as well. > > > > > > As soon as you assign a value as well as add value then the > > > retailer can add margin and in one swoop you get rid of the > > > biggest barrier to retail sales. > > > > > > Same thing applies to OEM, they sell a machine with LibO > > > preinstalled with media and Manual. On a DVD you lose the > > > download size issue, so clipart templates, application manuals > > > and extensions could be made available as well, packaged with a > > > good installer with various platform versions on board and > > > translations to suit local markets. That has value and he can > > > sell to suit. Either bare-bones download install, (no support > > > other than the normal and no extras) or the DVD with extras at a > > > fair price. > > > > > > People will ask "So if we're paying for it, what's the difference > > > to MSO", the answer: > > > > > > "Free upgrades forever" > > > > Re: retail sales. > > > > However, we do have to be careful not to alienate users who will > > later find out that the distro is a free download. They would need > > some kind of great value for their money .. as you said support > > package; clipart; manual etc. This would obviously require creating > > a worldwide helpdesk system. I am not quite sure if this would > > satisfy this user who would have paid at the retail level even with > > all of the perks. > > > > If you consider the amount of dollars that TDF/LibO would have > > provide worldwide to print manuals and press DVD's and this as > > often as the major update to the distro, it may be worthwhile > > instead to mount more creative style campaigns such as paying OEM's > > to print the TDF/LibO logo with short offer of the download of the > > free software; a sticker banner that users could stick on their > > brand new box with the LibO site address and download instructions; > > something that looks like an on-line dating service "Call me and we > > can get together over a nice cup of LibO" etc. This may be a better > > way or an additional way of creating user and brand awareness. > > > > Marc > > > > > > > I have another idea. I see on all French distributors in the > "magazine" section magazines specialised with a specific distribution > ( Fedora or OpenSuse or ubuntu etc ... ). These provide one CD or DVD > with the distro, some additional packages. The content of the > magazine is always a basic explanation of the installation, use > etc ... > > Why couldn't we do the same for LibO ? These magazines costs only > about 9€ ... Which I don't know what's the equivalent in dollars > sorry ! But if they can do it with distros, maybe we can do it with a > CD containing the libO suite, and some softwares from our future > partners ? > > This is a way to show some visibility without the "formal" and > "usually expensive" Microsoft way to sell his own suite. I think > people could really be interested about it. I'm sure we will / we should do that, and not just in France :-) Best, Charles. > > -- E-mail to [email protected] for instructions on how to unsubscribe List archives are available at http://www.libreoffice.org/lists/marketing/ All messages you send to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
