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OOoFf! Bringing OpenOffice.org and Firefox to Retail Channels
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday shoppers looking to outfit their PCs with an affordable alternative to costly Microsoft office suites and less-than-secure Internet browsers will get their wish this season with the release of OOoFf! The new OOoFf! product -- the combination of two leading cross-platform software programs, OpenOffice.org and Firefox -- is available immediately at http://www.oooff.com and will appear shortly on store shelves at major electronics retailers. The OOoFf! package includes the necessary software for installation on personal computers running Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux operating systems. OOoFf! contains both OpenOffice.org 1.1.3, a complete Microsoft-compatible office suite, and Firefox 1.0, one of the fastest, most secure Internet browsers on the market -- bundled together for hundreds less than Microsoft alternatives. To view box samples of OOoFf!, visit http://www.oooff.com. The first program included in OOoFf!, OpenOffice.org, is a replacement for expensive office suites like Microsoft Office. The popular office suite alternative is capable of creating spreadsheets, presentations and documents, and can read, edit and save files in the same formats that other suites use (.doc, .xls and .ppt). OpenOffice.org also writes documents into PDF format. For a complete list of OpenOffice.org features, visit http://www.oooff.com/openoffice. The second program included in OOoFf!, Firefox, is a new Web browser produced by the Mozilla organization that completely replaces older, less secure browsers like Internet Explorer. Millions of people have already downloaded Firefox because of its advanced features like pop-up blockers and sophisticated security protection from hackers, viruses and spyware. Firefox also includes tabbed browsing and integrated Google searching, which means users are able to surf the Web easier and faster than they can with other browsers. More Firefox features can be viewed at http://www.oooff.com/firefox. OOoFf! is produced by Linspire, Inc., a leading producer of alternative Linux-based operating systems for the desktop and a major backer of open source organizations like Mozilla and OpenOffice.org. OOoFf! makes two of the most popular open source products -- which are already widely available online -- readily available to offline consumers shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. At the same time, OOoFf!'s distribution will promote awareness and adoption of cross-platform software alternatives. "Our goal with OOoFf! is to help get OpenOffice.org and Firefox into every possible distribution channel," said Michael Robertson, CEO of Linspire, Inc. "As users grow comfortable with these high-quality open source products, it makes the migration to desktop Linux a much more practical transition." Linspire is receiving and fulfilling orders of OOoFf! to distributors who service national retailers, regional chains and local computer stores. OOoFf! is available immediately at an introductory price of $29.95 at http://www.oooff.com/buy, including free express shipping in the United States. Retailers interested in buying OOoFf! to sell in their stores can visit http://www.oooff.com/retailers to place an order. OOoFf! products can be installed on multiple machines with no activation codes or serial numbers required. The OOoFf! boxed product comes with installation CD-ROM, documentation materials and Flash tutorials, and is compatible with machines running Windows 98 and higher and Mac OS X 10.2 and higher. For more information about OOoFf!, contact: Heather MacKenzie Linspire, Inc., 858-587-6700 ex. 263 858-587-8095 Fax pr@linspireinc.com About Linspire, Inc. Linspire (http://www.linspire.com) is an affordable Linux-based operating system designed specifically for desktop and laptop computers in homes, schools and businesses. Linspire uses innovative CNR technology that allows the installation, updating and management of more than 1,900 software programs with just one click from Linspire's CNR Warehouse (http://www.linspire.com/warehouse). The Linspire operating system is also offered in Spanish (http://www.linspire.com/espanol), Italian (http://www.linspire.com/italiano) and Japanese (http://www.linspire.com/livedoor). Linspire, OOoFf!, CNR and CNR Warehouse are trademarks of Linspire, Inc. Other marks used herein may be the property of their respective owners. |
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Comments (9)
While I'm commenting, I'll mention that although I have always seen a place for Lindows/Linsprire in the ecosystem, I've never really been a Linspire fan. This is changing. I'm starting to see Linspire really do some good.
The Mozilla guys are just learning how to market their product. The OOo guys are thinking about it, but still seem to have this idea that all you have to do is make great software and the users will follow.
That means it's up to 3rd parties, like Linspire, and yes, us, to do the marketing for them. I highly encourage people to join the FF web button program. OOo doesn't have an official program, but I highly encourage people to include an OOo button on their sites and an OOo link in their email sigs anyway.
One last thought. Although I haven't used Windows in years, I am beginning to realize that promoting Open Source Win32 software is the way to spread Linux. It's hard to get someone to change their whole OS, applications and all. But it's not as hard to get them to switch applications, one by one. Once that's done, the move to Linux can be quite painless.
So hurrah for Linspire!
I have problems with the main site though. I looked for a system requirements page and it doesn't seem to exist. Hopefully they will get that page up and a contact page for people with questions.
Still, this is fine idea and one that I hope will get some folks into the paradigm of free(dom) software.
Ha, speaking of free software, one of my classes involves a group final project. I suggested that they consider using OOo since we are all using different kinds of OS's--one of them looked at me and told me she wouldn't use stolen software!! I had to explain that the software is legal and free and she really couldn't understand what I was saying! Man, these people have really been hammered by M$ licensing/PR FUD!
Wishing you well.
I really don't know how you can stomach this sort of profiteering.
It's a case where you have to decide that perhaps those so easily deceived might not be good people to use Free or Open Source option. It reminds me of an interview of the "undecided" voters after the last election: many that had specific interests but were unaware of the positions of the candidates. Individuals with studied ignorance make bad decisions - it is impossible to protect everyone. We can only hope education might help - perhaps that this group will be the late joiners.
"I really don't know how you can stomach this sort of profiteering."
Another thing, GPL is about freedom not no cost. If the seller provides a needed service I cannot begrudge their gain. Selling "Free" software does not bother RMS, so what's the real problem? [However, none of my code is being used.] Nonetheless, regarding Linux distributions, I even paid for copies I did not use.
We get asked this all the time. Could I sell your program for $x? Could I sell it for $y?
My response is always the same, sell it for whatever you can get from the customer. If there was a company selling OpenOffice.org for $1500 or $1600, I wouldn't care.
Sales is all about selling something to a customer for the highest amount they will pay. One of the biggest battles that Open Source has been fighting is "You get what you pay for." So in the minds of those that believe this moniker, then OpenOffice.org for $1500 MUST be light years ahead of OOo for $0. The only person that a company would have to deal with in this sale is the customer.
Now, we have also had customers contact the lists asking for support that for which they PAID x. These emails are handled decently, and usually end up with someone saying that they could download OOo for free, and it includes the fix for the problem they have, usually. As a community, we don't care where you get OOo, we'll help.
In the defense of the sales force out there, most of the companies do provide their own support, and that is what the bulk of the cost comes from.
But, even if they don't offer support the company is still providing a service. They are getting the name out. That is one more OOo being used, because they marketed properly to that customer.
Mind Share is the name of the game. I personally don't care how it increases. ;-)
Have fun, all...
On another forum, they stated that their intention is to simply make Firefox and OOo available at retail order to get people to see these products as peers to commercial offerings, which in turn lowers the barrier to switching to Linux as a desktop. Downloading large packages such as these, even for free, is a huge barrier to adoption by the average consumer - just ask Netscape.
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That's a bit steep for 2 free programs on a cd!