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

[Jim Kissel]

Matthew Larsen wrote:
> 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

Sorry to rain on your parade, but Microsoft have already done this for 
the "third world" with their Student Innovation Suite for $3.00 USD!
<http://www.itwire.com/content/view/11466/53/>

> 
> 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/
>>
> 
>