Supporting *unix* beyond Linux and Mac

[markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org (markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org)]

> On Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 10:23:36AM -0500, markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org wrote:
>> I currently support Mac, Linux, and Windows. I'm pretty sure that *any*
>> variant of unix could be supported, but there are a lot, netbsd,
>> openbsd,
>> freebsd, etc.
>>
>> Does anyone have a good argument about which to support if I can only
>> support one?
>
> After watching a few answers go by, I'll give you advice from the business
> point of view:
>
> Find out which OS your customers are using and support that one.

That's a debatable point. Currently there is no practical solution for
Linux or Macintosh, while Windows has a couple products. (Not as good as
mine, IMHO, but they are there.)

I don't have any existing customers for this type of product. The
conventional wisdom is always go for Windows because it is 85%~95% of the
market depending on whom you listen too, but, and maybe I'm wrong, but
there is a lot more competition in the Windows market and it may be "over
served,: certainly over advertised.

>
> I think what this means in practical terms is that unless you have a
> highly
> technical userbase, the unices other than Linux are not going to be worth
> the time investment.*  You'll probably see better returns making the
> service friendlier to Windows/Mac users.

I've been kind of struggling with the "ease of use" issue and am doing a
command line based technology preview alpha/beta run, just to, hopefully,
get some feedback on different routers and so on.

I have a gut feeling that in this tight economy, competition will be
tougher for apps on Windows. Macintosh and Linux, Macintosh especially,
can demand a premium because there is less competition and users tend to
be a bit more appreciative that you support their platform.

Also, since "www.myofficeip.com" seeks to link home/travel/work computers
via a peer to peer VPN, I think the Mac market is more relevant.

Do I want .001% of a HUGE market or 1% of a relatively small market?
>
> -ben
>
> * Linux may not be worth it either.

There's "worth it" and then there is "worth it." Sometimes it is neither
popular nor profitable to do a particular thing, but one's sense of right
or wrong, justice vs injustice, freedom vs slavery, etc. demand that we do
it.

>
> --
> you must do the thing you think you cannot do.	     <eleanor roosevelt>
>