I basically think we keep going back to the idea of catering to the
newest of users without bothering to explain as much as possible why
Fedora does it this way, instead of looking to and asking the users to
realize that the way they've thought about computers and the software
they use isn't as simple and easy as it really is, and thus ask them to
learn, do some research, and perhaps change the way they think.
On a lot of the earlier arguements, which I have been reading through.
Fedora out-of-the-box provides NOTHING but FREE AND OPEN AND LEGAL
software. It stays like that until it hits the DVD/CD drive of the
user. After that, it's up to the user to install what codecs,
libraries, software, etc they want. There are people out there who do
their best to encourage sticking to just the FOSS stuff for that, but
there are ways out there to get them, and people who will give some bit
of help. After that, it's up to each user to actually go through with
it. If people want nothing but easy 1-click installation for all the
proprietary formats they want, then maybe Fedora isn't for them.
Jonathan Roberts wrote:
We fix the problem by
standing here and reminding people that Europe is not immune to this
threat. It's real damn easy to pretend the problem is just a US
issue...its not. Its a looming legal issue everywhere. We don't win
long term by ignoring it. We'll have this same discussion every
single release cycle.. and I'm okay with that. Patents are the biggest
problem facing the open source ecosystem, and I'd rather have Fedora
stand here and be a beacon for rational, passionate, discussion on the
issue, than to just side step the issue for the sake of collecting a
few more users in our userbase.
I do not need to beat another linux distribution in terms of users for
Fedora to achieve is core goals of fostering open innovation.
I need 'enough' users... i need 'enough' upstream developers.. i need
'enough' maintainers.. I need 'enough' triagers... I need 'enough'
artists... I need 'enough writers...I need 'enough' translators....
and give them 'enough' open infrastructure by which to communicate as
partners in the process of open innovation.
What I don't need is proprietary software.
I don't need to be greedy for Fedora to reach its prime objectives. I
am perfectly okay with other distribution existing and being popular.
The future of ALL linux distributions runs through what is happening
as part of Fedora...and I'm perfectly happy with that.
OK, how about we try and turn this thread into some positive energy!?
What's been said, that Fedora is here to take a stand and to help try
and change the legal issues that cause problems for those of us who
want to be creative and share with each other, is very true. I believe
that the majority of Fedora's contributing community are here and
taking part because they support this view. Jef's also said that this
conversation comes up during every release cycle - and even I've been
around long enough to see that this is true - so we must be doing
something wrong, somewhere, in communicating this part of our mission
to the outside world and newer members of our community.
The questions I now have are:
* Where are we going wrong currently?
* How can we make changes to improve this?
The best selling point, imho, for free software is the freedom's that
it affords us. Likewise, Fedora's strongest selling point is the stand
it takes to help defend and make these freedoms available to anybody
who wants them. So how can we promote this better? I might reply to my
own thread in a while with my thoughts on this!
Best wishes,
Jon
--
~Michael
http://ridleytx.structed.net (for now)
http://michaelbox.net (eventually)
|
--
Fedora-marketing-list mailing list
Fedora-marketing-list@xxxxxxxxxx
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-marketing-list
