Mandrake Linux 9.2, Adware Version

Moral compass? by mao+che+minh · 2003-09-12 02:42 · Score: 5, Funny

The real question is: will Mandrake accept all advertisement requests? I hope not - I hope Mandrake excercies a certain degree of moral judgement in their decision making.

I would hate to have to relive those all of those "You can enlarge your penis!!" moments, or once again be haunted by "Britney XXX HOT and young CAUGHT J-Lo action action!!".

Now, that's not to say that I would be apprehensive towards "Jenna" advertisements. Those always bring a smile to my face.

Re:Moral compass? by ultrabot · 2003-09-12 02:45 · Score: 4, Funny

or once again be haunted by "Britney XXX HOT and young CAUGHT J-Lo action action!!".

If they include free samples, I'm not complaining. How often do you get to watch pr0n legitimately at work, anyway?

--
Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
Re:Moral compass? by 7759-60784-1-E · 2003-09-12 02:46 · Score: 5, Funny

> I would hate to have to relive those all of those "You can enlarge your penis!!" moments, or once again be haunted by "Britney XXX HOT and young CAUGHT J-Lo action action!!".

Fortunately, none of those will be accepted. This'll leave room for the REALLY good stuff, like offers from Nigerians that'll make us millionaires!
Re:Moral compass? by JohnTheFisherman · 2003-09-12 02:49 · Score: 4, Funny

That pretty much leaves only one advertiser that might want to target Linux users. ;)

--
+5:offtopic,but anti-American
Re:Moral compass? by xanadu-xtroot.com · 2003-09-12 03:14 · Score: 5, Funny

How often do you get to watch pr0n legitimately at work, anyway?

I guess that would depend on if your name is something like Ron Jeremy or not...

:-)

--
I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
Re:Moral compass? by smatt-man · 2003-09-12 03:18 · Score: 5, Funny

Or worse... Microsoft, where do you want to go today?

Or, I'm sure SCO has 7 large... Have you paid SCO $699 to run this?

--

---
Lousy rotten karmic retribution.
Re:Moral compass? by iceburn · 2003-09-12 03:23 · Score: 5, Funny

How often do you get to watch pr0n legitimately at work, anyway?
My guess would be once.

--
A sphincter says what?
Re:Moral compass? by tmark · 2003-09-12 03:43 · Score: 3, Funny

I would hate to have to relive those all of those "You can enlarge your penis!!" moments

Why not ? Talk about targeted marketing at its zenith...
Re:Moral compass? by sniggly · 2003-09-12 04:24 · Score: 4, Informative

Who is the "you guys", people who post on slashdot like eh yourself? Oh and are you someone who also uses the word "they" a lot?
Just read the article, it's during the installer, in the bookmarks and the default browser home pages. The latter two can be changed. Sounds like a pretty good idea for a free distribution.

--
Of those to whom much is given, much is required.
Re:Moral compass? by Thing+1 · 2003-09-12 04:30 · Score: 3, Funny

How often do you get to watch pr0n legitimately at work, anyway?

Back in the day (mid-90s) there was no animated internet porn; we had to make do with still images. I worked at a software company and we were developing a compression technique for sending images from a server to a client.
To make sure that the images came across correctly, we tested it with what we termed the "nipple pallette."
Ah, the 90s...

--
I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
Re:Moral compass? by garvon · 2003-09-12 04:42 · Score: 5, Funny

All of the time.I am sysadmin / programmer
for an internet porn company. Used to joke that it was the only job where you would be reading a news site then quick popup a porn site when the boss was comming to look like you are working.
Re:Moral compass? by rot26 · 2003-09-12 04:51 · Score: 5, Funny

I used to work for a company that make kiosks. We had a potential client flying in for a demo one day, and I had set up some sample pages/ads/images for them. Before they arrived, some of the accounting type women from upstairs happened by my area and noticed on the demo system what Kurt Vonnegut referred to as "wide open beaver". Cackling gleefully they ran off to tell everybody who would listen how offended they were, and that I could kiss my ass goodbye. Unfortunately for them, the potential client was a chain of "gentlemen's clubs" in Las Vegas, and my demo was considered not only appropriate, but very well done. Ha. Eplilogue: I was the ultimately the last employee to be laid off, which I guess these days is about as close to success as you can usually expect.

