[Linux-aus] Firefox vs IceWeasel

[Paul Antoine]

<tongue in cheek>

One could make the following points:

	No "ordinary user" of the type that currently uses Firefox on
	Windows or might be convinced to switch to Linux by your average
	Ubuntu zealot would ever hear or even care about Debian and
	therefore IceWeasel :-P

	Debian has always attracted the most rabid of Linux/FOSS
	developers so it's no surprise they neither understand nor
	care about branding :-P

</tongue in cheek removed... gently>

P.

Paul TBBle Hampson wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 23, 2006 at 02:49:59PM +0930, David Lloyd wrote:
> 
>> Karl,
> 
>>> They don't trust FOSS (the F is Free, incase you forgot) if they cant handle a name change to ensure the freedom to distribute the product (or a clone). Said ordinary user is at 
>>> most into OSS. And TBH, i don't think said "ordinary user" exists.
> 
>> People can be placed into meaningful groups using valid statistical means and statements about those groups may be made. Arguing that this is invalid and that "ordinary users" 
>> don't exist is rather much a red herring.
> 
>>> How does it jeopardise it (How is it a debarcle?)? its a browser for crying out loud. 
> 
>> Brand names are important. They're important because large sections of people recognise a brand name and make assumptions about that brand. For example, when I see a new type of 
>> "Coke", one of my expectations is that it tastes more like "Coca Cola" or a "Cola" drink than unleaded petrol.
> 
> You must be disappointed every time you accidentally drink Diet Coke...
> 
> On the other hand, you're very right about brand names. Coca Cola discovered
> this the hard way with their Coke 2 (Diet-Coke taste, real sugar instead of
> nutrasweet) although it should be pointed out that it still sells quite well
> (as "New Coke") to people (like me) who prefer the taste of Diet Coke to Coke.
> 
> (I may have confused the names here... The Internet could confirm this if
> you're so inclined.)
> 
> On the other hand, that's the opposite issue here. In fact, that's exactly the
> situation Mozilla are trying to avoid. (And rightly so, IMHO)
> 
> I think this issue is of more concern for Debian advocates than FOSS advocates.
> After all, Firefox will still be available for download from the Firefox website,
> I presume. The same people who don't know any better will probably only hear
> about Ice Weasel around the water cooler, and forget it as soon as they get back
> to their desk and see their reassuring little "burning fox on blue circle" logo.
> 
> The issue will be for those who're trying to win desktop mindspace using a Debian
> platform. And again, they'll be able to download and install the official Firefox
> if that's what it takes to win the hearts and minds, much more legally than
> grabbing IE7 and hooking it up via Wine for users. [1]
> 
> [1] I could be wrong, I understand that the IE7 EULA requires a MS Windows
> platform....
> 
> (I am a Debian advocate, but I'm not working on the push into desktop space,
> since I don't spend enough time in the desktop space myself to be of much
> use there.)
>