Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 23:04:57 -0500 (CDT) From: Jay Nelson <jdn@acp.qiv.com> To: Frank Pawlak <fpawlak@execpc.com> Cc: toor@dyson.iquest.net, brett@lariat.org, mike@smith.net.au, dshanes@personalogic.com, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Re[2]: Fw: Your Article "Freeware: The Heart & Soul of the Internet" Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.96.980409221918.1386A-100000@acp.qiv.com> In-Reply-To: <199804100223.VAA23203@darkstar.connect.com>
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On Thu, 9 Apr 1998, Frank Pawlak wrote: >Jay Nelson <jdn@acp.qiv.com> wrote: >> On Thu, 9 Apr 1998, John S. Dyson wrote: >> >> [snip] >> >> >The problem with FreeBSD, is that people working on FreeBSD are >> generally >> >older, and find evangelism to be painful. Also, people using FreeBSD >> >are busy using it, as opposed to worshipping it. >> > >> >How do we (really) deal with this? >> >> I suggest we don't evangelize, per se >> > >Oh but we must!! I'm not convinced we must. The evangelical furor is normally associated with the more inexperienced "true believers" than mission critical. >> I agree that most of use are >> older -- and it appears that most of use deal with real clients in the >> real world. The cost of an OS is the scheme of the commercial world is >> not a deciding factor. Support and reliability is a major factor. > >You hit on a key fact here and that is support. Please don't take what >I am going to say as a criticism. Because FreeBSD users are older and >thus more experienced I think it is often taken for granted that every >user is at the same level of expertise, which is simply not the case. >Further there is an attitude and in some ways correctly so that RTFM is >the order of the day. There is a lot of truth to the addage that give a >man a fish and you will have to feed hin forever, but teach him to fish >and he will be able to feed himself. However, I have noticed some >seemingly stupid guestions that go unanswered or ignored completely. I >have asked several of these myself even after RTFM.... and just didn't >get it so to speak. I am guilty of the terse answer RTFM mind set, and >I had a lady administer a public flogging to me on this mailing list >this past week because of it. I don't think it is taken for granted that all users are experienced as much as lack of time or experience of those on the list. For example, I see a number of questions go by about sound cards. I don't use sound cards, so I have nothing to contribute. >It is understandable that the population of the newsgroup and mailing >lists are busy, but to reach the newbe and a larger user community more >patience with the user whose UNIX knowledge is at the orangutan level >will be required. I have worked in the computer user industry for many >years, and the one thing that I realized early on is the UNIX scares the >hell out of most people. It has a reputation for be criptic, etc. What >I would propose would be some volunteers to take these questions and >patiently answer them to maintain user retention, and don't let them >slip off to Linux becuse of the mis-apprehension that it is better >supported. And that belief is out there partialy because of the volumes >of books on the shelves devoted to Linux, most of which are nothing more >than a statement of environmental waste in all the trees destroyed to >provide the paper for them. I can't really disagree -- but the recognition that counts comes from corporate -- not the user. Corporate doesn't read the Linux books and doesn't really care how cryptic and OS may be. I don't think Unix will ever make inroads on the desktop, largely because of the perceptions you mention until there is a clear corporate reason to do so. As far as the newbie goes, I don't have a good suggestion. A multiuser system is inherently more complex than a single user executive. It requires more of a user who wants to enjoy the benefits. Many don't want to invest the effort. >Overall I believe that the support offered for FreeBSD is of a higher >quality that that of the Linux newsgroups. There is a lot of bulljive >passed for expertise on their NGs. So we have a strong base to build >upon. We have a pedagree UNIX -- oops -- with a rich heritage not a >clone. Some marketing and market presence will get the word out. No >reason for FreeBSD to take the back seat to any OS. We have a great >story to tell. The consideration comes down to whom we wish to appeal (and even why we want to appeal.) I think an appeal to corporate via press releases and trade rags is the best approach. -- Jay >----------------snip >> >> What I suggest is this: >> >> First -- Jordan -- since you're the main man in this, put the pencil >> to the paper and figure out what it would cost to mount a program of >> professional news releases -- including customer profiles. Look at the >> number of CD-ROMS sold and divide cost by CDs and add to CD cost. Look >> at the newsletter and consider subscription. Most of us can afford >> some extra bucks and would be happy to spend it for the credibility. >> Think in terms of two to three times per month for the news releases. >> >> Second: poll the rest of us for contributions. Many of us are using >> FreeBSD in production environments. (Yeah, I'll volunteer -- even >> though I can't write worth a plug nickle.) > >I'll go along with this. I can't code but would be willing to do my >part. > > > >To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org >with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message > -- Jay To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
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