[ubuntu-uk] [marketing] Bug #1 - what we're up against

[alan c]

Neil Greenwood wrote:
> A very good discussion about why Linux doesn't have a greater market share.
> http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free

A well put case with a closely argued set of points. Worth reading.

also see:

How Microsoft conquered China
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134488/
Extract:
Today Gates openly concedes that tolerating piracy turned out to be 
Microsoft's best long-term strategy. That's why Windows is used on an 
estimated 90% of China's 120 million PCs. "It's easier for our 
software to compete with Linux when there's piracy than when there's 
not," Gates says. "Are you kidding? You can get the real thing, and 
you get the same price." Indeed, in China's back alleys, Linux often 
costs more than Windows because it requires more disks. And 
Microsoft's own prices have dropped so low it now sells a $3 package 
of Windows and Office to students

Comment: historically, the Good GUI of windows appeared sooner than 
the good GUI of Linux, so market momentum for windows has been well 
established.

To *change* market momentum, we need a marketing approach which pushes 
at an open door - many people I know are worried about computer 
related security. It is a rising public awareness, in media too. They 
often are well aware of microsofts unpleasant ways of doing business. 
'sucking blood' was an actual phrase used to me last weekend.

Microsoft is helping us out with Vista.

An added bonus could be that we have a wonderfully helpful and 
knowledgable Community!

Can we put these together in to a (truthful) FUD package of our own, 
surely this is possible?
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391