[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 134486] UI: Branding: LibreOffice Personal edition

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=134486

--- Comment #38 from Emir Sarı <bitigchi at me.com> ---
I fully support getting more development resources for TDF, but IMO, lack of a
second "edition" is a marketing blocker for this from the start.

1. Community Edition
2. Enterprise Edition -> a listing of available companies to get LibreOffice
from, not an edition from TDF

I am aware that these companies already play a big role in LibreOffice
development, but I am not sure that directing the enterprise or government
folks to 3rd parties would be too appealing for them. It's confession from TDF
that they are pulling from the market themselves, and leaving it to 3rd
parties, a confession that they are limiting their user base.

I hope enough on-site market research is conducted before making this decision.
Otherwise we will be reading news that organisations and governments simply
switching to different alternatives with better official contact and branding,
instead of dealing with a 3rd party providing LibreOffice company other than
TDF. Confusion ensues.

What would be ideal is, creating an actual "Enterprise Edition", with
subscriptions or one-time licence fees, then using this resources to fund
(outsource) development. It's okay for Enterprise Edition to come with more
features, especially with all the LibreOffice Online perks. Channel all support
requests to 3rd parties, why not? But TDF should provide all LibreOffice
versions, not fragmentise it.

Visual Studio is a nice example. Free for single developers, paid for
enterprise. Everyone is happy.

Another thing, I am really not happy is that TDF doesn't get to prioritise UX
issues. With this model, companies usually tend to fix document-related issues,
and UX related issues doesn't get much attention. With all the branding and the
funds remaining in-house, TDF can select development priorities, and help to
make LO (actually) fun to use on all platforms (looking at you macOS version).

Final thing, please don't rush this. It's obvious that this is not researched
enough and thought-through, and with the release at the doorstep, it will be a
huge chaos and backslash from everyone affiliated.

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