[ale] Fedora and RHN?

[Michael D. Hirsch]

On Friday 07 November 2003 09:30 am, Chris Ricker wrote:
> On Thu, 6 Nov 2003, Michael D. Hirsch wrote:
> > I think that RH has shot itself in the foot.  The core of RH's business
> > came from people that had been using RH at home or on the side because
> > they could download it for free.  These people end up using it at work
> > and then convincing mgmt to pay RH for it.  It was the standard drug
> > dealer marketing campaign--give out free sample then change once your
> > customers are hooked.
>
> No. The core of RH's business is companies who buy RH because it's what
> ISVs support. No offense, but you really don't make a dent one way or the
> other in RH's bottom line....

And why do those ISVs support RH?  Because it is the most popular 
distribution.  And that is because all the hobbiests adopted it.

The question is whether that dynamic still drives the market, or have we 
passed the point that the hobbiest has any influence.  I think the market is 
young enough that there is still an influence.  A second order influence now, 
but still a powerful one over the long term.

I will certainly admit that I have no hard data to back this up--just 
anecdotal and personal evidence.

Michael