--

To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target

WTF!! by Sp4c3+C4d3t · 2003-09-12 02:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

One of the reasons I use Linux is to avoid ads and spyware. Now if I choose to use Mandrake, I can only avoid spyware... but for how long? I think I'll just stick to Slack, like I have for the past few years.

--
Happy New Year, it's 1984!

Re:WTF!! by ultrabot · 2003-09-12 02:47 · Score: 5, Insightful

One of the reasons I use Linux is to avoid ads and spyware.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look elsewhere during installation.

--
Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
Re:WTF!! by aaribaud · 2003-09-12 02:50 · Score: 5, Insightful
Ads will appear in three places:
- - install: do you install every day?
- - screensaver: install a non-mdk screensaver.
- - browser: reconfigure browser.
You don't even have to bother doing it yourself; just wait for someone to do it all and then rpm -ivh noads-1.0mdk.rpm. Unless it's a .deb, of course. :)
Re:WTF!! by kmonsen · 2003-09-12 02:50 · Score: 4, Insightful

This is only in the download version. You could (GASP) try to pay for a version and get it ad free. I am quite sure you are exposed to ads in your life anyway, a few more during installation is not going to hurt that much.
Re:WTF!! by perly-king-69 · 2003-09-12 02:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Really. How far does this 'avoiding ads' fetish affect your life?

Do you close your eyes and put your fingers in your ears when watching the TV, in case any ads get you?
Do you choose routes which avoid all billboards?

MDK are in financial trouble, and need to raise funds. This seems to be a perfectly sensible way of doing it/

--
--
This sig is inoffensive.
Re:WTF!! by alienw · 2003-09-12 02:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Come on. Advertising during the frigging install is one thing, spyware is a completely different thing. Don't group the two. I use Mandrake, I like it, I wouldn't mind if they got a few extra bucks. The install is pretty boring, so some ads there would not hurt at all. As for spyware and stuff like that: I know quite a few developers at Mandrake, and they would not tolerate that.

As for Slack: that's a pretty barren distro as compared to Mandrake. Clearly, it does not take as much resources to develop it, since it doesn't have its own graphical installer, nice config tools, etc. They are two different products intended for different audiences.
Re:WTF!! by tomhudson · 2003-09-12 03:38 · Score: 4, Interesting
Ok, point by point:
1. the advertising during the install isn't a problem for me. Actually, I'd be interested in seeing which firms are willing to support Mandrake and/or Linux in general.
2. Links in the browser: Just change your home page (you were going to do that anyway, right :-)
3. Ads in the screensaver: uninstall the screen saver & install the screen saver from the previous edition, or just reconfigure the screen saver - it's not like it's hard to do "Configuration | KDE | Look and Feel | Screen Saver" :-)
So, overall, I see it as one way for them to continue to offer us a good distro w/o being overly offensive.
Re:WTF!! by panda · 2003-09-12 03:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

I'm not the OP, and I agree with the mods that it is insightful to ask how far avoiding ads goes, because it seems we can't escape advertising these days. I'd just like to say that there is so much advertising today, do we really need more?

Over the past decade, my TV watching has slowly dwindled, mostly because of advertising and "product placement".--It's sad when you notice that most of the ads are actually more entertaining than the shows.--First, I didn't renew my cable subscription in 1996, and then, about two years ago, I pretty much stopped watching TV all together. Of course, you can't avoid the TVs that seem to be stuck everywhere these days, like in shop windows, on the sides of buildings, and at the gym. The gym I go to has TVs everywhere and on some of the equipment, too. I don't need those TVs to distract me from my workout. Besides, I'd much rather stare at the blonde wearing the spandex outfit and doing lat pull downs.

I haven't used Mandrake in the past because I never saw a compelling need to try it out when Debian, Red Hat, and Slackware have served my needs well. Someone gave me some Mandrake CDs once and at the time, I intended to try it, but never bothered to install it. Since they're adding adware, I may just skip them entirely in the future.

