Comment 729 for bug 1

The most obvious advantage of open source software is that we can make
use of all sorts of community networks and products and build on them
for free. Without having to jump through any proprietary hoops. We can
build on open standards and the experience of millions, which is all
open and freely available.

Therefore we *should* be able to do just about anything better than
Microsoft can when they're just building on their own faulty software,
including create a kick-ass hardware compatibility list Given the same
amount of time and man-power.

Unfortunately that last point has always been the problem hasn't it?
Microsoft presumably has thousands of developers to work on any
project it wants, 7.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. We're never going to
have that.

I'm not sure what my point is. Maybe that we need to build up our
developer base? We could shift advertising in that direction - show
people how easy it is to develop for Ubuntu, to get involved with the
community - and somehow make it easier to do so? I think there are
loads of people out there who are perfectly willing to subscribe to
*nix boards, comment on mailing lists like this, and bitch about
Microsoft, but never even considered that they could help in a more
real way. Either because they thought it was so elite as to be beyond
them, or because they think it would take up too much time.

I'm one of those people myself.

Robin.

2008/7/11 houstonbofh <email address hidden>:
> *Patch Submission*
>
> One of the biggest advantages Microsoft has had is the installed user
> base. People had XP, liked XP and understood XP. It is hard to compete
> with that, and now that Microsoft is having to compete with XP it is
> having major issues. But remember that Microsoft is a marketing company
> first, so we should learn from them.
>
> In an article on The Register
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/08/vista_lies_fightback/ there was
> a reference to an HCL for Vista.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/ It is easy to navigate
> and very well done. But why can't we do it better? With a Canonical
> sponsored site, tied into Launchpad log ins, hardware can be added by
> many people along with work-arounds for bad hardware. Software can also
> be listed with native ports, FOSS replacements or WINE compatibility.
>
> Best yet, with the FOSS community contributing, is will be more complete
> than Microsoft could ever do, and work to shame some hardware
> manufactures.
>
> --
> Microsoft has a majority market share
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in Computer Science Ubuntu: Confirmed
> Status in Ichthux - Linux for Christians: Confirmed
> Status in JAK LINUX: Confirmed
> Status in The OpenOffice.org Suite: Confirmed
> Status in Launchpad Translations: Invalid
> Status in Tabuntu: Confirmed
> Status in Ubuntu: Confirmed
> Status in "bum" source package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in "casper" source package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in "djplay" source package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in "firefox" source package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in "ubuntu-express" source package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in The Breezy Badger: Invalid
> Status in The Dapper Drake: Invalid
> Status in Baltix GNU/Linux: Confirmed
> Status in "linux" source package in Debian: Confirmed
> Status in Tilix Linux: New
>
> Bug description:
> Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC marketplace.
> This is a bug, which Ubuntu is designed to fix.
>
> Non-free software is holding back innovation in the IT industry, restricting access to IT to a small part of the world's population and limiting the ability of software developers to reach their full potential, globally. This bug is widely evident in the PC industry.
>
> Steps to repeat:
>
> 1. Visit a local PC store.
>
> What happens:
> 2. Observe that a majority of PCs for sale have non-free software pre-installed.
> 3. Observe very few PCs with Ubuntu and free software pre-installed.
>
> What should happen:
> 1. A majority of the PCs for sale should include only free software like Ubuntu.
> 2. Ubuntu should be marketed in a way such that its amazing features and benefits would be apparent and known by all.
> 3. The system shall become more and more user friendly as time passes.
>