First of all, - thank you for stating precisely what the product/support life
of the various releases is. It helps us to decide what to get involved with.
=========================================================

On Monday 03 February 2003 11:08 pm, Vincent Danen wrote:
---------------------------<snip>------------------------------------
> Remember, Microsoft has a *much* larger cash reserve than MandrakeSoft.
> They net more each year than we do. They have the resources to support
> legacy OS'. We don't. There is a big difference.
>

It may also be very worth mentioning why we have chosen Mandrake products to
use and support, rather than Micro$oft.

I know I have some serious issues with the perceived greed and lack of ethics
displayed by M$.

Does anyone really *want* to do business with a company that made its money by
skirting or breaking the law?

Sure as heck, - not me!

One thing I like about Mandrake, - is that they are *NOT* Micro$oft!

And then there is the issue of reliability. Linux is known to be superior, -
and Mandrake has the nicest desktop of any. IMO

Give me Mandrake, - thankyou. :-)

---------------------------<snip>------------------------------------
> How much is it worth it to you to have 8.2 maintained for longer than
> 18months? (7.2 is a non-issue... I will fight tooth and nail to *not*
> support it any longer than I have to.) You say you'll put your money
> where your mouth is, so much how are we talking here? What numbers are
> you writing on your cheque to MandrakeSoft to preserve the use of
> updates for 8.2? I'd like to know how much you consider this of worth
> to you, and what monetary figure you'd put on it.

You raise a very valid point here. As an individual, and an "end user", I
would have no problems at all, with contributing about $20 or $30 USD per
year, for extended support, - not specifically to 8.2, - but to that and
later stable products.

What do you think of the idea of posing such a question on one of your web
pages, (open to all, not just "club"), asking for a "vote" as to how much we
would spend, - eg $20, $30 etc. Keep in mind, I am looking for volume, not
high price. There are many students, as well as those on fixed or low
income, whether pension, or disability etc... Don't forget the countries
with a low valued currency. e.g. Canada, or Australia, etc.

You could perhaps ask that people commit, in some way, to that. For instance,
at $20 USD, I would commit *now* to paying for one year more of support for
8.2 and higher. This way, if, and only if, you get enough commitment, you
could agree to see that it happens. If not enough users commit, - then it
does not need to happen. Then certainly no one can complain about support
being dropped.
(IMHO)

Currently, the 3 of us, in our house, all use 9.0. We will continue to do so,
until 9.1 is 6 months old, or more. I like the idea of using a distro for
about 2 years, before upgrading.

Anybody else willing to commit?

(Vincent & company: can you give me an address, or phone number I can
call/write to, in North America, to make such a donation, - expressedly for
support?) I will give you $20 USD, right here and now, if you can.

---------------------------<snip>------------------------------------
> Now, as I mentioned previously, if there are ten companies ready to put
> $5000 into supporting a single distribution for an additional 12months, I'm
> there. Or twenty doing $2500 for a year. If you find them, please
> direct them to me personally... I will ensure that those funds do not
> get put into Club as a Club subscription, and will ensure they are used
> to pay for another individual... consider them donations earmarked
> specifically, and only, for security updates. Do that (in essence,
> give me the money to hire another body fulltime to do this), and you'll
> have 8.2 for another year... guaranteed.

So, can we assume, that $50,000 USD is the amount you need? Or maybe you
should set the price, and make it up to us, the users, to meet the price, via
voting, and then paying.

What do you think? :o)

=======================================

Another idea, - please also include in that (questionnaire, on the page), the
question of whether people would like that support to include a "Maintenance
Release" ISO, for the supported product, each "version" to be released 6
months, or 1 year from the previous release. If we want it, let the votes
and money say so. :o)

If not enough want it, - I for one, will be trying to learn how to create my
own copy. I hope that can be avoided, - as I am too old for that. (Anyone
remember the Z-80?) :o)

---------------------------<snip>------------------------------------
> Sorry if I sound a little short, but when you work as many hours as I
> do and realize that most people have no clue as to how much work that
> is or how much it entails, and still want you to continue to do it for
> crumbs, you'll understand where I (personally) am coming from.

It is understandable, you would like to have a life :o)
Especially now, in these difficult times. We would have to be pretty
heartless to not see that. All of you work hard, - and I for one, really
appreciate that, and want you and all the other team members to know that.

Cheers,

Jorgen
ve5jorrac.ca

ps, to Vincent - Firewalls are still my biggest passion.... :o)
(next to sex, of course) ;o>

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