Re: Windows support (was: Pissed Off)

>RK> Given this latest feedback, I think I should've gone with my old
>RK> idea of dropping the windows support altogether and simply
>RK> continue the player as a Linux only player.
>
>RK> Hey Ed, wanna drop Windows support?

To the Zinf team and all else concerned:

Though the technical issues can be demonstrated to overwhelmingly support the abandonment of the Win32 port of Zinf, there are compelling philosophical reasons to keep it alive and stable.

What fraction of computer users use Win32 systems?  The overwhelming majority.  Mac, Solaris, Linux, etc. all together add up to a very small fraction of users.  (This is referring to the desktop market, which is where the bulk of the demand for a multimedia player should be.)

What platform is most FS/OS software developed for?  Mostly GNU/Linux and other Unix variants.

If you support FS/OS software for any reason, whether it be philosophical (free as in free speech), economical (FS/OS is much cheaper to develop and produces a superior product), emotional (I hate/fear Bill Gates), or otherwise, it is IMPERATIVE that FS/OS be available to the mass of computer users who are using Win32 simply because they don't know any better.

I first heard of Linux several years ago.  I thought it was a good idea, but I certainly wasn't ready to abandon my computational comfort zone.  While cautiously learning more about the FS/OS movement I came across a release of The GIMP for Win32, which I promptly downloaded and installed.  I was impressed beyond expression.  Anyone familiar with The GIMP knows that it is fabulous and powerful software, comparable to Adobe Photoshop, and licensed freely under the GNU GPL.  After my experience with The GIMP, I made the switch to Linux as my primary OS.  (I must confess that I still use Win95 on my home computer, simply because multitrack recording on Linux is still quite immature.  But on my Win95 machine I use The Gimp, Mozilla, Zinf, OpenOffice, and as many FS/OS utilities as I can find.  I use Linux at work.)

For FS/OS to thrive (and perhaps even to survive, if you've read about MS Palladium and the TCPA), we need more and more users to make the switch from their proprietary status quo.  The best way to do that is to compete in the same playing field - the Win32 system.  When Win32 users are converted to the benefits of FS/OS, they will support it more and more.  People are far more likely to download a free program and try it on their Win32 computer than they are to blow away their system and install Linux.  Consequetly, we need FS/OS products that run on Win32.

I install FS/OS software on computers owned by my family members.  My brother is a computer know-not-much, but he loves Zinf.  My Dad just loves tabbed browsing in Mozilla.  They're not going to move to Linux anytime soon, but at least they are becoming familiar with the benefits of FS/OS and will do what they can to support it.

I know that Zinf is a small project in comparison to The GIMP and Mozilla, and that resources may not allow you to continue development for Win32, but please consider this philosophical arguement in your decision making.

From one Win32 user that LOVES Zinf,

Milo


____________________________________________________________
Tired of all the SPAM in your inbox? Switch to LYCOS MAIL PLUS
http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus


-------------------------------------------------------
This sf.net email is sponsored by:ThinkGeek
Welcome to geek heaven.
http://thinkgeek.com/sf