Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Business Model of Ubuntu

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the making-it-better dept.

Andareed writes "Open-source software companies, such as Ubuntu (an open-source Linux distribution), are better able to respond to user request and bugs than traditional software companies, such as Microsoft. Simon Law, head of the Quality Assurance department at Ubuntu in a talk given to the UW Computer Science Club, explains why this is, and how Ubuntu is leveraging the open-source model. Simon explains how the QA department at Ubuntu differs from traditional QA departments, through its use of the open-source community at large. Most interesting is Simon's views on what motivates open-source developers to develop software, and how open-source oriented businesses (specifically Ubuntu) are making money."

11 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. No Bittorrent... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Note: We are sorry that these talks are not available through BitTorrent, however under present IST policy we are not allowed to run BitTorrent. We thank you for your understanding.
    After having their large video files slashdotted, I think they'll be the ones being sorry.
  2. obligatory business model by morie · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. Change name from Ubuntu to Ubunutu
    2. ?????
    3. Profit!

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments I post, 54 chars)
    1. Re:obligatory business model by SCPRedMage · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well if this is the new buisiness model, I want my underwear back!

      --
      My sig can beat up your sig.
    2. Re:obligatory business model by SCPRedMage · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't know if I should be happy I got modded up, or disturbed that someone finds my underwear "interesting"...

      --
      My sig can beat up your sig.
  3. Review of the video. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Seeing it's slashdotted (apparantly).

    1) 30s of video held at 15 degree angle (obviously setting up).
    2) Nope, launch right into the talk. 20 minutes or so of ubunutu Q+A guy. (camera still at 15 degree angle)
    3) Mildly interesting (and entertaining) Question & Answer session. Check out the guy's voice at circa 28 minutes! (camera still at 15 degree angle)
    4) The interesting bit - ubunutu guy leaves & audience exits...hahaha - check out the nerds - especially the guy in shorts!

  4. Re:Sounds Swell... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Ah, I see the problem. If you used "vim config" instead of "nano config" you'd be done by now.

    j/k. Hardware config in most Linux distros is a royal PITA.

  5. +3 Insightful? by syntaxglitch · · Score: 4, Funny

    But... I was trying to be funny. :(

  6. Re:What Do You Think Gates Does All Day? by lottameez · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but he's not giving away free Linux distributions, is he? IS HE???? World misery - Pah!

    --
    Yeah? Well I think you're overrated too.
  7. Business model? by 50m31sl4sh. · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hm. I always thought this was the real business model of Ubuntu.

    --
    Rediculous is ridiculous!
  8. Re:Geez by Klowner · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, my boss referred to it as "Bubanti" the other day, but he also shortens "Christopher" to "Christ", so.. I think he may have some sort of actual mental problem.

  9. Re:Geez by neonprimetime · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, don't feel STUPID. There are over 420,000 others who espically can't spell compared to you!