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Why don't they just ask for money from users? Have two versions: an ad supported one which people can easily remove the ads, and a paid version that doesn't com
by kintamanimatt 14y ago
Why don't they just ask for money from users? Have two versions: an ad supported one which people can easily remove the ads, and a paid version that doesn't come with the ad package by default, and maybe a few extra "premium" perks like wallpapers, themes, whatever that aren't in the FOSS repos together with extra backup space. They could charge on a par with OS X, say a total of $29 for the next two versions.
- fromhet 14y agoThat would make it very non-free software. And that is what ubuntu is trying to not be.
- ps258 14y agoYou can sell free software. It's free as in freedom not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html > You can charge nothing, a penny, a dollar, or a billion dollars.
- kintamanimatt 14y agoIf you're referring to the price, well, that was covered by another comment. Ubuntu's full of non-free software and binary blobs. This is why it pretty much works out of the box. There's little fucking around with drivers, non-free codecs, etc. In any event, adding non-free "premium" features doesn't make the operating system itself any less free.
- coenhyde 14y agoAgreed. This is what I would like to see done.
- chj 14y agoBecause very few users would actually pay. You may be generous, but they are not dumb as well.
- kintamanimatt 14y agoHow do you know few users would pay? Given the right sales pitch it's possible a fair number would. I would pay if I were still an Ubuntu user. The only reason I don't use stock Ubuntu now is because of Unity.