Jim Starkey wrote:

> The Netfrastructure analog has a Windows' GUI because almost everyone
> who administers things has a Windows machine on his or her desk ...

Once again with respect, it follows that those who do not have Windows
machines on their desks do not use the GUI (by definition) and according
to my observation are also unlikely to ever be users of Netfrastructure.
Also I suspect that the potential user base for a closed-source
Netfrastructue and an OSS Firefox are quite different.

In my world there are a growing number of admins who do not have Windows
machines, they actively shun products which even appear to favour that
platorm. Despite what you would suspect from the more vocal members of
the non-windows crowd this is not a political position. It is a reflex
carefully honed by repeated dissapointments with shoddy Windows software
badly re-implemented on their platorm of choice. It is a "bad smell -
stay away" kind of thing.

This is even more so the case with developers.

Given that an open source product tends to build it's popularity from
grass roots activity (i.e. small time developers and consultant
administratiors) solving problems for personal and small business needs,
I wanted to make it clear that a platform specific GUI utility will make
a negative impression on a significant and growing number of potential
users.

If such a decision is taken, it should not by justified away (as in your
response) but seen as a negative consequence that can be lived with
given the benefits of the windows only solution proposed.

Cheers (and thanks for all the work we all benefit from).

--
Adam Clarke
www.strategicdata.com.au