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Idea #3022: Next Ubuntu LTS release should be on the shelves of shops

Written by idaho06 the 4 Mar 08 at 09:32. Category: Others. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
First of all, sorry about my bad english.

Perhaps, Ubuntu 8.4 will not be ready, but the next Long Time Support release should be available in the malls and specialized computer shops.

I think in a box with a complete manual book written in the language of the country and a pair of disks. A double sided DVD and a double sided CD with the 32 and 64 bit versions of UBUNTU.

This box should have a reasonable price and perhaps a discount in Canonical support to the user.

Edit: People comment that this box should support for restricted/commercial codecs/players/multimedia. I agree with that. The price have to be low and include the royalties about these technologies.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #3022
Written by idaho06 the 4 Mar 08 at 09:32.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #3022 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Auzy wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 09:49
Why would you buy the box, when you can order CD's free online?


Why would they sell the box when you can order CD's free online (unless they were complete morons)?


If it comes with some commercial software bundled, it makes sense (I purchased my first version of Mandrake for instance)

But it would be hard to justify stocking it

ddimaio wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 09:59
If it includes all the necessary multimedia codecs by default, especially DVD (like Dell), then it's a very good idea, as long as the price is reasonable (say 15 quid in the UK).
Some people like the idea of shopping and they think that if they BUY something then it must be good quality, not like the FREE stuff. And those are the people who would not have a clue of what codecs are, they would just think "it doesn't work!"

larryfroot wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 11:34
It would be one way of advertising ubuntus presence...but it would need a one click (or as close to one click as is humanly possible) install of the propriety codecs at the very least.

larryfroot wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 11:36
...and people do equate 'free' with 'naff' as long as its around fifteen quid...and for those people without an internet connection it would be about the only way for them to have a full installation.

NachoBlanco wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 11:57
I think this a very good idea in order to make Ubuntu jump from the Internet and the digital world to the real world, and not only for the specialized customers. It will let normal people, possible future users, to know the sign Ubuntu.

neotenshi wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 17:14
I also agree with this idea
As it has been said, it can make Ubuntu more known, because it'll be more on view to people who doesn't especially look for it. I think for instance of these Linux distro sold in shops like Fnac (don't know if it exists outside France ...) : people who are just shopping see the box, and if the package is attractive, will be interested about it (even if they don't by it the first time, at least they learn about its existence)

Now, besides that, it can be a good way to get the distro when you have a very poor network connection (or no connection at all), and it would become even more attractive if it includes proprietary software/codecs/drivers/... But I wonder about the need of 2 CD's as the idea suggest ; since Ubuntu stands in one CD, it should be shipped in one CD (or one DVD if the extra software needs so much space), and it could be sold as "32-bits version" and "64-bits version" because many of the users don't need both.

Moreover, the prize would go to the licenses of the proprietary stuff, of course, but could also act as a "donation" to the development of Ubuntu

idaho06 wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 17:38
One side of each disk for 32 version, the other side for 64 bit. CD installation for older computers, less bloated (xbuntu?) and DVD for a complete Ubuntu installation with full language package and all the bells.
And do not forget the book. A full manual would be great :)

dan.fernandez wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 22:43
You know, I could pay 25 or 30 euros withough the slightiest doubt for a boxed version complete with an install and basic admin manual (the win would be having it on spanish, so I can use it to bash noobs in the head... :P ). Something like, say, an A-3, 80 pages book. But a bigger, "for dummies", ilustrated one would be sweet!

( Hell, if launchpad prepared an easy interface, we could help translating that book content. )

reuid wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 02:20
I would gladly pay 30-40 euro for boxed version of Ubuntu, just because I value it's quality. And if it had FreeBSD-quality printed manual, I would grab it without blink of an eye.

avixK7 wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 05:42
I would also have no problem paying some 30,40, or 50$ for an LTS version of Ubuntu. Even though I can easily obtain it online :). But it would be a great Idea for newcomers to Ubuntu, maybe include one month of desktop commercial support or something. Just an idea.

tomtom_fr wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 10:30
Agree, it will shows Ubuntu on people.

Why not put a set of CD inside, like:

x83 ubuntu CD x2 (for free sharing)
64 ubuntu cd x2 (for free sharing)
x83 ubuntu DVD x2 (for free sharing)
64 ubuntu DVD x2 (for free sharing)

the same for Kubuntu


biengo-go wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 20:22
a box with codecs, good documentation and a three months support à la Suse9, a perfect product!

eapache wrote on the 11 Mar 08 at 22:33
Include legal codecs, a manual, and support (30 days?), and I'd be happy to pay $50 for it.

My personal preference would just be a single CD with 32bit Ubuntu on it though: more would confuse people. And the language packs can be swapped out depending on the country it's being sold in, so they aren't a problem.

tioum wrote on the 14 Mar 08 at 16:34
Very good idea !

Plet wrote on the 2 Apr 08 at 20:35
I do not think that physical distribution is the way to go due to costs and energy assosiated with it...OEM and web-based is the way as I see it...

cookieofdoom wrote on the 28 Apr 08 at 15:48
I don't know how possible this is. If it's doable I think it would be great, especially if it included proprietary codecs.

sonicskywalker wrote on the 22 Jul 08 at 18:46
Excellent Idea.

People are stupid (no offense). They don't know it exists unless its waved in their faces. It would make the public aware that linux exists (most people think W!ndow$ is the only OS).

Show people that they have options. you can mar5ket it as being a cheaper alternative to (that other OS everyone here hates) and (that other OS that everyone but its fanboys hates).


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