Mandrake Asks for Support

Many people wrote in with this news: "Mandrake Linux today reports having a short-term money crunch. They call for users to become members to help float them through the short-term viability issue. Membership dues are the preferred method over budget/project cuts."

I've got an idea

[Anonymous Coward]

Just stop paying your employees for about a year. I heard it worked for Loki... oh wait.

They should generate revenue ...

[long_john_stewart_mi]

... with in-your-face-advertising. Something like the new ads on Slashdot. I was almost killed by an IBM banner replying to this post. At least it got my attention... =)

Short Term

[Henry V .009]

Mandrake is great and all (I use it), but how short term is this money crunch going to be?

Could it be that they don't have any viable business strategy, and too much competition?

I love linux and open source dearly, but when it comes to my money, I am cold and calculating. I'll send a check to Microsoft because they force me to. That's a business transaction. I'll use Mandrake's products that they give away for free, that's another business transaction (dumb on their part).

But when they start asking for handouts, that's when I ask "Why don't you guys get real jobs?" I like your products and all, but I am not grateful, any more than I am grateful for any consumer product. I am not grateful for my TV set or my DVD player. Some engineer probably enjoyed designing them. Designing the specs may have even been like masturbating for him. I don't care. I bought a product. If a company was running itself into the ground giving me those things for nothing or next to nothing, I still wouldn't be grateful. I'd be happy, but my feelings toward the company would be those of pity.

I mean it, start a viable company that actually benefits the capitalist system. Pay some taxes and fund a war or two in the Middle East, why don't you?

Re:hmm..

[gmhowell]

I always buy my Debian distros also. To support the company. Oh. Waitaminute...

Re:Raise your hands if you got trapped in vi

[smaug195]

pathetically, I still dont know how to quit vi, hence I use pico :).

Re:They should generate revenue ...

[pacc]

I didn't see any fineprint on the way in,
should I sue IBM or slashdot.

The Linux Torvalds Telethon invading our Televisio

[qurob]

I can just see Linux torvalds and the OPEN SOURCE TELETHON!

Pledge $400 and recieve this great Linux Penguin Doll!

Pledge $1,000 and get this great boxed set of RedHat 7.2!

Re:They should generate revenue ...

[Sabalon]

Sue them both, and Microsoft while you're at it - it's in vogue now :)

Re:The Linux Torvalds Telethon invading our Televi

[sharkey]

Homer: Hello, I'd like to pledge $10,000 to get them to shut up.

Oh, why did I sign up for InstaTrace?