Re: Carving out a niche (Re: Redhat 6.1)

[Dan Frasnelli <dfrasnel alphalinux org>]

> pretty small. Given the general distribution, I do the work required
> to get things working in my niche. That's my focus. No one else really
> shares it (I have very particular ideas about how things should work),
> nor do I expect them to.
	Yeah, I think most people using Linux choose the most practical
tool to get the job done - regardless of where the solution comes from.  

> So, in short, I don't see how "we" are going to focus on anything.
> We're an anarchy, just like the rest of Linux.
	Absolutely.  Linux has, does, and will continue to grow through 
creative chaos.  The question of focus comes into play when dealing with
entities like the media and software companies.  The tech community
and media have a notion that Alpha systems are very fast, very
powerful, and very expensive - reserved for special purpose, server
applications and not suitable for the desktop.  Whenever Linux users at
work find out that I've got a couple Alphas at home, the typical reaction
is "Oh my god, are you rich or something?".  To them, Alphas are just
multiprocessor, large-memory systems in a 500lbs+ chassis that 
sit in machine rooms surrounded by accolytes with portable cooling
units.  Many people not of the DEC^H^H^HCompaq persuasion do not
realize that Alphas make nice desktop systems as well.
	Getting back to the original question of self-sustainment vs.
adaptation.. If the attitude is one of self-sustainment, these wrong 
ideas about the Alpha platform are not an issue to be dealt with; people
likely to use AlphaLinux already know the truth.  Adaptation would be to
present AlphaLinux as both a good server and desktop platform - breaking
the usual stereotype that Alphas make good servers but not much else. 

	It's an issue that belongs more in the realm of marketing departments 
and corporate strategies than anywhere else.  The question was asked of
the Alpha Linux Org by Alpha Processor Inc. earlier this year - do you
focus on a narrow niche (scientific apps, graphics, etc.) or on a broader
market (video games, desktop systems), or both (anarchy)? To be fair, API
should have sent the survey to axp-list and other Linux mailing lists;
if we had a working 'poll' on the ALO website, my question would be there
rather than here :-)

Regards,
Dan