[osol-mktg] OpenSolaris/Solaris and Hardware Partnerships

[Kaiwai Gardiner]

Hi,

True, very true, however, the "Solaris Ready" is pretty small when compared
to the number of devices outt here; for example, mp3 players, with a mtrix
as to what CODECS are supported out of the box with Solaris, and where you
can obtain mp3 support along with links to any possible software that you
might need to syncronise/rip music and so forth.

Kinda like a "you've got the hardware, here are some resources relating to
how to set it up".

Matt

On 3/20/07, John McLaughlin <john.j.mclaughlin at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sun has a 'Solaris Ready"
> program http://www.sun.com/solarisready
> which is focused on products that work with Solaris. Sun lists Solaris
> Ready products,  e.g. HBAs and Printers, on that page.
>
> I suspect the OpenSolaris community could leverage Sun's Solaris Ready
> program and get something up and runnung pretty quickly.
>
> -johnj
>
> On 3/19/07, Kaiwai Gardiner <kaiwai.gardiner at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thank you for the email,
> >
> > Although 'buttons' on boxes, something like a rising sun with a smily
> > face, would be a long term goal, but I think the first thing to establish a
> > list of 'works with OpenSolaris'; hardware that has been verified to have
> > worked with OpenSolaris through a wiki/voting like structure where end users
> > and hardware companies, if they choose, can meet, and address any problems
> > as they're found.
> >
> > If companies like OpenSound wish to 'get on board' where by they can
> > 'plug' their product in as part of, for example "This device is supported
> > via a third party technology"; advertising for companies through our
> > hardware support list; and if these companies see benefits by customers
> > being directed to their product (rather than a competitor) - for example,
> > Nvidia wining customers from ATI due to ATI"s refusal to support
> > OpenSolaris, in return, we might see more hardware companies get on board to
> > provide drivers/specs and established hardware companies more inclined to
> > supporting the OpenSolaris development effort.
> >
> > Now once a 'online community' where by future users, hardware companies
> > and developers can all meet, then one can take it to the next level via a
> > marketing bliz which includes labelling products that are OpenSolaris
> > compatible - but that is further down the track.
> >
> > Nutshell:
> >
> > Community between hardware and end users -> develop and formalise links
> > between end users, OpenSolaris 'foundation' and hardware companies -> Formal
> > promotion of OpenSolaris 'compatible' hardware.
> >
> > The ETA time line for such a programme would be around 18months to 2
> > years; but once established, it should not only help end users but encourage
> > hardware companies realise that there are more than just 'fortune 500'
> > customers out there who are running OpenSolaris and want hardware support.
> >
> > Matt
> >
> >
> > On 3/19/07, Patrick Finch <Patrick.Finch at sun.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Kaiwai,
> > >
> > > I think the biggest challenge you face in an activity like this is
> > > that
> > > people will always be very reluctant to certify to a code base.
> > > Statements of compatibility will almost always be made against
> > > specific
> > > binary distributions, rather than to source code.
> > >
> > > Sara Dornsife has been looking into this in more detail, and has also
> > > been looking into an "ingredient button" style programme, (such as
> > > "Intel inside" or the use of Tux to represent Linux), but I don't
> > > think
> > > it is that straightforward, and at the moment, we only have what's
> > > called "fair use" of the OpenSolaris name (i.e. you can call your
> > > distribution "based on OpenSolaris").
> > >
> > > If you can make any progress on these challenges, it will indeed be
> > > most
> > > valuable.
> > >
> > > best regards
> > >
> > > Patrick
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kaiwai Gardiner wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > Given my limited programming skills, I thought it would be best to
> > > > contribute in a way which I could add 'value'.
> > > >
> > > > What I propose is a "works with", "OpenSolaris compatible" programme
> > > > which is part information for customers, and part promotional
> > > spot/plug
> > > > for hardware vendors who either explicitly support our hardware
> > > through
> > > > providing drivers, implicitly by the provision of specifications or
> > > work
> > > > 'out of the box' due to the nature of the device itself - for
> > > example,
> > > > an mp3 player that uses UMS rather than a proprietary database like
> > > > structure such as an iPod.
> > > >
> > > > The benefits will be two fold; firstly, customers who wish to run
> > > > OpenSolaris will have a list of hardware which they can choose from
> > > > which is compatible 'out of the box' - ranging from chipsets to mp3
> > > > players.
> > > >
> > > > The benefit to hardware vendors will be that they will have a
> > > visible
> > > > presence in the OpenSolaris 'community' communication board as a
> > > form of
> > > > marketing; making their hardware more desirable over others,and thus
> > >
> > > > push up sales of those companies willing to help/support the
> > > OpenSolaris
> > > > community.
> > > >
> > > > I'm in the process of working out a programme, and will most a much
> > > more
> > > > detailed out line of it; but I thought it would be best to give a
> > > 'heads
> > > > up' and whether the 'OpenSolaris' community as a whole are willing
> > > to
> > > > get behind this programme as part of the over all marketing push.
> > > >
> > > > Awaiting replies and input,
> > > >
> > > > Kaiwai Gardiner
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > opensolaris-mktg mailing list
> > > > opensolaris-mktg at opensolaris.org
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > opensolaris-mktg mailing list
> > opensolaris-mktg at opensolaris.org
> >
>
>
>
> --
> John J. McLaughlin Editor-in-Chief/CTO
> System News, Inc.
> +1 (954) 234 8990 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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