Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 23:11:34 -0500 (EST) From: "John S. Dyson" <dyson@iquest.net> To: scrappy@hub.org (The Hermit Hacker) Cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Guess we've lost the server market too...? Message-ID: <199903030411.XAA00446@y.dyson.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.05.9903022312170.59717-100000@thelab.hub.org> from The Hermit Hacker at "Mar 2, 99 11:12:32 pm"
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(Mini-rant, not meant to be flamage, so just be patient that this is a rant of frustration, not a flame...) The Hermit Hacker said: > > http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/03/02.phtml > I haven't read that article, but there has been a severe lack of official (proper) advocacy by FreeBSD, and needs to be a full time effort for at least 2-3 people at this time. If at least one core member isn't working FULL time on PR, then there is an even more severe problem. Media contacts are critical, and I suspect that FreeBSD doesn't have enough (or our contacts aren't making enough progress.) FreeBSD has good technical people on the project, but still a severe lack of schmoozing. FreeBSD could stagnate technically for 1yr, but with proper marketing, could grow amazingly well. Technical excellence isn't an issue in the market today, because the comparisons are so inferior in many of the important ways (except for geek appeal, and now buzzword appeal.) FYI, my Dad just asked about Linux, and I explained that it was like FreeBSD (that I used to work on), and had to suggest that since his friends are most likely going to run Linux, that he might consider it also. This sickened me, but makes the Linux decision almost like the Windows decision of past days. I explained the license issue to him, and he agrees that GPL is a mess -- but I still claim that Linux is still a better choice for him :-(. FreeBSD *should* have been a better choice... Sure, I am trying to work on some advanced stuff, but that isn't going to make ANY difference in FreeBSD's (or any OSes) future for a couple of years. The key here is to make the contacts. I hear of FreeBSD in a similar vain to hearing about OS/2 or Betamax... :-(. BTW, I have 2 EDBeta decks, so I have previously backed loosers, and would hate to do so again... The really cool/sad thing is that today, one can get a digital video deck, which TOTALLY BLOWS the alternatives away for consumer purposes... Now, the question is: what is EDBeta? The answer: Who cares? The deciding factor on FreeBSD's success is PR, and it will be primarily PR, marketing and name recognition that supports FreeBSD's success or it's failure. A little insider note: I happen to have access to the insides of the proverbial largest computer manufacturer, and they really love FreeBSD. The reason why it isn't being used in certain applications has NOTHING to do with technical excellence. -- John | Never try to teach a pig to sing, dyson@iquest.net | it makes one look stupid jdyson@nc.com | and it irritates the pig. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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