Having picked this thread up on the digest I apolgise for only replying to the list.
> Subject: RE: [SLUG] Linux & Small Business > Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 21:36:26 +1100 > From: "Stephan Borg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Organization: Osgiliath Pty Ltd > To: "'Howard Lowndes'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > CC: "'slug'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Ooooh, but there are so few . . . > > I think the point I was trying to make in my original post (don't you > love it) now that I look at it, is: > > How can you bring Linux to the attention of Joe 'SME' User? I am an SME. I found out about Linux through being an an Intellectual Property Lawyer (and yes IP it is an oxymoron for Lawyer especially for computer literacy). I have tried the Law Soc of NSW and THEY have no idea but I am working on them. I think those IBM adds have an effect on Snr Professionals and I expect that as large companies IT departments seem to be adopting Linux for their in house servers that at Snr Management Linux gains more cred. > > Stephan > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > On Behalf Of Howard Lowndes > > Sent: Sunday, 6 January 2002 9:16 PM > > To: Jeff Waugh > > Cc: 'slug' > > Subject: Re: [SLUG] Linux & Small Business > > > > > > I'll agree with that statement. I have a large client who is > > very pro-Linux; so much so that he went and did the course. > > He still doesn't know a great deal about Linux, but he does > > know about the bottom line, and that makes him a happy client. > > Probably the IBM adds. "If we have to do that.." > > On Sun, 6 Jan 2002, Jeff Waugh wrote: > > > > > > > > Note: "Small business people who know bits and pieces about > > computers > > > and are investigating technology definitely know about Linux." In my case Linux GNU and Open Source are all commercial/legal tools to negotiate increasibgly restrictive Copyright and Broadcasting, etc Laws. > > > > > > > -- > > Howard. > > LANNet Computing Associates - Your Linux people > > Contact detail at http://www.lannetlinux.com > > "We are either doing something, or we are not. > > 'Talking about' is a subset of 'not'." > > > > -- > > SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - > http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [SLUG] Linux & Small Business > Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 21:45:40 +1100 > From: Jeff Waugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: 'slug' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ><003901c1969d$fe629530$1400a8c0@p1g> > > <quote who="Stephan Borg"> > > > How can you bring Linux to the attention of Joe 'SME' User? > > Find a problem, solve it. Yes but also inexpensively and permanently. > > You have to remember that to an anal-retentive small business manager, > blippity-whizz-bang-digi-bl0rken-splort doesn't matter. You don't need to > bring Linux to their attention - bring stuff that fixes their problems, and > fills in the gaps. > > Trying to sell "Linux" to a small business person is kinda like trying to > see them a silver bullet. They're bullshit-free, and aren't going to buy it. > (Buy it. Geddit? Anyway.) I do not agree other than the part about being bull shit proof. You sell Linux as a small business solution on the basis that it costs nil compared to the same the same App in NT or 2000 or XP(ensive) and on the basis that Linux will probably cost about the same or a bit more to begin to set up, but much less to maintain and nothing to upgrade. And once it is in they do not have to touch it. They will want it on their desk top. Show then the SuSE 7.3 install. Once they have Star Office and Netscape and maybe Evolution they do not have to look under the hood and no crashes or BSD. I think once a few SME's get experience of cost effective results M$ have created a huge demand with an over priced over sized inflexible OS, speaking as an anal-retentive small business manager. You need to get in at the industry level like the Small Business Info Office, or The Chamber of Commerce in your local Council and offer some free time to get them in. > > [ I think 'big business', education and government are different. They need > to feel a certain amount of buy-in to a technology, especially when more and > more, they're losing control over their Windows systems. ] M$ I belive have misjudged the desktop with XP and are in triouble on servers and are trying v hard on the X Box to make up for it. (I hope so anyway if only to make up for the US Justice Department's lameness) > > - Jeff > > -- > He'd never undressed a woman with his eyes. Perhaps army boots, school > uniform, or a nightie, but never undressed. Raena *Innovation makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old regime, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is indifferent partly from fear and partly because they are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by expereince.* Niccolo Michiavelli, The Prince > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >
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