Re: [PLUG] OT: Linux Business Forum

["W. Chris Shank" <chris.shank@acetechgroup.com>]

There has been some great feedback from this posting. It's obvious that
many of you are having the same idea as myself. Proving tehr is a market
is a different problem entirely, but your responses are positive.

I encourage everyone to have a look at my website (www.acetechgroup.com)
and give feedback. I had already expected to sell the monthly service
idea, but am having much difficulty with the wording for the various
products/services etc. right now, I'd say that my site is in the Alpha
stage, regarding content, business message, etc. I finally had to make it
public because I needed to have others scrutinize it in order to keep it
moving forward.  I know there are some javascript errors with the menu if
you use IE6 - i use mozilla and it's ok. Also, konq won't show navigation
at all and neither will omniweb. So aside from _those_ problems, I'd like
to know your thoughts, reaction, impressions etc.

My thinking so far is to create a Linux VAR Association and simple web
portal. I don't want to spend a lot of time programming this, so I'll want
to use an existing package. Any thoughts? I think it should have threaded
discussions, and file postingsto share resources. What else?






>>
>>
>> money versus keeping an IT person on staff. This could allow you to
>> sell service contracts with a monthly fee. . .
>>
>> Another viable approach is to sell "block time." A company could
>> prepay for some number of hours (with a quantity discount) from 40-500
>>  hours and then whenever they need help you charge against their
>> account.
>>
> I like the monthly fee idea.  "Block time" is a pain.  (The same feeling
>  for consulting pay.)  For a short time I worked for a company that used
>  block time.  It takes a fine balance to keep everyone happy using that
> system.  On one side the service company wants to make money, so the
> technician shouldn't work too fast.  On the other side, the customer
> will think that things take too long.  There's a *lot* of record keeping
>  and possibilities for disagreement.
>
> The monthly fee appeals to me because it is simple and it puts the
> technician in an employee-like position.  Everything averages out so
> record keeping and projection is simpler.
>
>> I definitely think that you're on to something. Many small companies
>> could really benefit from the cost savings of Linux, but would
>> definitely want support and training. Offering them the support in
>> migration and especially after could just be the push they need.
>>
> I agree.  I wouldn't mind being the New Jersey "branch".
>
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