[K12OSN] Making K12LTSP

[Rob Owens]

I think if you found a software company that felt that they were about to be trounced by their competition, you might have some luck getting them to port to linux.  For instance, if MS put out a knock-off of "Reader Rabbit", then the makers of Reader Rabbit might start to get a little nervous and starting looking into other markets.  

But a company who is already selling to everybody in the Windows world has little reason to port their work to another platform.  That's real work!  They'd be much happier just selling copies of the same old thing to the Windows community.

Search out the underdogs and ask them to produce software for linux.

-Rob



 --- On Mon 02/07, Jim Kronebusch < jim at winonacotter.org > wrote:
From: Jim Kronebusch [mailto: jim at winonacotter.org]
To: k12osn at redhat.com
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 17:08:22 -0600
Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Making K12LTSP "school friendly"

> Well, what's everyone (else) waiting for? ;)<br>> <br>> Should we perhaps 'advertise' this movement on the K12LTSP site or elsewhere<br>> (like DesktopLinux.com or *cringe* Slashdot), or is everyone who'd be<br>> influencial already on this list?<br><br>If the software companies run their business like I run mine my guess is it is<br>all hinging on numbers we don't have yet.  I am sure there are plenty of<br>statistics for how many Windows and Mac users there are.  But just like was<br>discussed on this list last week there probably isn't as many numbers backing<br>up Linux or K12LTSP.  So right now they can calculate how much income would<br>could possibly be gained at x amount for software multiplied by %y of<br>available users z.  If we could give them an idea of how large a number z is<br>maybe they could see a real potential which will drive them down this road. <br>Right now I suppose they know where the road of MS and Mac will lead them. <br>Maybe it is as simple as!
 paving a road with real statistics on systems,<br>workstations, in service.  And they may also be shy due to the push for free<br>open source software.  The general expectation from most linux users is if the<br>os is free, and most software is free, why would I buy any, lets find a free<br>version.  I am all for free and open source, but in order for them to want to<br>produce software for this market maybe we need to somehow convey a willingness<br>to pay for task specific software, without the release of the source (the<br>response for saying that will most likely hurt).  Not that I am for that, but<br>if I have a company that has made a certain task specific software for x<br>amount of years, the thought of having to release all of the code to move to<br>another platform would most likely stear me clear and hang out supporting<br>platforms where my code can remain anonymous.<br><br>I think these are most likely the hurdles we are facing.  And a single person<br>or group!
 most likely won't spead as loud as statistics.  Luckily with!
  some bi
g<br>compaines taking on Linux and mainstream commercials by comanies such as IBM<br>should be starting to get their attention.<br><br>-- <br>This message has been scanned for viruses and<br>dangerous content by the Cotter Technology <br>Department, and is believed to be clean.<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>K12OSN mailing list<br>K12OSN at redhat.com<br>https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn<br>For more info see <http://www.k12os.org><br>

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