[3264] in linux-net channel archive
Re: ET support for LINUX
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dennis)
Mon Jun 17 14:05:37 1996
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 12:36:00 -0400
To: "Michael H. Warfield" <mhw@wittsend.com>
From: dennis@etinc.com (Dennis)
Cc: linux-net@vger.rutgers.edu
>Alan Cox enscribed thusly:
>
>> > Its a shitty business. Any commercial vendor who focuses on the free market
>> > with a hardware only product is a loser company. Look at how much SDL has
>> > had to drop their prices in the last year or two to get people to buy their
>> > boards?
>
>> Isn't competition a wonderful thing. BTW I'm dying to see what SDL have
>> to say about you calling them "a loser company" on a public discussion list.
I didnt...this is bad context. They have drivers that they provide with
Linux. My point was that
the difference between our products is software. Since both of our products are
equally capable of easily handling dual T1s, software is the only
competitive difference.
If there were linux drivers with bare board drivers you'd buy the least
expensive,
which isnt acceptable to either of us, Im sure.
>
> Ah - give him a break. He's belly aching because there are more
>and more companies like mine that are openly refusing to do business with
>companies which don't support Linux when their competators do. So while
>he complains it's a shitty business, he's losing market share to his
>competators. Since he does not WANT to support Linux, this is his only
>recourse - to slam Linux and try and win back some wavering souls.
We sell boards faster than we can build them....so market share is not as issue.
If we wanted market share we'd lower our prices.....Linux market share is not
important in the big picture.
You guys dont get that a business has to decide who they want to service, and
we service a niche, of which many linux isps are a part. We have no interest in
servicing the experimenters. We've been offered 6 figures for source...but
it is NOT
available. Dont you get it. We dont sell source. Period. If you require
source then
GO ELSEWHERE. If you want a good commercial driver, then we're here.
>
> I think it's apparent that since he's on these lists, he's hearing
>a significant level of interest. Reading his original articles, it sounds
>a lot like he's in that class of companies who are now dropping into a
>severe defensive posture. Let him whine. It lets us know that Linux
>really is main stream and that the chumps who aren't supporting it are
>really beginning to hurt. :-)
Profits are up 60% this year. We're really hurting.
> I told Pure Software that we couldn't go with them because they
>didn't support all of our developement platforms. When I told them that
>the lack of Linux support was the determining factor - the reaction was
>"not another one". I've been told that Linux support may be under review.
>In the mean time - we find another vendor... And the beat goes on...
>
> BTW... Just so everyone knows that I practice what I preach -
>yes we are producing (and using) commercial products on Linux at where I
>work. On top of that - I routinely configure and install firewalls based
>on Linux. Our corporate firewall is a Linux system.
Why do you think that a commercial company gives a hoot about selling a
board to someone who calls himself the "Mad Wizard" :-)
I love it when some little weeny who might buy a couple of board tells us
he wont buy from us unless we meet his demands. We make more selling
to telcos in one month than we would if everyone on all the linux lists put
together bought a board from us. If you want a robust, supported product
then we're here...if you'd rather use any old product because the vendor
agrees to provide source, then thats your loss. Guys who care about
source more that what the product does for him is not the kind of customer
we want. If it makes you feel powerful, then good for you. But your
interpretation
of your influence is way of base and highly laughable.
Dennis
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