I know you can just "look away" and reconfigure your browser, but we're already bombarded with advertising every time we turn around. I look at my monitor, and it has the maker's logo on it, there are 2 empty soda cans and a bottle on my desk with the maker's logo on it, ditto for the printer on my desk, the diet notebook on my desk, and nearly everything else in my office. You can hardly walk down the street (or go to the gym) without being accosted by logos on T-shirts, shoes, and people's asses. Why people pay to be a billboard for a company selling cheap, sweat shop-made goods at an outrageous markup is beyond me, but I guess being somebody else's bitch is a fashion statement these days. Sure, you give me a contract like Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, and I'll get the swoosh tattooed on my forehead, but I'm not gonna pay money to wear a shirt with YOUR logo on it. The only logo shirts that I wear, I either got for free, or I bought to support a free software project or a non-profit cause.

No, I have enough advertising in my life without TV, without AdWare, and without Mandrake. If it's all the same to you, I'll stick with FreeBSD.

--
Just be sure to wear the gold uniform when you beam down -- you know what happens when you wear the red one.
Re:WTF!! by Delirium+Tremens · 2003-09-12 04:01 · Score: 4, Informative

Well, if you keep buying Mandrake boxes, you don't have to worry: only the download version contains ads.
Re:WTF!! by MoneyT · 2003-09-12 04:37 · Score: 3, Interesting

The doesn't mean people still can't bitch or wont bitch. After all, look at the people who bitch about the ads in AIM, all they have to do is go download DeadAIM or a similar product. Look at the people that bitch about pop-ups and pop-under ads, all they have to do is get a popup blocker.

It's the priniciple of the matter that has people pissed.

--
T Money
World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
Re:WTF!! by yuri+benjamin · 2003-09-12 14:47 · Score: 3, Informative

Yeah but looking elsewhere while browsing the web kinda defeats the purpose.

RTFA! Mandrake stated that you can easily remove the ads.
They're just some default bookmarks and the default home page.
You do know how to change the defaults, don't you?

Anyway, it pays for the distro. I'd rather have some advertiser pay for my next upgrade than have to pay for it myself.

It seems like mandrake are aware of not overdoing it.

--
You make the mistake of thinking you can educate the fundamental stupidity out of people. You can't.

This is do-able... by grub · 2003-09-12 02:43 · Score: 5, Funny

"Seven G's and you could put your face in their installer."

Collectively I'm sure we could scrape together $7K to have the goatse.cx guy in all his glory on this..

--
Trolling is a art,

Re:This is do-able... by TrekkieGod · 2003-09-12 02:49 · Score: 4, Funny

Collectively I'm sure we could scrape together $7K to have the goatse.cx guy in all his glory on this..
Ok, that's it! I'm going back to Windows.

--
Warning: Opinions known to be heavily biased.

Interesting by Archangel+Michael · 2003-09-12 02:44 · Score: 5, Insightful

However, I can see the many of Slashdot crowd crying over this intrusion of commercialism, but this seems like a reasonable way to try and recoup the costs of developing and distributing Linux products.

This keeps Linux "Free as in Beer" and "Free as in speech" at the same time. And what is wrong with that?

--
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.

Re:Interesting by Jellybob · 2003-09-12 02:53 · Score: 4, Informative

The advertising is only applied to the free download version - if you buy it in the shops, you don't get advertising.
Re:Interesting by The+Old+Burke · 2003-09-12 02:54 · Score: 3, Insightful

And its kind of wrong to name this as "adware".
Adware has traditionally beeen used to describe intrusive and forced advertising that you did not ask for and did not want. Typically bundled with crappy P2P software, dialers, spyware and other malware.
The term "advertising" is better suited for describing this Mandrake distro commercials.

--
Proud patriot and republican voter.
Re:Interesting by Frymaster · 2003-09-12 02:56 · Score: 4, Interesting
This keeps Linux "Free as in Beer" and "Free as in speech" at the same time
basically, there are only two revenue models in this world:
1. sell your product or service to end users
2. sell access to your end users to advertisers
all of the linux distros have been trying 1 for a while: charge for box sets, charge for enterprise support, charge for the added update stuff. a good plan, but redhat pretty much owns the enterprise market. and that's where the money is. so it was really only a matter of time until someone came along with model 2.
you should all remember that the reason for this switch is that plan 1 hasn't been working for mandrake. transaltion: you haven't been buynig box sets and tee shirts.
--
2 1337 4 u!
Re:Interesting by Rinikusu · 2003-09-12 03:50 · Score: 4, Insightful

Maybe the reason people aren't buying boxed sets and TShirts is because there's not marketing/advertising. Seriously, how often have you seen a Debian or Mandrake ad anywhere? Sure, there are Mandrake T-Shirts (I think) and various other distro T-Shirts around, but the key is variety and to overhaul your line-up regularly.

