[Mageia-dev] Identifying Target Markets

Thu Sep 30 21:42:55 CEST 2010

> > "A distribution for Newbie" is good, but I think what Graham said is
+> > better.
+> 
+> Well,
+> saying "a distribution for newbies" is not as good as it sound.
+> 
+> If you market the distribution so people think "if you are a newbie,
+> use
+> this distro", people will think "he use this distribution so he is a
+> newbie". This will drive knowledgeable peoples away to others
+> distribution, because they will feel they will learn more by using
+> another distro ( which is wrong ) and because others peoples will
+> appear
+> as more knowledgeable when they use a distro that is not aimed at
+> newbies.
+> 
+> In turn, this mean a diminution of the global expertise in the
+> community. Less expert users to answer to support, less experts users
+> to
+> report bug, fix packages, create softwares or contribute, and to
+> basically teach to new users how to be good community member resulting
+> in less quality, and a less sustainable community.
+> 
+> Apple does it correctly. They never say "we target newbie users".
+> See http://www.apple.com//why-mac/
+> "better computer" "most advanced os" "award winning support" "latest
+> technology" "software you love".
+> 
+> Everything resolve around how they are good, not how beginner you can
+> be.
+> 
+> Or see http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/
+> they say "it is easy", but they never say "it is easy and can be used
+> by
+> a newbie". They say "it is easy and you will learn how to use it fast",
+> which is more positive.
+> 
+> And so I think we should also try to avoid this pitfall, right from the
+> start, if we want to have a thriving sustainable community.
+> 
+> --
+> Michael Scherer
+
+Oh my god you're damn right on this one Michael.
+
+I agree and +1000 on this one. 
+
+You see how perception is really important and we must send the right message
+to future and potential contributors because every new user is a potential
+contributor. Let's not forget that fact.
+
+
+Patrick Dubeau (alias DaaX) - Webmaster MLO
+http://www.mandrivalinux-online.org 
+
+
+
+