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From: jcargill@grilled.cs.wisc.edu (Jon Cargille)
Subject: 386bsd CD-ROM Survey --- Please read & respond
Message-ID: <1992Nov12.214828.9544@cs.wisc.edu>
Summary: Who would like to have cheap 386bsd cd-rom distributions available?
Sender: news@cs.wisc.edu (The News)
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison -- Computer Sciences Dept.
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 21:48:28 GMT
Lines: 183
I've been thinking for some months now that the 386bsd community would
benefit greatly from high-quality, *cheap* cd-rom distributions. I'm
thinking seriously of doing something about it, and would appreciate
it if you could help give me some input by answering the following
survey.
Please return completed surveys to me ('jcargill@cs.wisc.edu'), with
CD-ROM or CDROM in the "Subject:" line.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to participate. I'll summarize the
results in about a week, after I get back from Supercomputer '92.
Jon Cargille
---------------------------------------------------------------------
386bsd CD-ROM Survey
Disclaimer: The following survey is not *meant* to be a scientifically
well-formed survey. No flames from psychology-folks!
Please answer all questions by marking an 'X' in the appropriate blanks.
Return completed surveys to 'jcargill@cs.wisc.edu', with CD-ROM in the
"Subject:" line.
General information:
--------------------
Yes No
--- ---
[ ] [ ] I am currently a user of 386bsd.
[ ] [ ] I currently own a cd-rom drive.
[ ] I don't own a cd-rom drive now, but I would buy one if
cheap 386bsd distributions were available.
[ ] [ ] I am interested in cd-rom distributions of 386bsd.
[ ] [ ] I'm not interested in cd-rom 38bsd distributions right now, but:
[ ] Might be interested in the future.
[ ] Would definitely be interested in the future.
Thoughts on pricing:
-------------------
I've been thinking that it might be reasonable to charge a bit more
the first time someone buys a 38bsd cd-rom, but make distributions
very cheap for repeat customers. I was thinking of numbers like
$30-40 for first-timers, and $15 or less for upgrades. Obviously the
exact figures would depend on what volume we expect to see, but I hope
you get the idea. It would be great it enough people were interested
that we could get *lots* cheaper.
Please check all that apply:
[ ] I like the sound of this two-level pricing.
[ ] I don't like this idea. I probably wouldn't buy a
cd-rom distribution at all if I were going to be
charged more the first time than repeat buyers are
paying.
[ ] I'm not sure I like this pricing scheme, but I
could live with it.
[ ] I would be willing to pay $30-40 the first time,
as long as cheap update versions would be available.
[ ] I would be willing to pay $15 or so for updates to
the latest/greatest versions, as they are
released.
[ ] I would be willing to pay the above prices, but only
temporarily until higher-volume/cheaper prices can
be achieved.
[ ] These prices are ridiculously high! Are you nuts?
[ ] These prices are ridiculously low! Start shipping,
quick, before the Death Star ruins you!
Contribution to the Jolitz's:
-----------------------------
I think it would be nice to include a contribution to the Jolitz's in
this idea somewhere, as thanks for their past work, and to help them
continue the good work in the future.
Please check all that apply:
[ ] I think it would be great to include a Jolitz contribution
in the cd-rom price. Everyone should contribute!
[ ] I think it would be best to make it an optional, but
recommended portion of the cd-rom price.
[ ] It's OK to make it an option, but I don't think it should
be recommended, or pushed on people in any way.
[ ] I'd rather keep my contributions to the Jolitz's separate
from the cd-rom distribution.
Disk structure:
--------------
I think a cd-rom would be great for people with minimal hard drive
space. Therefore, I think exploded directory structures are a
necessity, so that people can build new kernels, build X, etc, while
leaving all the sources on the cd-rom.
Yes No
--- ---
[ ] [ ] I think an unpacked directory structure is a must.
[ ] [ ] I think an unpacked structure is nice, but I would really
like to see the packed distribution images included as well.
[ ] [ ] Packed distribution are ok, but I would rather see the
space used on other useful net-stuff.
User profile:
------------
Please check one:
[ ] I'm primarily interested in a cd-rom distribution as a means
of keeping an archival copy of 386bsd distributions around.
[ ] I'm most interested in freeing up hard disk space by
keeping rarely accessing things mounted via cd-rom.
[ ] I'm interested in both uses.
[ ] I'm interested for other reasons: ___________________________
Software to be included:
-----------------------
Check those you would like to see on a 386bsd cd-rom:
[ ] XFree86 sources/binaries
[ ] TeX
[ ] Lots of GNU software
[ ] RFCs
[ ] Random net goodies, like the net-hackers dictionary, etc.
[ ] ___________________________________________
[ ] ___________________________________________
[ ] ___________________________________________
[ ] ___________________________________________
Comments sections:
-----------------
Speak your mind!
[
]
Thanks a lot for your input! I think I would enjoy providing this
service for the 386bsd community, since I see it as potentially a real
boon. I'm thinking of doing it under the auspices of a not-for-profit
corporation, so that we wouldn't be taxed on the distribution charges.
Any profits realized would be used to make future distributions
cheaper and better. In any case, I would like to do this thing as
cheaply as possible, to help get 386bsd out to the masses.
Thanks!
--
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Jon Cargille jcargill@cs.wisc.edu
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