1. Release the documentation under the OPL (http://www.opencontent.org) with option B. This will allow the free distribution of the docs but only you can print them. This will not generate ALOT of revenue but there is some. Many programmers prefer dead tree docs.
2. Charge for "ANY" support. Use a call base for example, 35.00 per issue (may be a little low). Many people will use your product and be happy but there is always something you just can't quite get and need help with.
3. As another individual mentioned, offer customizations and charge by the hour. If the product is truly OpenSource any customizations that are made "out of" the actual development path can be used to enhance the product and you will get paid for it.
This would be incorrect. ASP computing, specifically with Citrix Metaframe has been growing consistently for years. No it is not like the whore of the industry (computers and networking for 65.00/hr) but for those of us who like to make a nice profit and save our customers a great deal of money over time, ASP/Citrix is the way to go.
I have found that the only office suite that can accurately import and export Word/Excel is WP2000.
The others can do it but they always have errors at some level. The only problem I have ever run into is Quattro Pro does not always get the fonts correct.
Applix, StarOffice, KOffice, AbiWord are all good products (o.k. maybe not StarOffice) but they can not compete in terms of "Compatibility".
It is unfortunate that we have "YET" to produce an OpenSource Office Suite that can compete with the likes of WP2000 and MS Office.
I like WP2000 ALOT, but the Linux version is pretty sad and unless you are running a 500MHZ with a lot of ram, pretty useless except for the simplest of processing.
Hello, I am in no way a M$ fan but it is important to remember that you do not OWN M$ software. You are licensed the software, a license in which they control. If they decide they don't want to let auctions happen they can. For example on the OEM License of Windows 95 it specifically states:
Software Transfer.
You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA only as part of a sale or transfer of the COMPUTER, provided you retain no copies, you transfer all of the SOFTWARE product (including all component parts, the media and printed materials, any upgrades, this EULA and, if applicable, the Certificate(s) of Authenticity), and the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade, any transfer must include all prioir versions of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
Therefore if DELL makes you have the OEM version of Windows then you can not sell it without the Computer you bought from DELL. So Linux.org's was not legitamate for example.
It sucks but it is one of the reasons that Microsoft may be 2 or 3 companies in 18 months. Be happy.
The moment you enter a public domain to excerise whatever right you deem fit you loose all privacy. E.G.; if you are using the Internet which is a public network you have no privacy. You have no right to privacy. Privacy is what belongs to you within items that you own. For example your clothes - I don't need to know what color underwear you have or your home in general. It is not my business what you are doing with that pickle behind the closed door of your home.
I ran BSDI several times as Internet servers and always opted to reinstall in favor of Linux and FreeBSD. The user restrictions alone were enough to drive me nuts.
Not to mention the inherent wierdness of the way the ran the system.
I agree 100%! Documentation is the one 3 legged horse in OpenSource. Most people don't like to do it, but it is the most sorely needed. <BR><BR> This is one of the reasons I help start <a href=http://www.OpenDocs.org/>OpenDocs.</a> <BR><BR>
OpenBooks gives up to 40%
on
Giving Back
·
· Score: 1
The OpenDocs, OpenBooks project is giving up to 40% of its gross profits to the communities at large for each book they publish.
The first book Developing Linux Applications: KDE Edition donates to the KDevelop project. The second book, Administrating Linux: The Basics has yet to be decided and is going to be put to a vote.
I think that what we are all missing here is the people who are net geeks with family. Many of the people being discussed who are logging in to connect do not have wives/husbands or children. Obviously there are some exceptions but I think you will find that to be true.
I myself find myself constantly battling between taking care of LinuxPorts.Com. The OpenBook project and being the webmaster of the LDP.
Beyond that, I still have to find time to make a living and provide for a family. Not just financially but emotionally.
Slashdot Mirror
I believe sombody already tried this. It was a system call edns and it had TLDs such as .web.
There is a couple of things I could see.
1. Release the documentation under the OPL (http://www.opencontent.org) with option B. This will allow the free distribution of the docs but only you can print them. This will not generate ALOT of revenue but there is some. Many programmers prefer dead tree docs.
2. Charge for "ANY" support. Use a call base for example, 35.00 per issue (may be a little low). Many people will use your product and be happy but there is always something you just can't quite get and need help with.
3. As another individual mentioned, offer customizations and charge by the hour. If the product is truly OpenSource any customizations that are made "out of" the actual development path can be used to enhance the product and you will get paid for it.
Joshua Drake
This would be incorrect. ASP computing, specifically with Citrix Metaframe has been
growing consistently for years. No it is not like
the whore of the industry (computers and networking for 65.00/hr) but for those of us who
like to make a nice profit and save our customers
a great deal of money over time, ASP/Citrix is the way to go.
Hello,
I have found that the only office suite that can
accurately import and export Word/Excel is WP2000.
The others can do it but they always have errors at some level. The only problem I have ever run into is Quattro Pro does not always get the fonts correct.
Applix, StarOffice, KOffice, AbiWord are all good products (o.k. maybe not StarOffice) but they can not compete in terms of "Compatibility".
It is unfortunate that we have "YET" to produce an OpenSource Office Suite that can compete with the likes of WP2000 and MS Office.
I like WP2000 ALOT, but the Linux version is pretty sad and unless you are running a 500MHZ with a lot of ram, pretty useless except for the
simplest of processing.
I digress
Hello, I am in no way a M$ fan but it is important to remember that you do not OWN M$ software. You are licensed the software, a license in which they control. If they decide they don't want to let auctions happen they can. For example on the OEM License of Windows 95 it specifically states:
Software Transfer.
You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA only as part of a sale or transfer of the COMPUTER, provided you retain no copies, you transfer all of the SOFTWARE product (including all component parts, the media and printed materials, any upgrades, this EULA and, if applicable, the Certificate(s) of Authenticity), and the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade, any transfer must include all prioir versions of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
Therefore if DELL makes you have the OEM version of Windows then you can not sell it without the Computer you bought from DELL. So Linux.org's was not legitamate for example.
It sucks but it is one of the reasons that Microsoft may be 2 or 3 companies in 18 months. Be happy.
The moment you enter a public domain to excerise whatever right you deem fit you loose all privacy.
E.G.; if you are using the Internet which is a public network you have no privacy. You have no right to privacy. Privacy is what belongs to you within items that you own. For example your clothes - I don't need to know what color underwear you have or your home in general. It is not my business what you are doing with that pickle behind the closed door of your home.
Since when is KDE not opensource? Hell KDE is even GPL.
Hello, This is a load of crap, so here you guys go. If you want a tar and gzipped version of the files and essay you can get it here.
I ran BSDI several times as Internet servers and always opted to reinstall in favor of Linux and FreeBSD. The user restrictions alone were enough to drive me nuts.
Not to mention the inherent wierdness of the way the ran the system.
I agree 100%! Documentation is the one 3 legged horse in OpenSource. Most people don't like to do it, but it is the most sorely needed.
<BR><BR>
This is one of the reasons I help start <a href=http://www.OpenDocs.org/>OpenDocs.</a>
<BR><BR>
The OpenDocs, OpenBooks project is giving up to 40% of its gross profits to the communities at large for each book they publish.
The first book Developing Linux Applications: KDE Edition donates to the KDevelop project. The second book, Administrating Linux: The Basics has yet to be decided and is going to be put to a vote.
There is a FAQ about it here.
I myself find myself constantly battling between taking care of LinuxPorts.Com. The OpenBook project and being the webmaster of the LDP.
Beyond that, I still have to find time to make a living and provide for a family. Not just financially but emotionally.