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Message: 5 From: "Ashley" ashley@ashleyhowes.com To: "Steve Fosdick" fozzy@pelvoux.demon.co.uk Cc: main@lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [Alug] M$ to release db based filesystem Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 10:30:27 +0100
> * Perhaps the market of people techically minded enough to buy a PC > with the known complexities and problems is exhausted and people are > looking for something simpler at home.
From what I've seen, there appears to be a strong push from Apple and MS to change the computer from what we have used in the past to a "digital appliance". The ads for WinXP promote video editing, digital photography, etc. Apple promotes music applications, etc. Assuming Apple and MS are giving the general public what they want (otherwise why would they buy it?), the general public are not interested in how a computer works, as long as "it does what I want it to do!". Thus as long as the next version of Windows "works" for the general public, they won't care if it can't be programmed, whether they are paying by subscription, whether it is modular, etc. They will just accept it, because they don't know what they are missing out on.
> With free software to do all of that business can buy a large number of PCs and > equip them with software without paying a penny to microsoft! This way of > working is becoming increasinly realistic now.
In theory. In practise, I still think moving away from Microsoft is difficult and takes a brave person/group. In selling a product to someone (in this case Linux), you need to reduce the number of times you say no to your potential customer (in this case business users), e.g:
Customer: Wow, free, what's the catch? Customer: Where can I get new applications? Customer: How do I get support? Customer: Who is my business relationship with? Customer: Who do I sue when the product can't deliver the expected functionality? Customer: How do I train my people to use this new software?
The linux community appears to be answering some of the above questions, particularly for the "server" market. But still lacks in the desktop space, e.g:
* How many training companies are offering courses now in using office suites for linux? * How many training companies show users how to use Mozilla for web browsing?
For us technical people, the above two questions are mute issues. But remember, the average computer user (not nerd) is a technical idiot (this is not meant to be a putdown: they have other things which concern them more). Without getting some of this desktop support in place, the average users of the Linux desktop PC won't be able to use it correctly.
Hence, this still makes it a difficult job for an IT manager to change the desktop over to free software. Firstly they have to justify the change with clear and concise answers (remember, some people view free items as having no value). Secondly, if an IT manager does change the business over to free desktop software, he/she does not want to carry the burden to retraining all the users who only have limited experiece of Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
My 2 cents worth.
Ashley
I think Ashley hit the proverbial nail squarely here. Think of an avarage business and telephones. They don't want to know about the complexities of exchanges etc. they just want a phone on everyone's desk and a bunch of optional extras like call forwarding, voice-mail etc. It makes good commercial sense to pay some provider a monthly, quarterly or yearly rental rather than get into the hassle of a setting it all up in-house (although I know many do :o) ).
How about satellite or cable TV? Why pay a monthly subscription for something you can (mostly :o) ) get for free as broadcast to air? Yet many people do. Presumably because they regard it as something they want and are prepared to pay for.
I wouldn't be surprised if computing goes down this road. Think how attractive it would be for a company if they could just rent a bunch of Windows terminals that connected to their own private virtual network. They would presumably just pick the applications off some pre-configured shoping list and pay a monthly/quarterly/yearly charge. New person joining? just order a new terminal and plug it in. Need more disk space, just rent it. New release of software? overnight upgrade.
Of course this doesn't mean all the old support problems go away (just one word (ok acronym! :o) ) - BT). But you dump the lot on someone else. You have someone outside the company to blame and hassle. You only have to read some of Scott Adam's Dilbert books to get an idea of how attractive this idea will be to many managers. Of course the big showstopper at present is the lack of any effective widely available broadband circuits, but that's just technology, it'll get there.
The question is will these services all be MS based? For example BT doesn't have all the PBX business in the UK by a long chalk. There a quite a few smaller providers doing very well thank you. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine a bunch of knowledgeable people setting up a service based on open source technologies and being able to make a reasonable living, that is if the big guys like MS don't manage to stitch them up legally.
bump!! oops - fell off my soapbox! :o)
Regards, Keith Email: mailto:kpwatson@luna.co.uk Web site: http://kpwatson.ontheweb.com ____________ Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Lao-tzu ____________ This email and any files transmitted with it is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify your system manager.
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