[Mageia-discuss] Mageia logo proposals and selection

[Marcello Anni]

> 2010/10/15 Gamaliel Lamboy Rodríguez <gamalamboy at gmail.com>:
> > Therefore, the branding for
> > them cannot possibly insert Linux or other technical details; it is more
> > of a simplified picture of what Free Software is and how we insert
> > ourselves into that. This is seen in our Core Values, where the main
> > focus is showing people that we are a Community, not a corporation, and
> > that we care about our users. On the other side we have the
> > intermediate-to-advanced Linux users, which CAN and/or DO choose a Linux
> > OS and FOSS Technologies. To these users we can introduce a branding
> > that includes our special characteristics in the Linux world and the
> > advantages of using our development branch, etc. But Graham's point
> > still stands, that we need to define these target markets more fully so
> > we can better assess the Mageia reputation in each of them.
> 
> My opinion is from my POV: I'm a home user, FLOSS enthusiast, curious,
> I love computers, love to read, love to learn, love to help in forums,
> but in the end, I'm just a regular-guy-not-developer. I work in
> nothing related with computers, just an administrative employee. I'm a
> dad, I'm a husband.
> 
> Said this, I start.
> 
> What I see when I navigate Internet is this:
> 
> http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
> 
> http://www.apple.com/macosx/refinements/
> 
> http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/
> 
> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/discover
> 
> http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/features
> 
> These are examples of the way other big companies "sell" their
> products. They keep it simple. They describe it with simplicity,
> non-technical language. Obviously, they are targeting people that know
> very little about computers, OS, software.
> 
> Images are almost always showing mom+dad+kids (or teens) all together,
> around the notebook, laughing, enjoying. Or teenagers with their
> backpacks, and skates, cool clothes, doing things like chat, listening
> music, watching a video, facebook, etc.
> 
> My point is that these big companies, exhibit their products with a
> "common people" language, showing images of common people, doing
> ordinary things.
> 
> Why? because common people is the people who need to be convinced.
> Common people have doubts, maybe they are a little scare about if the
> hit a key and a program is erased.
> 
> People like all of you and me, know what we want and what we need
> (talking about the OS and software and hardware).
> 
> I know that I can mount a small server with an ordinary Win XP, if I
> put in it the right software. The same XP that Microsoft "sell" to
> ordinary people with nice images of the family watching Toy Story in
> the notebook.
> 
> I (and all of you) don't need that a company mounting images of a geek
> mounting a server with Gentoo. Because we are not ordinary users. We
> need something, we go to Google, we go to forums, we read a lot, we
> pick the software we need, we set it up, and we mount whatever satisfy
> our need. We're self sufficient. We are "special".
> 
> We won't use Mageia because the marketing team convince us. We are
> here to build it from the very base.
> 
> Ordinary people must be convinced by us (or by our marketing team)
> that Mageia is easy. That Mageia will not bite them. That they will
> watch their movies, talk with their IM friends, listen music, create
> their documents, without open a console and type "dark" commands that
> they can't understand.
> 
> We must make "common people" feel comfortable in Mageia. They must
> feel joy using their computers with Mageia. To use Mageia must be easy
> and pleasurable work/play/hand around with Mageia.
> 
> Of course, the console will be there for "power users". Packages to
> mount a servers will also be there too. But you don't need to create a
> big marketing campaign for power users, because they know what is
> available, and how to install it and configure. And if they don't,
> they will read and learn. Because that's our nature. As regular
> people's nature is "I don't care how it works, I just want it working
> right and quick".
> 
> So, I'm sorry but I agree with the people who want to target this
> "ordinary people". Because I don't think that making Mageia easier and
> friendly hurt or damage advanced users. Linux will be always powerful,
> with the right packages. And any advanced user can make "urpmi
> my-advanced-packages" whenever he/she needs.
> 
> We need to attract more non-linux users. Because if all Linux distros
> have 1% of the market, and we attract just users from other distros,
> you only change the way that 1% is distributed.

+1
> 
> My respect to marketing team.

thanks : )
> 
> Regards.
> 
> 
> Gustavo Giampaoli (aka tavillo1980)


cheers,
Marcello