On Monday 23 December 2002 23:38, Charlie wrote: > On December 23, 2002 04:11 pm, civileme wrote: > > I have some good news and some urgent news > > > > 1. I will be returning to the lists. I will have an email address that > > can handle list level traffic. > > > > 2. All of you are desperately needed to complete the push to get > > Mandrakesoft on a self-sustaining level. > > > > For the second one, here is the real story: > > > > Mandrakesoft started on a shoestring and a hope, originally as a > > spare-time project for one person. It was immensely popular from > > inception and soon MADE A PROFIT. > > > > Then arrived the venture capitalists.... > > > > They invested monies but wanted an international team of executives to > > manage the company. Such a team was acquired. > > > > Under that team, the expenses went up about 400% without a concomitant > > increase in revenue. The direction was modified from a linux > > distributor to an internet education company with a hook to linux. > > > > The soundness of that idea was never proven, as the dot.com bubblke > > burst and investors worldwide went into full retreat. For Mandrakesoft > > this was a curse and a blessing. The curse was the negative cash > > position and high burn rate and the blessing was a return to being a > > linux company. > > > > Mandrakesoft has made huge strides in bringing revenue up to meet > > expenses and in cutting expenses. They tended to trust the word of > > others which has made their forecasts look overly optimistic several > > times. > > > > But now the break-even point, in the worst-case scenario, is in sight > > and in a few months. The short term still requires more cash than they > > have now, to get out that next release. > > > > In that next release will be a special piece of software I am > > contributing. With little to do since my layoff, I have designed a > > semi-intelligent linux binary installer that can handle most of what you > > are able to download. It even has hooks to look for things like WineX > > and to atempt to install windows executables if you have an emulator for > > them. > > > > But if you want to see that next release, consider a club membership or > > giving club memberships as Christmas gifts or buying stock at > > approximately the right price. (BTW, MIcrosoft stock which sells at > > Like $52 /share has 8 billion shares outrstanding on a company that > > earns $25 billion a year in revenue BEFORE expenses--call that a heavily > > ewatered stock) Mandrakesoft stock is selling for what the company is > > probably worth. Remember its assets are PEOPLE and their products. > > People like Pixel and Gael Duval and Denis Havlik and Guillaume > > Cottenceau make the product and the company what it is. Mandrake also > > has a hidden asset in the loyalty of contributors, And they are finally > > selling the right way--software is free if you want it and rather > > expensive if you expect extensive support. > > > > So anyway, expect to see me return to the lists now that I have an email > > that will handle it without quota problems and (I hope) without any more > > crack attacks or DDOSes which is what originally set me to dropping my > > mailserver and forwarding to a hidden webmail host. > > > > Still loyal to MandrakeLinux, > > > > Civileme > > Civileme; > > My loyalty is to the Mandrake people. Developers, testers, experts _and_ > newbies. > > Including the rare "gurus" on the lists such as (and especially) you! > > Welcome home; I think we've all missed your input and presence. > > Happy Holidays everyone. I just feel as though I received the best > Christmas present ever. Civileme is back. <g> > > Regards;
Oi Charlie, don't overdo that! Next Civileme will be having to buy new boots every week, or so;o) Civileme nice to see you back.......you'd how be surprised how often I've heard you mentioned in the most unexpected of places.....especially wheelhouses! --Just for the record: I gave everything ample thought, I don't like stocks (too many men in the middle) so I've added another 12 months to my silver membership. If I keep up this rate I'll be paying 'till my pension:o) I for one would hate to see Mdk go, not so much for the software (I'm a Slackware-junk too) but for what they stand for and how they do it. Up and away packing to spend Xmas in Germany(Muenster), let's see if we can drop a few Mdk9.0's over there in Suse County;o) Bless you all, HarM
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
