[Debian-uk] Re: Expo aftermath

[Russell Coker]

On Mon, 28 Oct 2002 16:19, Philip Hands wrote:
> > I think that the best way of making money from the distribution business
> > is taking a free distribution (of which I think Debian is the best, but
> > you could use something else), doing some extra testing etc, adding some
> > user-friendly stuff, and adding some commercial software.  Then anyone
> > who tries out Debian and wants to use it at their company will be forced
> > to use the Debian + commercial distro.
>
> I take it that by "Commercial" you mean proprietary, or non-free.

Yes.

> As I explained once already, I think that making a distribution depend
> on proprietary software is a great way to ensure that it will be
> trampled underfoot by the forward motion of Free Software.

You explained that for the case of a distribution of mostly free software 
which includes some proprietary software.

I am discussing the case of a distribution of proprietary software based on a 
core OS of totally free software that is available separately.

> What could possibly "force" someone to use the hybrid distro you
> mention?  If you charge more than they feel is fair fo the support &
> programming enhancements thay get, they will go to the free distro,
> and either put up with it or perhaps get a few like minded people to
> fund the eyecandy they prefer.

The idea behind capitalism is that customers are not "forced" to spend money, 
that they choose to spend money on the product that best suits their needs.

If you look at the things that cause most user whinging, fix them, add some 
snazzy commercial software, and maybe a game or two and it'll probably get a 
good market.  Lindows business model is very similar.

> That being the case, why not just charge for support, and so bring
> some clarity to the situation?

Because that's difficult to sell.  The market isn't quite ready for Linux 
support contracts but they are ready to purchase licenses for proprietary 
software.

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