On Sun, 6 Jan 2002, Stephan Borg wrote: > (1) Linux is Free, we all know that and who better to benefit from it > than Small Businesses. > Unfortunately, there are a couple of points which work against this > 'marriage made in OpenSourcedem': > (a) Your average Joe Business Owner most probably has never heard of it > before and/or doesn't even know Linux/OpenSource exists.
And they don't need to. Don't say "I'm installing a Debian Linux server with Exim and a side of coleslaw" just go with "there's you're mail server, call me in the unlikely event it doesn't work". > (b) Small business owners are wary/cannot comprehend that anything for > free because its free and there is ALWAYS a catch. But it's not free (unless you're running your business at a severe loss). Your time, the hardware, it all costs. The fact that you come in that much lower than anyone selling Windows helps your business case, but that's it. > (c) That this 'free' product (Linux) is being promoted by someone who > appears he's only in it to make a buck (ie me offering services). And Windows is being promoted by altruistic individuals who wish only to see their clients prosper, but who make nothing out of the transaction themselves? Oh puhlease. > (2) Secondly, I've heard stories of/experienced certain businesses that > got left with Unix servers (whatever flavour) after the product/support > company went bust. Basically, they look well within their capabilities > but are unable to find reputable support people/companies that they can > depend on to keep the box going and eventually replace it with a M$ box > of some sort. Some of these people became my customers. Other > unfortunately, have gone to the darker side . . . :) > (a) How do you resolve such a problem and make it easier to find > reputable Linux support people/companies? If your supplier goes bust then your screwed either way. > (b) How and where do you advertise such a niche service in terms that > your average Joe can understand? (ie if they've got a 'Slackware' box, > good chance is they don't even know they're running Linux - believe me). You're trying to pick up businesses who've got an unsupported Linux box? That's a tricky one. I'd try and get in with other linux support people, so that if they go bust you can get their client lists off them. <g> -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- #include <disclaimer.h> Matthew Palmer [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
