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1. • CommentAuthorbrunozugay
   • CommentTimeJan 10th 2007

    
   Hi everyone,
   
   I'll keep it short.
   
   I am starting a software company that will provide designers/developers/publishers with a healthy Windows alternative to their current *nix setups. Not only in terms of features, but both customer and community support.
   
   I know there are a few options already out there, but a lot of people are not even giving them a chance just because they are Windows based.
   
   How many people are running Community Server, as opposed to running WordPress and vBulletin?
   
   I want to change that.
   
   My question is - What is your take on how I need to go about overcoming Microsoft's "evil empire" reputation?
   
   Thanks a lot,
   
   Bruno
2. •  
     CommentAuthorvishen
   • CommentTimeJan 12th 2007

    
   Oh boy.
   
   I wish I could answer that but if Bill Gates and his 50 billion dollar pockets can't solve that problem - I doubt I can.
   
   I used to work for Microsoft. Not evil at all - but I don't respect their software. The difficult part is that Microsoft has botched up so many applications that new applications from them are instantly branded as being buggy and over-engineered.
   
   perhaps what you could do is use testimonials to help kill a readers doubt first hand. There are 3 main doubts that I suspect a reader will have when they first see your offering
   
   1. It's by microsoft so it's good to be expensive
   
   2. It's by Microsoft so it's got to be over-engineered and filled with useless features
   
   3. It's by Microsoft so it's got to be hard to install
   
   You can counter these doubts with good testimonials. For example have a testimonial of someone talking about how they initally suspected the software would be buggy and over-engineered - but where then surprised at how simple an d elegant and bug free it was.
   
   Get similar testiminials for the other 2 doubts. I know this tactic is used by many marketers to kill doubts at the very beginnging of a sales presentation.