Re: [Community_studios] Re: [seul-edu] Re: Unified Front...

[Matt Drew <mdrew@redhat.com>]

William Abernathy wrote:
> Alex wrote:
> 
>  > I think Linux is easier to deploy and manage than Windoze. In my 
> experience (going
>  >  on 10 years now) with Windoze, the problem isn't Linux's difficulty in
>  > installation, deployment or maintenance. The biggest problem with 
> Linux breaking
>  >  into a new market is everyone's perception of how difficult it is. 
> Sure,
>  > Windoze is easy to install on a new PC. The problem is when it hits a 
> new
>  > piece of hardware, or finds incompatable code in someone else's 
> product, or
>  >  something else that is out of the ordinary. Troubleshooting Windoze is
>  > where you run into the problems, which most people who make the buying
>  > decisions never see. They see "even I can install this on my computer at
>  > home."
> 
> I believe this is a mischaracterization of the problem. The average user 
> has no
> idea or concern about installation of Windows, because it's already 
> there when
> he or she buys the computer. That's marketing. If people gave a fiddle 
> about
> installation ease, Tux would be eating Bill's lunch.

One of the most frustrating things about Windows *IS* trying to fix a 
problem with something that is automated.  If we can market Linux as 
robust and easy to fix (which it generally is) there is traction there 
with the technical people who do the deployments, both in schools and in 
other places.  Part of our efforts here are to get people used to using 
Linux so that they see how really simple most things are.

>  > I think we're going to always hit this wall as long as we only focus 
> on "this
>  >  needs to be easy to install" or "we need an Office compatible suite" or
>  > "we need a company that can provide a support contract".
> 
> Linux already *is* easy to install (certainly easier to install than 
> Windows).
> It *is* important to have an Office-compatible suite (and we do). Many 
> school districts *do* need a support contract with a company. You can't 
> airily dismiss that last fact with dollops of elbow-grease and a can-do 
> spirit, and it's what Red Hat and others base their business models on 
> (though I suspect they have bigger fish to fry than school districts). 

Schools are very important to us.  If we can get users who are not 
afraid of computers and do not see them as magical beasts, it really 
helps Red Hat (and everyone, I think).

> We need to be willing work closely with *any* company that is willing to 
> provide a support contract to a school district. Let's say Red Hat puts 
> together a contract for a school district to defenestrate (throw Windows 
> out the window). I think we should be able to marshall volunteers on the 
> ground who can help with the transition, and then step back a bit and 
> let Red Hat earn their money.
> 
>  > We already have all that, the thing we keep missing is everyone's 
> perception.
>  >  When some giant corporation can steal, appropriate and bully their 
> way to
>  > an unreliable, insecure product, and still get people to pay way too 
> much
>  > for it, that's got to be nothing more than a perception issue.
> 
> Nothing succeeds like success. The best way to show people Linux isn't 
> scary is
> to set them down in front of a working Linux box. The best way to show 
> school district CTOs that Linux isn't scary is to show them another 
> school district that works just fine on Linux.
> 
>  > We need to come up with a way to change people's perceptions, that's 
> all. We already
>  >  have the ease-of-use, beautiful GUIs, security, reliability, hardware
>  > support, technical support and cost effectiveness.
> 
> We are doing that. Like any revolutionary technology, we first have to 
> go after
> early adopters. After these people demonstrate to their peers that you 
> *can*
> live without Microsoft, they will eventually get their pitchforks and 
> torches,
> and surround the Castle Gates. The reality is that we're dealing with 
> slow-moving bureaucracies, and bureaucracies recoil from perceived risk 
> like vampires from a cross. Think of them as penguins on an ice floe. 
> They all mass at the edge until one jumps (or hast the misfortune to be 
> pushed) into the water. If blood comes to the surface, they back off, 
> not wanting to become seal bait. If there's no blood in the water, 
> they'll all jump in.
> 
>  > Any marketing people out there? :)
> 
> I used to work in the marketing department, but I sure wouldn't call 
> myself a
> "marketing person." Anyway, I think it's more important for us to get a few
> districts working well than to worry about conquering the world. Total 
> World
> Domination takes time, after all...
> 
> This list is for folks putting together one aspect of TWD, which is 
> applications  (and the matter at hand, an ISO) for schools. One step at 
> a time.
> 
> --William
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Matt Drew
Red Hat, Inc
Education Pilot Tech Coordinator
(919)754-3700 x44192
(919)880-7736 cell
mdrew@redhat.com