about 12.10...

[deadflowr]

Ubuntu isn't just Unity...It supports a multitude of DEs and WMs.

KDE every time although they are dropping development for it unless some one has heard they have changed there mind

Kubuntu is still going to be developed, but now it is being developed without direct sponsorship from Canonical.
Just like Xubuntu, Lubuntu, and the other Ubuntu family distros.

Support for the end user will, and has, not changed.

The only difference now is that Canonical no longer pays anyone.

If you're worried about it here's the company that took over Kubuntu's development:

http://www.blue-systems.de/

[newdarkworld]

I know that can be privatized as you want, but the feelings of Canonical is different from the version 10.10 for example. (On terms of open-source)

[craig10x]

what i can't understand is why many expect open source to be totally free and never realize that developers put their own money into it, yet you deny them the opportunity to get anything back, even if it doesn't mean shelling out any of your own $...just being a bit tolerant of them taking some steps to support it...

seems a bit one-sided to me...you might want to give that a bit of thought

[Docaltmed]

what i can't understand is why many expect open source to be totally free and never realize that developers put their own money into it, yet you deny them the opportunity to get anything back, even if it doesn't mean shelling out any of your own $...just being a bit tolerant of them taking some steps to support it...

seems a bit one-sided to me...you might want to give that a bit of thought

I agree. I see the FOSS community as a two-way street. The devs build the things that we, in turn, use. Our job is to provide feedback to the devs, in terms of bug reports. Without the developers, we have no software; without the users, the developers are performing for an empty stadium, as it were.

Which is why I rarely lob a "this app totally sucks and should be cast into the oblivion of Cthulu" post. If I have a problem, I try to peel it down to the lowest technical layer I can handle, and feed it to Launchpad or SourceForge.

Sometimes I get satisfaction, a lot of times I don't; a good 60% of the time, though, the resulting posts on the bug report churn into a workaround of one sort or another.

Not perfect, but hey, its free and a damn sight more usable than the alternatives, if you ask me.

But it only works if everybody plays their role.

[orb9220]

Yep just donated a few shekels to Mint developers as found their Mint Cinnamon & KDE outstanding distro's.
Just installed KDE and find them both polished and a lot of thought went into putting it all together.
And also give back feedback and possible bugs.

Same for Ubuntu Mark Shuttleworth and others have invested Time & Money into the project and trying to get at least some of their investment back.

I see this all the time in forums. Complaining and Entitlement Me! types complaining. They don't do bug reports or willing to even donate to a linux project that $5 as they are slurping down their 2nd or 3rd Ubuntu Mocha Latte at $4-$5 bucks a pop! And will spend $5-$25 a day on something they could give up for a day and donate the cash saved to their favorite distro or developer's of Distro's or Apps.

I'm sure they would appreciate it!
.

[Tamlynmac]

craig10x
what i can't understand is why many expect open source to be totally free and never realize that developers put their own money into it, yet you deny them the opportunity to get anything back, even if it doesn't mean shelling out any of your own $...just being a bit tolerant of them taking some steps to support it...

Then be open and honest about it. Request buy in at the time of install or upgrade and don't impart any suggestion of deception. I serious doubt the primary issue has to do with supporting the effort, but rather the approach. Should we be supportive of "any" software that collects data without prior notification or permission? It's really quite simple, just ask for participation up front and accept the fact that not everyone may wish to participate. But certainly, don't open the door to any potential perception of deceit. Just to be clear, I'm not say that was the intent.

Just as a point of contention the "F" in FOSS doesn't stand for free (as in no cost) software. It stands for:

free refers to the freedom to copy and re-use the software, rather than to the price of the software.
to understand the concept, one should "think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer".

I only point this out to assure that those users/members that may not be aware of or understand the FOSS initiative - don't misinterpret it.

Just my $0.02

[Bucky Ball]

Just my $0.02

You mean it cost 2 cents??? I thought it was free!

[Tamlynmac]

Bucky Ball
You mean it cost 2 cents??? I thought it was free!

I don't know about free, but it's probably all it's worth.

I've often wondered how many users know about the FOSS initiative and the combining of both free (FSF) and OSS software models. Personally, I do like the new economy concept - at least from what I've read about it to date.

Never seems to be enough time in the day to learn and understand all the new ideas being considered in the Linux world.