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Canonical Halts Ubuntu CD Free-for-all

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the no-such-thing-as-free dept.

Barence writes to tell us that Canonical plans on limiting the number of "free Ubuntu CDs" that people can mooch from the company. The growing popularity of Ubuntu has seen a dramatic increase in the number of CDs being shipped via the free "ShipIt" scheme. The only people able to take advantage of this program now will be the usual community teams, contributors, and first-time Ubuntu users. "'While these CDs are often referred to as 'free CDs,' they are of course not free of cost to Canonical. We want to continue this programme, but Ubuntu’s growth means that some changes are necessary. Therefore we are adjusting how we handle CD requests to try to find the right balance between availability of CDs and the continued viability of the ShipIt program,' [Canonical's chief operating officer Jane Silber] adds. Extra CD copies of Ubuntu will still be available for purchase through the Canonical store, although they need to be bought in bulk. Five copies of the open-source operating system will cost £5 exc VAT and shipping."

6 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. Probably people abusing the system by jittles · · Score: 5, Informative

    I once got flamed on Slick Deals for asking people to show restraint and common sense after someone posted a deal for a free CD from Project Gutenburg. People were ordering tons of disks as if they were getting some special deal. I don't blame Canonical at all for placing limits.

  2. Re:Remember kids...Canonical is a private company by binarylarry · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's also a tax shelter country that the founder was born and raised in.

    I've always though the Ubuntu folks were particularly generous giving those CD's away. I mean it's not like they were demos or trialware or something.

    --
    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  3. Re:Well just download the ISO. by Stupendoussteve · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is about Ubuntu, it's Linux for Humans which often includes morons.

    The free CDs were also great for advocacy. With their sleeves, pictures and artwork they look a lot better to a new or potential user than a shiny just burned CD-R. I have been unable to find the ISO image that actually corresponds to the CD I was shipped in the past, but it could be that I'm not looking hard enough.

  4. Gee.... by Hasai · · Score: 4, Informative

    ....What a wonderful problem to have.

    --

    Regards;

    Hasai

  5. Re:Why do we need CDs at all? by bahstid · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just in case my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning, and seeing as its the second comment I've seen along these lines, here you go.

  6. Re:Remember kids...Canonical is a private company by koiransuklaa · · Score: 4, Informative

    It should be quite hard to confuse Isle of Man and South Africa, so maybe I'm missing something...

    Could someone explain how this is informative?