[Mageia-discuss] Mageia logo proposals and selection

Fernando Parra gato2707 at yahoo.com.mx
Sat Oct 16 22:26:01 CEST 2010


On Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:16:50 -0300
Gustavo Giampaoli <giampaoli.gustavo-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:


> 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.
> 

I agree with this POV, Our main goal must be capture as many as possible non-linux users, no cannibalize the same linux users from other distros.

I think we need to do many things in new and different ways. We take risks, try things that have not been tested yet.

What should we do? Whatever it takes! (According to our values)

Ubuntu a few years ago was born with a fixed idea, at first everyone said that this would accomplish nothing. Over the years that distribution has become the most popular, despite all objections, has contributed like no other to increase knowledge and use of Linux. (Please before to reply against that read it well, personally I'm not promoting Ubuntu or it's way, I'm only write about facts)

If we look back we see that the same happened with the Mac, and even further back in time to the PC itself did something similar.

Recent history is full of examples: the Model T, the seat belt, Aspirin and of course Viagra, are some of them.

As well as here, at the dev mail list there are a large thread about changes. IMHO it is happen because inside the community there are thoughts on necessary new way.

We are a fork from Mandriva, we aren't a clone. For this reason we are try to take the best of our "mother" and as the childes all over the world at any time, we want to improve our own way.

Again IMHO our main goal should be increase the base of new users, and we must do into Mageia.

Regards from Mexico

Fernando
-- 
Fernando Parra <gato2707 at yahoo.com.mx>


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