<div>At the end of the day you have to meet a clients business needs and budget, regardless of the tool you use... This list just happens to be populated with people who prefer Drupal.. I don't think it is toxic by any means to analyze other products... Heck It probably even helps illustrate which parts of Drupal are behind the rest of the market...<br>
</div><div><br></div><div>I think the whole `Who is this list for` discussion is a waste of time. I don't think it's really in need of an identity crisis.. It's a list for consultants who use Drupal. Keep it open and inclusive. Nothing good comes of elitism or exclusiveness, it slows the exchange of ideas and experience.</div>
<div><br></div><div>.darrel.</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 1:20 PM, Andrew R. Kelly <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:arkelly@cognisync.com">arkelly@cognisync.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">Brian,<br>
<br>
Your response is in line with what I was thinking about after my last post,<br>
that there are varying types of business models on this list, from<br>
individual Drupal experts to tool-agnostic experts (like yourself) to<br>
Drupal-based solution providers (like my firm). These different models are<br>
manifesting themselves in conversations, which I believe is harmful. IMO<br>
conversations on this list should not be aligned with member business<br>
models, they should be aligned with proliferating Drupal in a responsible<br>
manner. So as an example, I'd be disappointed if someone posted to this<br>
list "I have a lead on an engagement to provide discussion forums to a<br>
client, how do I position Drupal against vBulletin?" and have "They really<br>
should use vBulletin it's a better product" be an acceptable response. Why?<br>
Because Drupal forums are a viable market player and this group, in this<br>
particular setting, cares about proliferating the use of Drupal, not<br>
ensuring that Company X (who we don't even know) has a good discussion<br>
forum.<br>
<br>
I mean no disrespect, just trying to gauge the culture of this list. If I'm<br>
in a minority that has Drupal as a cornerstone of their business then so be<br>
it I'll shut up :)<br>
<br>
Btw the vote is a good idea but I think this conversation is worthwhile<br>
along side it.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
Andrew<br>
</font><div class="im"><br>
<br>
Andrew,<br>
<br>
As much as some day I hope Drupal is able to be everything to everyone,<br>
it still does not match up to standalone solutions in some areas such as<br>
wikis or forums. *puts on asbestos underwear*<br>
<br>
The work I do isn't necessarily about promoting Drupal. It's about<br>
providing my clients the best solution to their needs at the best price.<br>
In most situations, Drupal is the solution of choice. However, I can't<br>
in good conscience recommend a client use Drupal if all they want is a<br>
forum (for instance). The costs of making a pure Drupal solution match<br>
up to the feature set of VBulletin is cost prohibitive if that is what<br>
the client wants.<br>
<br>
Like I said above - I love Drupal, and will use it as far as is feasible<br>
to accomplish my clients' objectives. But it's just one tool in the<br>
toolbox, and occasionally, it's not the right one from a cost/benefit<br>
perspective.<br>
<br>
Brian<br>
<br>
<br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>