[ubuntu-uk] [marketing] Bug #1 - what we're up against

[Matthew Larsen]

Well thats the biggest threat to linux: If Microsoft charged
reasonable licenses for their software (ie £20 for Vista Ultimate),
FOSS would be blown out of the water.

But MS is a monopoly and that won't happen unless they really need to

On 17/08/07, alan c <aeclist at candt.waitrose.com> wrote:
> Neil Greenwood wrote:
> > A very good discussion about why Linux doesn't have a greater market share.
> > http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free
>
> A well put case with a closely argued set of points. Worth reading.
>
> also see:
>
> How Microsoft conquered China
> http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134488/
> Extract:
> Today Gates openly concedes that tolerating piracy turned out to be
> Microsoft's best long-term strategy. That's why Windows is used on an
> estimated 90% of China's 120 million PCs. "It's easier for our
> software to compete with Linux when there's piracy than when there's
> not," Gates says. "Are you kidding? You can get the real thing, and
> you get the same price." Indeed, in China's back alleys, Linux often
> costs more than Windows because it requires more disks. And
> Microsoft's own prices have dropped so low it now sells a $3 package
> of Windows and Office to students
>
> Comment: historically, the Good GUI of windows appeared sooner than
> the good GUI of Linux, so market momentum for windows has been well
> established.
>
> To *change* market momentum, we need a marketing approach which pushes
> at an open door - many people I know are worried about computer
> related security. It is a rising public awareness, in media too. They
> often are well aware of microsofts unpleasant ways of doing business.
> 'sucking blood' was an actual phrase used to me last weekend.
>
> Microsoft is helping us out with Vista.
>
> An added bonus could be that we have a wonderfully helpful and
> knowledgable Community!
>
> Can we put these together in to a (truthful) FUD package of our own,
> surely this is possible?
> --
> alan cocks
> Kubuntu user#10391
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
>


-- 
Matthew G Larsen
   > mat.larsen at gmail.com
   > matthew.larsen at logicacmg.com