Mandrake Linux Files For Bankruptcy

ESALADUANE · #1 01-16-2003, 11:40 PM

This is 2 days old but I just saw it:

http://rss.com.com/2100-1001-980819....feed&subj=news

beeboy · #2 01-17-2003, 08:33 AM

This will hurt the linux community big-time. Mandrake has been #1 in bringing linux to home users.

ESALADUANE · #3 01-17-2003, 08:42 AM

You have to question any business model that is based on a "free" and "open source" main product. Didn't someone at these companies ask the most basic questions, "Where is the money going to come from?", "Can we bring in more money than we spend?"

ESALADUANE · #4 01-19-2003, 12:47 PM

Here's some expanded analysis of Mandrake's situation:

http://ben.reser.org/rants/

beeboy · #5 01-19-2003, 01:08 PM

Good reading. I wet my feet with Mandrake and will miss it if it goes under. But I honestly believe something better will arise from the ashes. The linux community is growing. And with it grows support. Its like a avalanche - darned hard to stop. Sure, its not a business like Microsoft. It was never intended to be. It was given to the world freely and look where its gone. If I were Microsoft, I would be shaken in my boots. Who's going to buy Windows once Linux is up to speed?

ESALADUANE · #6 01-19-2003, 02:17 PM

I'm not sure I know what bringing "Linux up to speed" means. For people who aren't developers or interested in code, the main attractions of Mandrake/Linux are that the product is cheap/free and it's "not Microsoft". Being cheap/free reduces badly needed revenue (Mandrake got money by bringing in investors who now want their money back) and being "not Microsoft" is not a coherent goal with any focus or direction.

Money, focus/direction and knowledgeable people who care about their product are fundamentally necessary for them to succeed. They have knowledgeable people who care about their product, but don't have the other two.

beeboy · #7 01-19-2003, 02:45 PM

"up to speed". Windows is a good product, period. Linux is still not for the first time user and is not as user- friendly to the experienced. But it is getting closer.
Being "not microsoft" and "cheap" is not enough, I agree. The product still has to compete(and linux does in many ways). Lets face it - how good is word of mouth compared to millions sunk into advertising and publicity.
I was in a small shop the other day and to my surprise they were selling a system pre-loaded with Mandrake 9. I asked them if many were selling. The answer was no.
One year ago, I would enter a shop or store and enquire about linux and they would look at me like I had two heads. Thats some progress.

ESALADUANE · #8 01-19-2003, 03:14 PM

Your right. I've have also noticed that Linux has a lot more respect now than ever before.

Just when that respect might have been translated into new users, the publicity around Lindows and Mandrake will probably scare off people who might otherwise have tried it.

Although, maybe not, we've only been focusing on the bad news, Linux has also had good news. We've also only been talking about individual desktop users. There are corporations and even governments that seriously want to get away from any dependence on Microsoft.

You mentioned earlier that Microsoft should be "shaking in their boots". They've certainly changed the tone of their public statements about open-source.

Even though I don't use Linux, I'm finding this a facinating subject to follow.