re: [kidsgames] Dorling Kindersley

["malonowa" <malonowa@wanadoo.fr>]

----- Original Message -----
From: malonowa <malonowa@wanadoo.fr>
To: <robin.c.smith@bt.com>
Sent: vendredi 29 octobre 1999 17:48
Subject: Re: [kidsgames] Dorling Kindersley


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <robin.c.smith@bt.com>
> To: <kidsgames@smluc.org>
> Sent: vendredi 29 octobre 1999 09:56
> Subject: [kidsgames] Dorling Kindersley
>
>
> > Dear all
> >
> > I want to start putting pressure on Dorling Kindersley for them to port
> > their eductational software to Linux.
> > I have one of their CDs just now ( for Microsoft OS ) and the contents
of
> > the disk seem to be mostly the animation and sound files. I would be
> > relatively easy for them to port it to Linux, they would only have to
> write
> > the interpreter that calls all of these files. There is no "rocket
> science"
> > in the software as most of their titles will run on a 486 33Mhz machine.
> >
> > Any ideas how we can petition them and show that there is a demand for
> these
> > products?
> >
>

 I doubt that they'd readily entertain Linux ports. I suspect the most
susceptible companies for porting advocacy are small ones where the smaller
Linux market could still possibly match their present revenues.

 A few years ago I remember in England that there was a company which ported
runtime systems for CDs such as this to RiscOS. At the time 60% of schools
were using Acorn Computers and hence these windows products didn't work.
This company managed to get hold of file format info etc. and write the
programs that go with the datafiles. So the user would buy this program
bundled with the windows version of the product and it would work. I can't
remember who they were though but I can ask around. I'll ask around to see
if anyone I know has contacts at DK as well.

 If you could get some kind of web petition going with lots of names on it
then that would be a great help.

 Perhaps this is an interesting way forward with this case. I see no reason
why they couldn't be persuaded to have some sort of open source or freeware
interpreter out there if it's going to sell their CDs.

 You can always suggest it.

 Hope that helps,

 Roman.


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