[Mageia-dev] Identifying Target Markets

[Dubeau, Patrick]

> > "A distribution for Newbie" is good, but I think what Graham said is
> > better.
> 
> Well,
> saying "a distribution for newbies" is not as good as it sound.
> 
> If you market the distribution so people think "if you are a newbie,
> use
> this distro", people will think "he use this distribution so he is a
> newbie". This will drive knowledgeable peoples away to others
> distribution, because they will feel they will learn more by using
> another distro ( which is wrong ) and because others peoples will
> appear
> as more knowledgeable when they use a distro that is not aimed at
> newbies.
> 
> In turn, this mean a diminution of the global expertise in the
> community. Less expert users to answer to support, less experts users
> to
> report bug, fix packages, create softwares or contribute, and to
> basically teach to new users how to be good community member resulting
> in less quality, and a less sustainable community.
> 
> Apple does it correctly. They never say "we target newbie users".
> See http://www.apple.com//why-mac/
> "better computer" "most advanced os" "award winning support" "latest
> technology" "software you love".
> 
> Everything resolve around how they are good, not how beginner you can
> be.
> 
> Or see http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/
> they say "it is easy", but they never say "it is easy and can be used
> by
> a newbie". They say "it is easy and you will learn how to use it fast",
> which is more positive.
> 
> And so I think we should also try to avoid this pitfall, right from the
> start, if we want to have a thriving sustainable community.
> 
> --
> Michael Scherer

Oh my god you're damn right on this one Michael.

I agree and +1000 on this one. 

You see how perception is really important and we must send the right message
to future and potential contributors because every new user is a potential
contributor. Let's not forget that fact.


Patrick Dubeau (alias DaaX) - Webmaster MLO
http://www.mandrivalinux-online.org