Re: [Off Topic] Words to Avoid "Vendor" [was Re: Questions to answer]

[Behdad Esfahbod <behdad cs toronto edu>]

On Sun, 27 Nov 2005, Davyd Madeley wrote:

> On Sun, Nov 27, 2005 at 06:48:31PM -0700, Andreas J. Guelzow wrote:
>
> > > Businesses require more than an email client and a web browser, they
> > > require the highly vertical applications that enable them to carry
> > > out their business. These may be as simple as inventory control or
> > > as complex as an Australian law enabled, multi-client tax ledger.
> > >
> > > In the forseeable future, open-source developers are not going to
> > > write these applications, because they do not have the expertise or
> > > resources to develop applications of this magnitude. Thus, we need
> > > to encourage traditional vendors onto our platform.

So you are saying that in fact the "vendor" word has been used
with the purpose of directing vendors only.  Others have been
saying otherwise.

> > Not at all! We need to encourage traditional vendors to
> > become open-source developers.

>
> This is step 2. This comes right after vendors have learnt about the
> Freedom and started offering their product on the platform.
>
> First we must walk, gain market share, become relevant and be
> validated. Then we establish a new world order.

Not necessarily.  There's no reason why a vendor developing tax
software cannot release their software as Free Software.  They
still can sell their software, the same way Red Hat can sell its
software.  And they have the benefit of having hundreds pairs of
eyes reviewing their software for them.  Nothing really
different here.

> --d

--behdad
http://behdad.org/

"Commandment Three says Do Not Kill, Amendment Two says Blood Will Spill"
	-- Dan Bern, "New American Language"