LinuxPlanet: Is the Importance of Commercial Linux Distributions Waning?
Jun 14, 2005, 01:00 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Maria Winslow)
" I have long held that only a commercial Linux distribution
with a strong total product offering (product, support, training,
reseller channel, etc.) could make the transition to the mainstream
market. I'm not alone in this, of course--it's what led to Red
Hat's success at their IPO. Investors clearly believed that a
strong company would generate value in the Linux space. And
commercial Linux certainly has generated that value.
"The conventional wisdom goes something like this: in the early
days of a technology market, users are willing to tinker to get
what they want. These 'early adoptors' don't expect a complete and
perfect product. They want cutting edge technology, and are always
on the lookout for ways to apply it to their scenario in order to
be a hero and gain a competitive edge. They have the inclination
and imagination to project how the new technology will fit into the
mainstream IT landscape down the road. Early adoptors are excellent
evangelists for new technology, and getting them on your side at
the beginning of a movement like Linux can really make a
difference. Developing loyal user communities was the most
important thing the distributions, both commercial and
non-commercial, could do in the early stages of the Linux
wave..."
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