Let's compare with the Independent music industry, shall we?
It's a well known fact that many people who like bands and see bands live tend to wear band-related T-Shirts. Through sales of T-Shirts (and CD's, incidentally), a lot of these bands can afford to tour the country without having to resort to sleeping on lice-infested punk houses. But, what convinces people to buy T-Shirts from the Band rather than from, say Hot Topic?
1) Price. You can usually get the TShirt at the show for $10-12, usually no tax (cash transaction). The mall will cost you $15-20.
2) Knowledge that the band will get most of the proceeds drives many of us to buy at the shows.
3) UNIQUENESS. If the band is selling the same TShirt you can buy at the store, then you won't get nearly as many sales as if you come out with "unique" Tour T-Shirts. Conventions (sci-fi and otherwise) have caught on to this, as well. By buying the "unique" T-Shirt, you now have "bragging" rights. When people say "Did you go see Hatebreed last year" you can point to your T-Shirt and say "You bet your ass I did." It's kinda a reminder of the experience, you know? After all, music sometimes isn't just about the music, live music is also about the experience. A $10 T-Shirt can go a long ways towards bringing back fond memories.

Now, how does this help with distros?
One thing I see is that Linux people like to give shit away. Sure, free shit is fun and bands give free shit away, too. Stickers, buttons, etc. But, generally, the free shit entices you to buy something later, be it a CD, T-Shirt, or other buttons and stickers. If you go out to live shows enough, you'll find "merch" tables where bands ply their wares. I think the computer world, they're called "Schwag" tables, and the stuff is generally free.
Linux distros (whether it be a company or a gang of guys doing it in their spare time) who represent themselves at trade-shows, conventions, meetings, or whatever, should be conscious of this. When you setup your table, make sure you have something for the person to take home with them. Have some stickers (make them unique!), TShirts, or whatever. Just because Linux is free doesn't mean your TShirts have to be, but be reasonable. You're cutting out the middlemen, so price accordingly. Have some "official" CD's for sale, stickers for a couple bucks, whatever. The idea is to come up with new designs and get your customers caught up in the "Do you have that cool Debian sticker in blue vinyl with a picture of Daryl McBride getting assfucked by Ron Jeremy?" cycle (take a look at Pokemon and Magic: TG). Sure, they're just trinkets, but they serve to help build a community (nothing warms my heart more than to see a big Debian sticker on the back of a car), gets advertising out there (and every "sale" to linux is a win for the entire linux community, regardless of the distro), and is a great way for developers to meet and greet their users at shows. See Apple when it comes to building fanatical fan-bases, it really works (TM).

I'm sure there's a lot of guys who already do this. I don't know because I've never been to any sort of Linux-Con, so please forgive me if I'm treading familiar ground for some of you. But, if you currently don't do this for your distribution or project, maybe it's time to take a step back and examine what you can do to get more support, users, or even money. :)

--
If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai

So long as I can change it it's OK by farnz · 2003-09-12 02:45 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm not bothered about this decision at all, so long as there's no effort to prevent me stripping out the adverts; ideally Mandrake will offer a purchased version without them, but I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to cover their costs with advertising.

Now, if I can't modify it to remove the adverts, and re-upload this version under a new name, that's a different issue.

--
I appear to have a blog. Odd.

Re:So long as I can change it it's OK by alienw · 2003-09-12 03:03 · Score: 3, Informative

RTFA. The advertisements are only in the download edition. Sounds very reasonable.

I can't help but think... by AppyPappy · 2003-09-12 02:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

This is bad news for Mandrake. Ad revenues are spotty at best according to people that I know who rely on them for their websites. What next? Back doors so advertizers can see where we surf?

It's a great dist but I'd hate to see it become the Juno/Netzero of dists.

