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Comment by noodle | Hacker News Reader

i think the tech media is making a big deal about it because they're basically scalping the OS, using their big name to make a profit on an item that anyone can request for free.

it 'appears' that they're not burning the cds themselves, they're taking the things that ubuntu ships out on request, putting a price tag on them and putting them on the shelves. it seems predatory.

but, as you said, its legal.

EDIT: jesus tapdancing christ, people, i'm regurgitating the common argument, this is not actually what i believe. calm down.

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First, who wants a pressed CD? Maybe your conn sucks. Maybe you don't want to mess with BitTorrent. Maybe you can't burn a disc. Maybe you just get the warm and fuzzies having something official. Or maybe you simply don't know about something until you see it on a shelf.

What are your options? Order for free and wait 6-10 weeks. Order on Amazon for $12.99 plus shipping and wait about a week. Drive to Best Buy and pay $20.

I don't see how that's predatory. The cost is about convenience, shelf space and distribution. And it's nice to know Ubuntu is competing with Windows someplace physical.

My first copy of Linux, SuSE 6.2, was bought at Best Buy. It came on 6 CDs. There was no way I was going to download that over a 33.6 modem.

So long as Best Buy abides by the terms of distribution I say more power to them.

I had a similar experience. My first copy of linux was the RedHat 7 distro that came with "Linux for Dummies", and it cost $20. At the time I didn't have a CD burner or a good connection, so it made sense.

It was also nice to have the book, even if it didn't make me much better than being a Dummy.

I downloaded my first copy of slackware onto floppies over a 14.4 modem, and it took something like a week. Now get off my lawn, you damn kids!

I think your claim that they're somehow using Ubuntu's free CD package is a bit of a stretch. It's a big claim to make without any backing evidence. Don't you think Ubuntu would take notice if Best Buy asked them for 5,000 free copies?

Best Buy has been selling Linux distributions for years - I bought a copy of Slackware in like 99 or 2000 because I didn't want to spend the time downloading it; as an added bonus, it came with a manual that I could let my girlfriend use if she wanted to toy around with it.

Good call, I highly doubt Best Buy is getting free copies from Ubuntu. If they are pressed by Ubuntu they must be paying something for them, and it is perfectly reasonable to sell at a profit because as someone else said they are selling the convenience.

But I don't understand why Ubuntu gives away officially pressed copies for free, even to individuals. I think there should be a price to cover the manufacturing costs and to support Ubuntu. The OS itself of course should be free (in the gratis sense, but obviously also the libre sense).

I think the same is true for music, which I normally download for free, but will pay for some nice artwork and officially printed CD (or vinyl record), especially if I want to support the artist.

It's a loss leader for them. The idea is that if they can get enough people using Ubuntu, then their actual business (Ubuntu support) will grow, because they will have a larger consumer base to support.

i ordered a few kubuntu CDs a while ago and use them to convert my less technical friends to kubuntu. People just like pretty packaged CD's. I would.t buy them though, but its a good idea, from canonicals side to shipped these free CDs. Its like a free demo, if you like it, you buy support. It seems to be working, they are still not out of business, i don't know how profitable they are though.

It helps that Mark Shuttleworth has F-U money. He's coy about Canonical's revenue/profitability, but last I heard, they're not profitable yet -- but their planning is long-term and very ambitious. Blurb:

"That means that we can fundamentally change the business model of the OS industry. Of course, it till take time to prove that we can achieve this, but we have a superb team and now that Ubuntu is well established we see increasing demand for services from Canonical, which is positive."

-- http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/148

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