algeriatul team mailing list archive

[mohican <1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-------------------------
Summary :
The only strategy that could lead to GNU/Linux [Ubuntu] being adopted by a large number of users is to do what Apple has done with the "Mac" : sell specifically assembled computers with a distinctive brand (e.g. the "Tux") and build a user-friendly brand-image through marketing.
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1. Harware compatibility is the number one problem

I've been installing Ubuntu on friend's computers since 2010. I
installed 12 different machines (4 desktops and 8 laptops). I had
various harware compatibility problems on 75% of these machines !
(mainly related to GPU, Wifi, Bluetooth, ACPI (suspend), brightness,
keyboard special keys, touchpad, kernel mei module and black screen on
the first run). Plus compatibility problems with peripheral hardware
(smartphones, printers, scanners, TV tuners...). This is exhausting.
(And people are not won for Ubuntu : when a friend buys a new machine I
have to do the job again.) I do it only because I am highly motivated.
Highly motivated people are scarce, they cannot change significantly the
marketshare of GNU/Linux.

It is not true that ordinary users can simply download and install Ubuntu easily on their machine. This will never happen because new hardware are constantly been released without Linux compatibility.
Ordinary people will never buy PCs to install Ubuntu on it. (Ordinary people never install OS anyway !)

***Ubuntu need to be sold pre-installed on 100% compatible harware.***

But this is not enough, people will not buy PCs with an alternative OS on it. People buy PCs with Windows because they know it and expect it to work 100% (or they install a cracked version of Windows on their new PC) - or - if they can afford it - they buy Macs*.
*In the last years a lot of people have switched from PCs to Macs. This was a lost opportunity for GNU/Linux. But it is not too late.

***Ubuntu need to be sold pre-installed on 100% compatible harware that
has a distinctive GNU/Linux branding.***

Let's call these machines "Tux". There should also be Tux-certified peripherals or even Tux-peripherals.
When these machines are available in stores, then people will have the choice to buy either PCs, Macs or "Tuxes".

Why would people buy Tuxes rather than Macs or PCs ?


2. GNU/Linux is unknown or has a "designed-for-geeks" reputation

They will buy them if a succesful marketing campaign convinces them that :
- Tuxes are as innovative, stable, user-friendly and cool as Macs ;
- Tuxes are even better than Macs because they bring more compatibility with other systems and more freedom ;
- It should also be clear that "Tuxes" are fully integrating with Ubuntu phones and FirefoxOS phones.
Tuxes then should sell better than Macs because they will be cheaper. (Tuxes should be at the same price as PCs or a little higher.)

Apple is the most successful business in the world. Mostly because they were very succesful in building a brand-image.
We have the OS to do better than them. What are we waiting for ?

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu 4
dz, which is subscribed to the bug report.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1

Title:
  Microsoft has a majority market share

Status in Club Distro:
  Confirmed
Status in Computer Science Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in LibreOffice Productivity Suite:
  New
Status in dylan.NET.Reflection:
  Invalid
Status in dylan.NET:
  Invalid
Status in EasyPeasy Overview:
  Invalid
Status in Ichthux - Linux for Christians:
  Invalid
Status in JAK LINUX:
  Invalid
Status in LibreOffice:
  In Progress
Status in The Linux Kernel:
  New
Status in The Linux Mint Distribution:
  In Progress
Status in The Linux OS Project:
  In Progress
Status in Neobot:
  New
Status in Novabot:
  New
Status in The OpenOffice.org Suite:
  In Progress
Status in Tabuntu:
  Invalid
Status in A simple player to online TV streaming:
  Invalid
Status in Tv-Player:
  Invalid
Status in Ubuntu Malaysia LoCo Team Meta Project:
  In Progress
Status in Wine:
  Unknown
Status in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in Arch Linux:
  Confirmed
Status in Baltix GNU/Linux:
  Confirmed
Status in Debian:
  In Progress
Status in Fedora:
  Confirmed
Status in Fluxbuntu: The Lightweight, Productive, Agile OS:
  Confirmed
Status in openSUSE:
  In Progress
Status in Tilix Linux:
  New

Bug description:
  See Mark's closure comment here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1/comments/1834
  ------

  Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC
  marketplace. This is a bug which Ubuntu and other projects are meant
  to fix. As the philosophy of the Ubuntu Project states, "Our work is
  driven by a belief that software should be free and accessible to
  all."

  "Ubuntu software is free. Always was, always will be. Free software gives everyone the freedom to use it however they want and share with whoever they like. This freedom has huge benefits. At one end of the spectrum it enables the Ubuntu community to grow and share its collective experience and expertise to continually improve all things Ubuntu. At the other, we are able to give access to essential software for those who couldn’t otherwise afford it – an advantage that’s keenly felt by individuals and organisations all over the world."
       * http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/our-philosophy

  Non-free software leaves users at the mercy of the software owner and
  concentrates control over the technology which powers our society into
  the hands of a few. Additionally, proprietary software stifles
  innovation, maintains artificial scarcities, and enables malicious
  anti-features such as DRM, surveillance, and other monopolistic
  practices.

  This bug is widely evident in the PC industry.

  Steps to repeat:

      1. Visit a local PC store.
      2. Attempt to buy a machine without any proprietary software.

  What happens:

  Almost always, a majority of PCs for sale have Microsoft Windows pre-
  installed. In the rare cases that they come with a GNU/Linux operating
  system or no operating system at all, the drivers and BIOS may be
  proprietary.

  What should happen:

  A majority of the PCs for sale should include only free software.

       * http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
       * http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines
       * http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd

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