--

If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem

Re:I can't help but think... by digidave · 2003-09-12 03:23 · Score: 5, Informative

Web site ad revenues aren't spotty, they're quite good. Do you think Google is having problems finding advertisers?

The trouble is that any doofus who runs a web site expects that clickthrough banner ads should generate some revenue. Webmasters try to generate revenue from mediocre traffic. You can't do that in any other form of advertising, so I don't see why you should be able to on the web.

The web site I run at work generates about $350,000/year in legitimate ads (Ford, TD Bank, Esso, McDonalds, Government of Canada, etc) and none of that money comes from clickthroughs. We charge appropriately for the size of the audience and because we have good audience demographic information it makes it really easy to sell ads. And no popups!

--
The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.

recompile by inepom01 · 2003-09-12 02:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

Won't this only work until someone recompiles any and all apps that have the ads in them? How long before packages appear with advertisement-less binaries?

as supported free software by fowlerserpent · 2003-09-12 02:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

I worry that opensource software will become advertiser supported. I don't think its likely though. It is however an excellent revenue stream. It is advertising that keeps media of virtually all types so inexpensive to consume. The best thing is, the software is opensource. We can just remove the ads.

I was a bit worried about this... by Future+Man+3000 · 2003-09-12 02:47 · Score: 5, Informative

Until I read in the article that it's just the download version. Hey, it's a better form of revenue generation from free products than spyware, I guess.

There might be other slow-loading free software projects that could benefit from this, too, such as KDE or Mozilla. As long as the ads are for techie/computer stuff that's interesting I'm cool with it.

--

I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.
-- W.C. Fields

Linux sucks by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-12 02:48 · Score: 3, Funny

So now I can watch ads while never being able to get my sound card to work.

Anyone see this coming? by Rinikusu · 2003-09-12 02:50 · Score: 3, Insightful

Struggling company
Needs revenue badly
Sells out to the man

More seriously, while I might have issues with ads in my screensaver, I don't see any problems with seeing ads upon installation. The way I look at it is the way I look at not blocking ads on my favorite websites (like /. and arstechnica): If me looking at an ad for a moment (actually, I ignore them, but they count ad-load, right?) helps them pay for the sites that I use, then I don't mind at all unless they're purveyors of the evil popup(). If seeing a few ads upon installation allows them to pay for full-time Linux developers who are releasing their software to the community, then it's a small "inconvenience" to pay for so-called greater good.

I know, there's a giant anti-market bunch out there that are going to jump up and down and scream about how Linux isn't about making money or whatnot, but frankly, I like the idea of someone getting paid to do something they love (work developing Linux and Linux applications) with a somewhat benign method of securing funding. Now, the day they start installing spyware...

--
If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai

As long as it's just during the install. by JoeD · 2003-09-12 02:51 · Score: 3, Interesting

I don't see a problem with this as long as the ads only pop up during the install, and don't wait for you to hit enter before proceeding.

I don't see it as any more annoying than the "Windows will make everything you do more fun" message that they used to put on the Windows install. Actually, that message always cracked me up, so I can't really count it as annoying.

If they start taking money to install a folder on the desktop full of "special offers from our partners" then it might cross a line.

Re:Where does this end? by stratjakt · 2003-09-12 02:57 · Score: 3, Insightful

Subsidized? Why bother? People pay top dollar for the priviledge of becoming a walking billboard for Abercrombie & Fitch and the like.

People plaster their cars with those same NASCAR stickers. Geeks plaster their computers with "Powered by AMD!" or "Intel Inside".

--
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!

Re:Aargh! by kmonsen · 2003-09-12 02:59 · Score: 3, Informative

Read the article, it is only during installation if you bother to use your own startpage for the browser and configure a new screensaver. It is not adware like you are used to.

Oblig SCO comment by dcocos · 2003-09-12 02:59 · Score: 5, Funny

I wonder if SCO will buy an ad to remind people to send in their $699

Re:Where does this end? by Moeses · 2003-09-12 03:01 · Score: 4, Insightful

I am reminded of an old poem, I don't know the author:

I think I shall never see
A billboard as beautiful as a tree
Indeed unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all

Re:This is do-able...Akkk! Thrrrp! by hplasm · 2003-09-12 03:02 · Score: 3, Funny

The phrases "This is do-able" and "..the goatse.cx guy in all his glory.." sit uneasily together in my mind...

