The more user friendly the basic tasks for users , deployers and admins, the more easier for us to convince managers and customers to buy opensolaris /solaris support contracts (read ktrumbul's msg). Userfriendliness acts as carrot and stick, acts as brand or popularity.
ISV starts developing some more apps, once there is market share like ubuntu/fedora/mac. I agree with niche things. It is ok to implement these two or three things for desktop can wait some more time. Many windows users use non windows apps rather than windows equivalents. Kevin Trumbull's certification issue (I know there are solaris certifications)also another very important thing. These certified people increase as more people and businesses use solaris/opensolaris. You should have understood the fruits of monopoly in terms of money. We are requesting only bare minimum desktop functionality, not any advanced desktop features. Even most thin clients ultimately provide access to same windows based desktop / development server machines. Mac costs double the windows because of the same user friendliness. Coming to the cost thing, many people will buy them if the reach is more. That is, when many games and ed cds/dvds are available in all stores all over the world, none of the free unix based operating system cds/dvds(including ubuntu) are available in the same stores. I(and so are many people out there) can buy full/upgrade osol/solaris cd every year at 10 to 15USD (For 7years, it will be 70 to 105USD, almost same as win home basic ed upgrade), if it is available in few stores of my city or available through amazon/ebay(This is the same problem with all free unix oses. Reach to masses is main problem for many unix based operating systems.). Neither many users use paypal nor unix oses' people open a new bank ac for donations in atleast developed and some developing nations. Spending small amounts a year is better viewed/accepted than spending large amount at once. I think ubuntu can easily gain more share rapidly if the reach is improved. Cost related things are just my thoug hts / ideas on that subject only. If the operating system and support contract costs are competitive for masses and small-medium enterprises , solaris will gain market share. User diversity pays you in bad times also. Many people just wants to do basic desktop things with computers, not any advanced things like firewire, syncing ipad/iphone, etc. We didn't use any unix machine as development server for the last 10-12 years. Large majority of corporate developers use windows as their development servers, even if the production server is unix based. Recompiling apps is way beyond normal non-unix developers,deployers and admins. All we are requesting is to port bare minimum desktop apps, without the hassle of recompiling and complex web of dependencies. Thanks kevin and milan for at least stressing the basic friendliness. -- This message posted from opensolaris.org _______________________________________________ opensolaris-discuss mailing list opensolaris-discuss@opensolaris.org
