My $0.02 ...
From: Chris Mauritz chrism@imntv.com
What's the point?
Awareness, partnerships, retail notoriety and most of all, a starting point for now. You have to start somewhere.
I checked out linux cd mall. They charge $12.50 for the CD set (or DVD) and CentOS makes ONE DOLLAR. Unless you envision tens of thousands of people buying CDs, it hardly seems like a worthwhile endeavor
I can envision that volume per year.
unless you're the CD distributor.
The CD distributor has the economies-of-scale in the fact that they already have a built infrastructure, web front, relationships, etc... that CentOS can tap. For CentOS to build the same infrastructure, it would cost far more per unit sold -- at least at, again, "a starting point for now."
Why not just find a way to make it easier for people to donate directly to the project instead of creating a needless middleman who is taking 92% of the money for each CD/DVD set sold?
Again, costs involved are relevative here.
Hell, for 92% of the profit,
No, that's 92% of the _revenue_, and _not_ the "profit" (sometimes I think some Linux advocates need a refresher course in basic microeconomics ;-). There are more costs involved than just CD duplication here.
I'd be more than happy to sit at home and burn DVDs all day.
And take orders? And handle shipping? And resolve issues with the site, customers, MC/VISA complaince on e-commerce, etc...? You can only do so much on your own before you need someone already doing it who can do it for much cheaper.
Where do I sign? 8-)
You sign next to "I will learn how the infrastructure and operational costs of e-commerce works before I speak again." ;->
More seriously now, does everyone have to question everything around here? You don't think the management hasn't thought of these things? Why does everyone seem to believe they know better than the management who not only volunteers their time, but puts in the hours to be productive, including all the "less fun stuff" in the logistics and attention to detail?
More pertinent, if you make posts like this, that are only include 5% of the actual details involved with doing such (and expose what can only be termed ignorance of the other 95%), how seriously do you think people can take your comments? I didn't. ;-ppp
-- Bryan J. Smith mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org
Bryan J. Smith b.j.smith@ieee.org wrote:
My $0.02 ...
You get what you pay for...
From: Chris Mauritz chrism@imntv.com
What's the point?
Awareness, partnerships, retail notoriety and most of all, a starting point for now. You have to start somewhere.
OK, I'll go along with that.
I checked out linux cd mall. They charge $12.50 for the CD set (or DVD) and CentOS makes ONE DOLLAR. Unless you envision tens of thousands of people buying CDs, it hardly seems like a worthwhile endeavor
I can envision that volume per year.
I guess we'll know pretty soon.
unless you're the CD distributor.
The CD distributor has the economies-of-scale in the fact that they already have a built infrastructure, web front, relationships, etc... that CentOS can tap. For CentOS to build the same infrastructure, it would cost far more per unit sold -- at least at, again, "a starting point for now."
If this was going to be a 100 unit/day or 1000 unit/day affair, I'd agree with you, but it simply isn't. One or two people with cheap CD and DVD duplicators, a paypal merchant account, and some time on their hands is probably still overkill for the volume of sales, especially when the product is available for free to anyone with a broadband connection and a burner.
Why not just find a way to make it easier for people to donate directly to the project instead of creating a needless middleman who is taking 92% of the money for each CD/DVD set sold?
Again, costs involved are relevative here.
No, not really. What this says to me is that the CentOS team is doing all the labour and some unecessary middleman is skimming the cream off the top. Wouldn't you like to see the CentOS project receive more of a share of the take for doing most of the work? I would.
Hell, for 92% of the profit,
No, that's 92% of the _revenue_, and _not_ the "profit" (sometimes I think some Linux advocates need a refresher course in basic microeconomics ;-). There are more costs involved than just CD duplication here.
Spare me the condescending remarks. You knew what I meant.
<snip>
More seriously now, does everyone have to question everything around here? You don't think the management hasn't thought of these things? Why does everyone seem to believe they know better than the management who not only volunteers their time, but puts in the hours to be productive, including all the "less fun stuff" in the logistics and attention to detail?
<snip>
Looking back at the volume in the "demonizing" thread, I think I don't have nearly the same amount of free time to spend jousting about something so trivial in this mailing list with you. You're obviously a very opinionated guy and often full of very sage advice to go along with the voluminous opinion. But I found this reply to be more than a bit obnoxious. The point of my message is that it seems like the CentOS guys are doing all the heavy lifting and companies that (at least to me) add very little value are taking the lion's share of the revenue for these CD/DVD sets.
Best regards,
Chris
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Bryan J. Smith <b.j.smith＠ieee.org> -
Chris Mauritz