Hello Mark,
again, find my comments inline.
On 2016-08-23 01:05, Mark F wrote:
Pasi wrote: """ That said, I don't understand how such surveys could
replace testimonials or how they are comparable. """
What I am trying to get at is that testimonials and marketing imply
increasing "market" share. But, testimonials only query those who are
already sold -- not those who preferred a different Xfce implementation.
You are right, the testimonials are from those who like Xubuntu. That's
why they are perfect for marketing purposes – to tell everybody else why
they like Xubuntu.
A survey would presumably ask people (the potential "market") what
they don't like about Xubuntu (why they chose a different Xfce-based
distro). I see it as a difference between the proverbial "preaching to
the choir" or expanding the target audience (maybe hearing things that
aren't wanted).
What if a survey were included with the ISO ("test drive")
environment? If someone chose to install a different distro, they
could have the opportunity to explain what about Xubuntu they didn't
like? (Or, what they liked about the other distro.).
After running a survey like this, what would the expected action be?
Change Xubuntu in order to make the people who decided to use something
else happier with Xubuntu?
Taking the thought further, wouldn't changing Xubuntu mean that Xubuntu
could potentially lose some of the current users? What is the point or
benefit in getting new users while losing old ones?
It's just a thought.
To me, I would have installed MintX if it had Ubuntu's support
community. You said most of what I mentioned is configurable. But,
it's not very intuitive. If it were that simple, why not include a
"make-desktop-mint" command to set the defaults for a MintX-like
Instead of making the user able to select between several default
desktop configurations built by somebody else, I think they should
rather be able to create their own. And they are – you can take Xubuntu
and make it look like MintX and the other way if you have the patience.
You say it is not very intuitive to configure the desktop. What do you
actually mean by this?
This topic (testimonials and marketing) caught my eye because it
sounded like a desire to expand marketshare. But, maybe I misread it.
I suppose another valid way to look at it is: "Xubuntu is what it is"
and "we're looking for more people who like it the way it is." Not so
much concern for why someone wouldn't want it the way it is (lost
"market" potential).
The latter is more true for Xubuntu.
All people contribute to Xubuntu do it because they like Xubuntu (mostly
as it is) – as volunteers, without being paid, becaus they are
passionate about their cause. Considering that, I don't think it's
sensible to think that the Xubuntu team started doing something that
they don't believe in, just to gain more users – at that point they
would have lost their passion.
Anyway, I'm using it for now. I want to at least start with what I
feel is the more official Xfce distro. I just saw this topic and
thought I'd ask about marketing and the opposite of testimonials. It
seems like that could lead to insight into how Xubuntu could appeal to
more people.
For what it's worth, there is no "official Xfce distro". The Xfce team
is only working on the desktop environment (and some related project)
and does not favor any distribution over the other.
Cheers,
Pasi
--
Pasi Lallinaho (knome) › http://open.knome.fi/
Leader of Shimmer Project › http://shimmerproject.org/
Xubuntu Website Lead › http://xubuntu.org/
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