On Wednesday 26 Feb 2003 12:27 pm, Greg Meyer wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > On Wednesday 26 February 2003 04:53 am, Anne Wilson wrote: > > Seems to me there is logic in the MandrakeSoft model, but not the logic > > we (and other users) expect. This is, in fact, a big problem that needs > > to be considered. Whether Mdksft like it or not, people expect point > > releases to be 'fixes' and version releases to be major. > > The only logic that counts is the logic they use. Same goes for definition > of beta and rc. Some people want it to be different than the Mandrake > definition, but it is the Mandrake definition that counts. Of course, once > you understand what that is, it is easier to *take*.
I have no problem with it, myself, but from a marketing point of view it could be a problem. > > > It used to be said 'Never buy any software in a .0 release', but in this > > context all Mandrake releases are .0 releases. This keeps it at the > > bleeding edge, but never quite as 'finished' as some users not only want, > > but need. > > Perhaps those users should use Debian than. That may well be so. For the 'absolute stability' need (I'm thinking of business-critical situations) I suspect Mandrake is only viable if they have a really clued-up administrator. I'm just thinking aloud, really, about the issues of introducing linux into small businesses, where there may not be any such clued-up person on staff, and no funds to hire one. > > > I don't have any answers. Maybe being 'bleeding edge' is the USP of > > Mandrake. I only know that business decisions like this are never simple, > > but it is essential to keep in mind the perceptions of those outside the > > company. > > I know many say perception is reality, but some must correct thier > perceptions with reality. As I said, I am thinking from the small business pov, which is where my experience is. A possible adopter would not know that Mandrake define things differently from the 'norm' (ok - don't take me up on 'norm' - you know what I mean). I'm not trying to make destructive comment - far from it. If we could get round issues like this and get efficient affordable third-party support for them, small business would benefit greatly from the increased stability linux gives. This is a fact - I spent a good part of my working week sorting out problems on our windows machines. The cost to the company, then, was not negligible. Anne -- Registered Linux User No.293302
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