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New Linux User

About those who are selling Linux

by Clair on July 18th, 2008

Personally I find it odd to see a Linux distro CD/DVD being sold for a really high price. I don’t mind it if it’s basically the cost of shipping a CD or a DVD and the cost of burning a copy because that’s been downloaded from the internet and there is cost in terms of bandwidth. I also don’t think there’s something wrong if developers do sell installers of the Linux distro they worked on if it’s to fund further development of the software. However, I find it wrong if people would sell a downloaded distro for something really expensive when they weren’t the ones who made it and they’re just doing it for profit. Why? Because they didn’t even have a major part it the creation of it, only the distribution. And if there’s not even an added service like tech support or something like that, why bother buying a copy of a Linux distro installer? Just ask someone else who has a copy to give you one and use that one instead.

I don’t know about you but if buying a copy of Linux distro installer is waaay expensive, I’d think about it really hard before getting it. What about you?

POSTED IN: General

2 opinions for About those who are selling Linux

  • Don
    Jul 20, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    I guess if buying is the ONLY way one is to acquire a Linux distro, at least bundle in some kind of after purchase support from the retailer. Otherwise, I really don’t understand the buying of something that I can get for free elsewhere. You can download, get a disc from a friend, or even have one sent to you. I hope these retailers aren’t just playing on the uninformed buyer’s lack of knowledge in this area. I haven’t seen these boxed sets in stores around me, but I hope they at least come with some kind of manual/instructions/contact info in the box. I still don’t think Linux is the way to go from a typical home user. Maybe sitting down at an already configured box would be ok, but from scratch? They will be spending a lot of time on the forums. See ya there!

  • ryan
    Jul 21, 2008 at 6:29 am

    Best Buy could stand to make quite a profit off of Ubuntu, I read they are putting it on the store shelves soon. link

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