--
...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.

Re:How difficult is removal by nitehawk214 · 2003-09-12 03:02 · Score: 3, Funny

Makes me wonder how difficult it would be to remove all the adware for a Linux expert ??

I believe the answer you are looking for is "priceless".

--
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust

Not about advertising revenue by ShieldW0lf · 2003-09-12 03:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

I'd suspect that this is less about advertising revenue and more about keeping ppl who don't subscribe from downloading Mandrake from their servers.

--
-1 Uncomfortable Truth

Mandrake 100% free Software by phoxix · 2003-09-12 03:07 · Score: 5, Insightful

In case you didn't know, the 3 disc downloadable edition of mandrake is 100% free software. The guys at mandrake worked very hard to make it so.

I suspect that 9.2 will be 100% free as well. In such an event, "spyware" is simply *NOT* possible on the distro.

As for the ads .... lets just hope MDK comes to its senses :^)

Sunny Dubey

Re:Disgusting precendent... by alienw · 2003-09-12 03:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

First, SuSE is commercial. YaST is NOT open-source or free. You can't download SuSE for free (except for some castrated version). Second, YaST blows. If you actually like it, you haven't worked with it enough. The thing is incredibly buggy. It works great -- 70% of the time.

Also, note that if you actually _buy_ the distro, you won't get advertising.

Obligatory MS comment by Andrewkov · 2003-09-12 03:08 · Score: 3, Funny

I can just imagine the Microsoft sponsored splash screen on the Mandrake installer: "Welcome to Mandrake Linux installer! Your life would be much easier if you were currently installing Windows XP Professional!"

Reminds me of Howrad Stern. by spineboy · 2003-09-12 03:11 · Score: 3, Funny

He wanted to get enough money to buy the box seat right in back of home plate, and fill it with all sorts of freaks, transvestites, dwarfs, Beetlejuice, and hideously ugly people. That way you would see these people everytime they showed a guy at bat. I still laugh everytime I think of it.

--
..........FULL STOP.

Re:Reminds me of Howrad Stern. by drooling-dog · 2003-09-12 06:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Oh... So I guess I'd better stop braaging about that invitation I got...

Re:Linux has always been ad free by digitalhermit · 2003-09-12 03:13 · Score: 4, Interesting

I see. Mandrake is one of the most "free" distributions available. THey allow their full distribution to be downloaded and their update system doesn't require any subscriptions. They maintian free support lists with Mandrake employees taking part. They look for innovative ways of raising money to continue this distribution -- ways that minimally affect the users -- and suddenly they're contributing to the downfall of Linux?

Now I love Debian because it's completely free and apt-get rocks, and I get irritated when some late-comer, money grubbing corporation jumps on the Linux bandwagon to try to swing the not-insiginificant number of geek dollars, but Mandrake is one of the good guys. Their philosophy (not corporate philosophy or business model) seems genuinely to be to provide free-speech software. If they can make a little money doing so, then that's even better. And their distribution is one of the easiest to use for non-Linux gurus (I know -- I've installed it for parents and grandparents already).

Linux users won't put up with it by BenjyD · 2003-09-12 03:20 · Score: 4, Interesting

Windows users seem more prepared to accept this kind of thing (witness the adverts in Messenger, invasive programs like RealOne, lack of pop-up blocking in IE).
I doubt your average Linux distro user (even a Mandrake user) is going to put up with this. Adverts during the install process I could just about stomach; after all, Mandrake has to make money somehow. But a major advantage of using Linux is that no one but you owns your desktop - this removes that advantage.

MandrakeSoft's comments at Newsforge... by joestar · 2003-09-12 03:35 · Score: 4, Informative

"Following up on a story appearing this morning at DesktopLinux.com about MandrakeSoft selling ads in their free download version of Mandrake Linux, I contacted Gael Duval at MandrakeSoft for more detail on the new advertising/revenue source.

Duval pointed out that advertising in Mandrake Linux is not really a new thing. There have been ads for Mandrake Linux, MandrakeSoft products, and for free software projects in the installation all along. They introduced paid advertising in the Safari Service in Mandrake Linux 9.l. Duval says that in version 9.2 they are just advancing that concept a little further.

