Bill,
I don’t see how QSSL has abandoned the software development community.
Yeah, they may be slow in getting things out, but it doesn’t mean they’ve
abandoned us. Multiple hardware platforms is welcome in my view and it is
hard work. Face it there are processors out there that will crunch stuff
much faster than x86. I like x86 for reliability myself, but other people
have different needs.
QSSL has only got so many resources and I think they are doing a good job.
Yeah, there are things missing from QNX 6, and somethings are running
slower, but they’ll get it, maybe not today, but eventually.
There are somethings about QNX 6 that I really like. Networking for
example. QNX 4 it was a pain. Now it is so much eaiser to get QNET up.
Albiet, I’m seeing some slower performance, but they’ll make it faster.
These things take time.
I remember one software company that starting with products that were slow
and anoying. They improved over time. There are smart people working
there.
The Eclipse product looks really good.
And I installed QNX 6 on a QNX 4 partition some time ago. Haven’t done it
recently, but at one point I remember it being a .tgz file that had a qnx 4
install script.
cdm mentioned yesterday that a new dedicated systems report is coming that
is going to show a popular RTOS to be slower performer compared to QNX.
I just don’t think things are as bad as you last posting seems to make them.
Things are frustrating now, there is no doubt. People to not recognize QNX
as the best solution. I’ve had many of these discussions with people who
look down upon it and me as stupid for knowing on to it. It almost seems a
liability to me now. But I think it is going to change as long as they
(QSSL) play the game right. They may make mistakes, but at least they seem
more focused to me.
This latest ad campaign has me concerned as well. I think they could have
done better. They need ads that will cause people to pause, kind of like
WindRivers storm ads (a storm is coming thing).
I’d like to know what focus groups they used. I’m concerned, but my point
is they are relying on multiple ways of getting customers. Alec won’t keep
his job he cannot get results.
I found it rather easy to install QNX 6 where I haven’t installed a windows
partition. In fact I was able to install QNX on a SBC using only cdrom
drive. haven’t done non-x86 yet…but I’m not too worried.
Kevin
“Bill Caroselli (Q-TPS)” <QTPS@EarthLink.net> wrote in message
news:abe8c6$nad$1@inn.qnx.com…
Hi Alec
First, you promised us months ago that QSSL would not insist on all the
personal information every time someone goes to the download page.
Promise
broken - no surprise there.
Personally I’m not afraid of the “nerd” image. I’m a nerd and damn proud
of
it. I want me kids to grow up to be nerds.
But who is this ad campaign aimed at? Not at the nerds! We want to know
the facts. But let’s face it, the facts aren’t on your side lately. Your
ad campaign is aimed at the corporate CEOs that (you think) think of all
of
us that can put a coherent thought together as nerds. Well fine. I
understand that. QSSL needs to advertise to the corporate CEOs. Because
us
nerds are only too aware lately that QSSL has abandoned the software
development community.
If you want to sell product, you have to get us nerds to go to our CEOs
and
say, “We have to get this QNX thing. It works!”
Want to know what I’m telling my customers about QSSL? I tell them, “QNX4
was a fantastic product. It is extremely reliable an lightning fast.
Besides you can get old QNX4 licenses all over the place for a song. Yes,
it is true. QNX4 is sealed in stone and they’ll never write so much as a
new device driver for next years latest and greatest hardware. But if you
can find the hardware that runs QNX4 it’s the bomb. QNX6 is still missing
too many features. But worse than that, it is across the board slower in
every measurable way AND QSSL doesn’t seem to care. Instead they come
back
and say ‘yes, we know it is slower but it can run on all these different
hardware platforms’.” Well, guess what. Most developers are only
developing for one platform. I have still only successfully installed
QNX6
on systems where I could install in on a Windows partition first. I can’t
even get straight answers on how to install QNX6 onto a system that only
has
a QNX4 partition.
“Alec Saunders” <> alecs@qnx.com> > wrote in message
news:abe6rc$llk$> 1@nntp.qnx.com> …
Thanks for the pat on the back Kevin.
Let me explain a little bit about the obsessed campaign, guys. First,
good
advertising generates comments, so I take your immediate comments as a
bit
of a compliment > 
Second, you should know we didn’t do this in a vacuum. We asked our ad
agency to give us something that was edgy, and that would draw people
in.
They had 5 concepts, including the obsessed concept. We focus group
tested
the concepts, and then chose from the two most popular, of which the
obsessed concept was the winner. Dan loved it, too. Then we went around
QSSL’s offices with a professional photographer and shot pictures of our
own
staff. You should see the one of me > > The person in question is one
of
our developers, and he’s definitely not nerdy. Obsessed with building
great
products for our customers… sure. And that was the concept we were
trying
to push.
Anyway, it’s going to run for a while yet, and we’ll be monitoring how
effective it is pretty closely. And you know, if it doesn’t achieve vs
the
objective metrics we set for it, then we’ll do something else. That’s
the
beauty of advertising – you can measure it, figure out what the ROI is,
and
decide if it’s the right thing to be doing based on hard facts.
Cheers!
Alec.
Alec Saunders
VP Marketing, QNX Software
\
))