Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 11:30:56 -0500 (EST) From: pgiffuni@fps.biblos.unal.edu.co To: Edward Ing <edward.ing@utoronto.ca> Cc: wp@ec.camitel.com, chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: WP 7.0 For FreeBSD and Corel Suite Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95.961121104147.20868A-100000@fps.biblos.unal.edu.co> In-Reply-To: <32939EF1.11F6@utoronto.ca>
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We, FreeUNIX users, are excited about our OS and it`s advantages over most other commercial systems: free distribution (with sources!), standarization, compatibility, excellent performance and "openness" in general. I have to admit, though, that FreeBSD, by itself, has still not gained a share of the market that guarantees a good profit.FreeBSD, in particular, is a very strong server but still lacks some of the userland features common to WIN95 (we are working on it, don`t worry). I wouldn`t doubt, anyway, that FreeBSD and Linux (added) have more users than OS2, and that FreeBSD is gaining users at a higher rate than both Linux and OS2. Our strategy to gain position in the market consists of two parts: *An excellent emulation of the, very popular, Linux OS, (BSDIs and some SCO bins also run fine) and *Java support. I understand that many people simplisticly associate Free software with low quality and users that won`t BUY applications. Both concepts are false nowadays, but it does mean we expect a really high quality from commercial applications. The OS is clearly doing it`s part, but we need to more things to overthrow the "Big Brother" in Washington (state). *More commercial applications: Matlab, Mathematica, and some others already are available. * A very aggressive commercial campaign: students and educational institutions receive an 80% discount from MS (What do they want to take us today?). I don`t doubt we are on a very special moment: Internet took MS off guard, either we take advantage of this situation now, are we can all be looking for jobs in Microsoft in the (possibly near) future. Pedro. On Wed, 20 Nov 1996, Edward Ing wrote: > Hello, > > I'll happily buy WP 7.0 for FreeBSD _but_ at $90 Canadian, not $495; > and if the price were $70 Canadian, I will shout on each street corner > about such a great offer from Corel to us free-UNIX users. (Please > remember -- free-UNIX users aren't corporations! > > Furthermore I would happily buy the Corel Perfect Suite for $180 CAN, > and if the price were $70 Canadian, I will paint my chest with the > Corel Wordperfect logo and flash it to everyone I meet. > > But more seriously, since we are on the subject of porting the Corel > Perfect suite, I > should tell you of a TOTALLY new marketing strategy which Corel should > take > with regard to its office suite. I was going to save it for my > cover-letter on my resume, > but what the heck, here it is: > > Microsoft's Office Suite is entrenched in the market and it is very > unlikely > that anyone will dislodge it, though one may gain a profitable market > segment. > Secondly, Microsoft with its monopolistic practices will always have an > advantage > in developing such application software because it is the designer of > the operating > system on which the applications will run. Short of a marketing > blunder Microsoft will rule the Suite market for Win95, WinNT, and > Win3.1. > > Then what is the weakness in Microsoft's marketing strategy which can be > exploited? -- The weakness of their OS -- namely WinNT. > The weakness of NT is that it is not entrenched in the the > server/workstation > marketplace. It is steadily gaining acceptance, but it is not > entrenched. If another > equally or more powerful and significantly cheaper (even free > operating system) were available, it could gain acceptance readily > (though probably with considerable marketing effort, at first, to > enlighten buyers.) If this new operating system were to be significantly > competive with WindowsNT, then the market would be wide open for all > vendors of Suite applications willing to develop applications for this > new operating system. (An if one vendor were to have a lead in the > development cycle, it might gain a significant market share. ;-) ) > > There is such an operating system and it is FreeBSD UNIX (or Linux > though the latter's unstructured development strategy makes it less > stable). > It has full internet capabilites. On an intel 386 machine it (FreeBSD) > can serve as a workstation and as a server. Also it can function > as a router. It comes with and runs X-windows applications. Thousands > of pieces of software run on it and hundreds of these applications > are included in the initial purchase. It comes with NFS and NIS and > comes with a LAN Manager server software (Samba). Furthermore it can > turn your old 386s and 486s into an intranet server. A server running > FreeBSD can act as a LAN Manager server, a http server, a database > server and > as an application work station (and as JAVA SERVER AND CLIENT with some > work) at the same time. With the existence of this software there > is really no need for anyone to Pay $800 US to get and NT sever when > he can get this equally, if not more, powerful operating system, > for $24.95 on one CD-ROM or for free off the internet. There > are difficulties with FreeBSD from an ease-of-use point of view and > from the point of view of someone looking for compatibility with the > latest whiz-bang gadgets, but these deficiencies can be overcome by the > following marketing and software development strategy. > > If Corel is serious about dislodging Microsoft from its near > monopolistic > dominance in the Suite's market, it might consider doing the following: > > 1. Develop its commercial office suite software for FreeBSD or Linux > (or both) and market it for a reasonable price. > > 2. Commit software engineers to participate in developing FREE software > to make FreeBSD (or Linux) a more manageable and useable for UNIX > novices. This would include the development of a better (and free) > X-Windows manager, the development of an easier installation and > configuration process for both UNIX server components and widely > used application servers (--actually the UNIX installation is > quite easy as it is, but it probably can be improved--) , and the > development of drivers for the latest and greatest devices. > > 3. Commit marketing personnel and technical staff to sell the virtues > of the newly packaged FreeBSD OS and Corel-WP office suite bundle and > provide > technical support. This incredible operating system should and can be > included FREE > as part of the WP software, or office suite software. Corel might even > adapt FreeBSD and market it as a central JAVA server for its new > upcoming > JAVA office suite. This would be the first complete workstation/server, > internet/intranet > ready operating system and office suite bundle solution, as far as I > know. > (Corel might even be able to get a foot hold into the database system > market.) > > > Now, I must make some comments on item 2. > > First, Corel may be reluctant to participate in developing freely > distributable software but this is not new. Sun's development of Java, > Microsofts development of Explorer, and Apple's participation in the > development of Linux for PowerMac demonstrate the advantage of > developing > free software. It allows profit-making corporations to get foot holds > into new potential markets. Corel's participation in the development of > free components for FreeBSD will help make FreeBSD more widely useable > and in turn will provide Corel with a new market for its Office Suite > for FreeBSD. > > Secondly, a better windows manger incorporated with a graphical system > manger will make FreeBSD as user friendly as WindowsNT for those with > command-line phobia. Hard core command-line UNIX addicts can still use > their UNIX shells. > > Thirdly, putting considerable resource into the development and testing > of > drivers will make FreeBSD useable to a wide segment of the intel market > for the present and for the future and thus create wide market for > office > suite applications. > > This is a viable strategy, if Corel is willing to put some resources > behind > it. By this strategy Corel can exploint the chink in Microsofts armour. > > (And, heck, if you need someone to hire to help you get this done, > e-mail me.) > > > Edward Ing. >
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