Duval said the boxed versions of Mandrake 9.2 will not include any paid ads, but that the free download edition (the choice of 90% of Mandrake users) "will now include several additional ads, in the bookmarks and in the screensavers." He noted there will be no annoying pop-up ads.

He added that most Mandrake users want to see them continue to operate in the spirit of free software while at the same time being successful as a business. These new ads, Duval said, are one way that MandrakeSoft tries "to solve this equation."

More details on the advertising, including pricing, is available on the MandrakeSoft web site.

See Joe Barr's article.

This is cool by Azureflare · 2003-09-12 03:35 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is good for mandrake. They are simply adding bookmarks to websites of the people who paid to advertise. Bookmarks are quite a bit different than the tone generated by the post and responses; it's not like the link is "embedded" permanently in the browser. You just go to edit bookmarks, delete, if you don't like the link. Mandrake is not forcing you to keep the link in your bookmarks.

I think it's cool. Mandrake needs the money, and this is the sanest and cleanest way of doing it. I'm a silver member of Mandrake, and even though I download mandrake from the 'net, I'm perfectly fine with this development. BTW RC2 is out, and it rocks!

Re:This is do-able...Akkk! Thrrrp! by Mr.Sharpy · 2003-09-12 04:41 · Score: 4, Funny

The phrases "This is do-able" and "..the goatse.cx guy in all his glory.." sit uneasily together in my mind...

I would imagine that the goatse.cx guy sits uneasily anywhere.

Mandrake Innovation by Idou · 2003-09-12 07:00 · Score: 4, Insightful

I am constantly impressed by the amount of true innovation that has come from one company:

1. urpmi
2. Mandrakeclub
3. rpm voting (yeah, I know Deb was here before, but this is the first time for a Commercial Company to do this)
4. Open Source Sponsor Ads

I am proud to be a Silver member and will gladly give products of Mandrake sponsors priority when I consume (and will look forward to see who is sponsoring my software next time I update my computers. I though the point of Open Source is great code is great, regardless of who coded it or paid for it to be coded under the GPL).

btw, if you are mad about these ads because now you really wont be getting a 100% free lunch when you download MDK 9.2, it is time to move out of your parent's basement and get a job. Good intentions don't pay for dinner (though, Mandrake is getting damn close to that scenario!)

--
Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!

Fine (kinda) by gone.fishing · 2003-09-12 07:06 · Score: 3, Insightful

Mandrake has every right to sell advertisments. If it bothers you then you have every right to choose another distro (or "fix" the Mandrake distro).

Frankly, this may be one way to make open source projects actually profitable. Of course, ads are like seasoning, you want to serve up something that isn't too sweet, too salty, too hot... I suspect that Mandrake is well aware that too much will hurt more then help and that this will not be a problem. I also suspect that they are aware of what will be appropriate for their product so you won't get hit with ads for penis enlargment or Microsoft Office.

If this is a success, and part of me hopes it will be, there is a real chance that other projects floundering for lack of financing will do the same thing. This could be a real boost in the arm for open source. I can see games sponsored by McDonalds or an office suite sponsored by Staples but I can't see an MP3 player supported by the RIAA (or at least I wouldn't trust it).

We all know Linux is robust enough to go head to head against Microsoft but Linux lacks a sizeable war chest. Advertising inside of a free operating system could help this in two ways. First is the income. Second is the advertisers desire to see the product successful. This influence could be a great advantage because the sponsor can push the product too!

Imagine Best Buy advertising on a special distro and then making it available free or next to free in all of their stores. The user gets a free O/S and Best Buy has a desktop filled with the latest weekly specials! I suppose Best Buy sells too much MS software for that to happen but you get the picture.

Location, location, location by mdavids · 2003-09-12 09:28 · Score: 3, Funny

Meanwhile, Debian will be announcing that it will be charging $5 a pop for advertising in it's installer.

The price difference is only fair; a Mandrake user will see the ads a couple of times a year, while a Debian user will only see the ads once during the lifetime of the machine.

Stay tuned for the announcement when or if the new Debian installer is ready.

Slashdot Mirror

Mandrake Linux 9.2, Adware Version

60 of 618 comments (clear)