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Description
How about offering a commercial pay-for version of Ubuntu in addition to the regular versions? This could be a download option and a shippit offering. It could include the following:
1. Licensed codecs from fluendo or others.
2. An Ubuntu flavour of Crossover-Office / Cedega
3. Introductory support from Canonical
I think this would serve at least 3 purposes. Firstly it would be useful for people to feel comfortable using proprietary codecs in certain countries where this is a problem. Secondly, some people would be more likely to adopt linux/ubuntu if they have to pay for it.Psychologically the idea that something is better because it costs more is a very real phenomenon. Thirdly, I see this as a good way for Ubuntu/Canonical to generate funds and (gasp!)profits. I believe this is important for Ubuntu's medium-term success and is very important in tackling Bug #1. The introductory support offer would be a good way of establishing long-term support relationships with clients.By the way are any of my above ideas in violation of the GPL, I'm not sure...
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angryhomer17 wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 15:57
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The Ubuntu promise
* Ubuntu will always be free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates.
1. Codecs should be free. They are just wrappers for media. Why should I have to pay to gift wrap a package when I can just use old newspaper? Sure it might look prettier but in the end, it has the same result.
2. Crossover Office (Umm you've got open office, gnumeric, abi-word, etc. or you can use virtualbox and setup a win xp machine and install office on that) Plus you can pretty much run anything you want "natively". And it's free
3. Ubuntu Forums. Or you can just pay for support as you need it.
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spacejesus wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 16:21
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Hi angryhomer,
I know Ubuntu have made the promise that it would always be free of charge, and even if they offered a commercial version you could still get the original for free. I don't think this contradicts the original promise.
1. Yes, of course they should be free, I completely agree with you. However, for some people the grey area surrounding codecs in some countries is uncomfortable, especially DVD, (not for me, I couldn't give a feck).
2.Crossover office is not just for MS Office. I think a lot of windows refugees would find ubuntu a much more comfortable experience if they could install some of their odd little Xp apps that aren't quite available natively. I'm thinking here of the apps they get for managing their mobile phones, syncing their mp3 players (itunes, shudder!), proprietary apps foisted on them by their employers etc. I know you can sync ipods through amarok etc and there are tools for managing mobiles, but I think it would be very useful for ordinary users to be able to use some familiar programs while they get used to Ubuntu. Think of it as a psychological safety net...
3. I suggested this as a way for Canonical to create some extra revenue streams, they are a business after all. And again some people will have more confidence in the support if they pay for it, even if the same help is but a google away.
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spacejesus wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 16:55
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Oookay,
This idea doesn't seem to be very popular. Just out of curiosity if you don't like the idea it would be interesting to know what you object to. Thanks!
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josephcmiller2 wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 17:31
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Start your own company and work out licensing deals for these technologies which are missing. This would of course require adding proprietary software to the distro, which you would then re-package and sell. I would buy it and so would many others. I'd pay $50 to get access to DVD's and everything else by default.
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XSP wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 18:20
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There is sort of a generational gap going on right now. There is us, the older Linux users who know how damaging proprietary software can be, then there is the new generation who just want things to work out of the box.
While I love the fact that Ubuntu is striving for ease of use, I worry about at what costs it will come. When the VP of the company responsible for Mono and Moonlight comes out and says that the deal they made with Microsoft was bad and they if you are distributing the code for Mono or Moonlight outside of their customer base, you're subject to lawsuits from Microsoft, it shows you that a popular internet phrase could apply here,
It's a trap!
The licensed formats limit your freedom. That's the major reason I voted it down. It's not that I am against a commercial version that gives you support, but I am against promoting patents.
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spacejesus wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 19:58
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XSP,
I agree with your view on proprietary software and patents. However for the moment we're stuck with them in many areas. If we can encourage more people to use distros such as Ubuntu by understanding their needs to access and use proprietary technologies, I think we can gradually wean them off closed-source and non-free software. I can understand how people are worried about proprietary tech polluting FOSS, but if you look at the bigger picture ,I think that the more people we can get using linux, the less dependent we all are on MS, Apple, mp3, DVD, Blu Ray,Adobe et al. Hopefully with increased awareness of FOSS people will come to reject patented software more and more.
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Eldmannen wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 21:49
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Software patents sucks.
Don't cave into paying extortionists.
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fluxy wrote on the 13 Mar 08 at 19:37
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LoL XSP that's the best description I have read so far:
"There is sort of a generational gap going on right now. There is us, the older Linux users who know how damaging proprietary software can be, then there is the new generation who just want things to work out of the box."
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peterjs wrote on the 13 Mar 08 at 19:54
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Thanks, XSP. I'm 22, I'm too young to me an old curmudgeon. All most all of the media related ideas can summed up as:
New user: I want things to be easy and work out of the box
Old user: I'm sorry that's illegal/immoral
New user: BUT I WANT IT WAAAAAAAAAAA!
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joshedmonds wrote on the 1 May 08 at 05:29
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The problem with these sort of ideas is that they're not one idea, they're many. I would have to like all of your ideas above to vote for it, but I only have to dislike proprietary codecs to vote against it. -1
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