From: sandy@godzilla.quotron.com (Sanford Zelkovitz)
Subject: Re: DELL SVR4 - separate /usr and /var filesystem?
Keywords: dell svr4 filesystem
Organization: Quotron Systems, Inc.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 13:53:50 GMT

In article <1992Sep13.170641.20068@hal.com> lang@monolith.hal.com (Tom Lang) writes:
>In article <1992Sep11.154634.19445@godzilla.quotron.com> sandy@godzilla.quotron.com (Sanford Zelkovitz) writes:
>>In article <BuEvwy.2rt@gator.rn.com> larry@gator.rn.com (Larry Snyder) writes:
>>>peter@ferranti.com (peter da silva) writes:
>>>
>>>>> DELL includes the MERGE along with their product (i.e. it is a "nuts and
>>>>> bolts complete" release).  
>>>
>>>
>>>At least you have a choice.
>>>
>>But Larry, if you don't want Merge, you paid for it!
>>
>This discussion is ignoring some important details.
>
>I formerly was manager of the Unix group at Dell, and I was the one who
>decided it was a good idea to bundle stuff like Merge.
>
>When you bundle optional software with the base system, you guarantee a much
>higher volume of sales for that option than if it were sold separately. Software
>vendors recognize this, and will settle for a *much* lower per copy royalty
>for stuff that gets bundled with the base.
>
>Because of this, several options could be included (Merge, X.desktop, Motif)
>in Dell Unix without bloating the list price.
>
>The goal for Dell Unix was to create a "complete" package that would sell for
>at or below what others were asking for just the base system. This was
>achieved. (Since then Dell has raised prices a bit, and other low price
>packages have become available).
>
>So, yeah, some people pay for some stuff maybe they don't want, but:
>- if the overall price is competitive with a "stripped" product, it's still
>	a good deal
>- the tradeoff we made was that a larger percentage of customers would be
>	pleased to get "useful" options included for much less than buying
>	them separately.
>--

Tom.... Your position is well put except for one important factor:

I still haven't seen an "honest" price comparison between the different
Unix 5.4 releases. Larry, still, is advertising the Dell Unix as $495.00
which is completely misleading as stated. You know as well as I that that
price is only when you "bundle" the software with the hardware and also that
version is only activated for two users. 

If you have followed the thread, no one has claimed that Dell Unix was
inferior; however, many unfair statements have been made about its
"superior" quality. I, for one, am running ESIX 5.4.04 and am quite happy
with its performance. I have looked at the different Unix venders advertised
prices along with their "bundled" software, and, honestly, ESIX is still,
in my opinion the best value for the dollar. I am quite sure that when you
were involved with Dell, your original marketing strategy was to come up
with a product that was price competitive; however, the other Unix software
houses were also changing their strategies. As you stated above, Dell had to
raise their prices while the other houses lowered theirs.

What has been stated about receiving a PD tape from Dell as a "bonus" when 
their product is purchased is definately true; however, as you and I both
know, the customer is paying for it!

What I an many other "Netters" would like to see is an honest comaprison
made of the different products; both price wise and performance wise.

Sandy




-- 
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