Phantasman
March 5th, 2006, 06:02 AM
Once again I have happened on this community to see what is happening in the world of Ubuntu. This forum always is interesting and informative. It is populated by people from all walks of life, all ages and different ethnic backgrounds. The world could take a great lesson on the way different cultures come together for information, discussions and just good fun.
My hat is off to Mark Shuttleworth for creating and supporting an idea that has involed so many people. In a few years Ubuntu has skyrocketed to the top of the Linux OS charts with a proven idea. "If you build it they will come". When I first saw the term "Ubuntu will always be free", I was impressed. In the past, I have fallen for the "free" attached to many things, and found myself paying more in the long run. I realized (after getting burned) that it was only presented in a way that I took it that it would be free, and with a little salesmanship, I paid a lot for my "free" thing.
Ubuntu's "will always be free" statement once again made me cautious. But after using the distro last year, I waited for the punch from Ubuntu. It never came. I was using something that was completely great and it was free. I told many others that started experiencing the same thing. When asked "how can they do this", I had them read a page I had downloaded about how Mark was giving back to the Open Souce community, because it had helped him in his desired goal in life. The greatest respect I have is for someone who shares, and Mark Shuttleworth is at the top of my list. I am sure many of you have a simular story.
Having a choice is great freedom. And sharing your freedom with others is the highest gift you can bestow on another. Ubuntu is on the right track. Don't ever let your new found success cloud your decissions on offering the gift that was offered to you. If anyone chooses to come in from an outside source and influence you by offering greater success, it would be in the best interest of your community to look at all avenues, and investigate all possabilities, with an open mind and don't fall for "talk" but be convinced by actions. Let the skyrocketing success of Ubuntu remain just that, "Ubuntu's success". And don't fall for the "free" salesmans pitch of how it could be better, or it may just cost you more than you think.
My hat is off to Mark Shuttleworth for creating and supporting an idea that has involed so many people. In a few years Ubuntu has skyrocketed to the top of the Linux OS charts with a proven idea. "If you build it they will come". When I first saw the term "Ubuntu will always be free", I was impressed. In the past, I have fallen for the "free" attached to many things, and found myself paying more in the long run. I realized (after getting burned) that it was only presented in a way that I took it that it would be free, and with a little salesmanship, I paid a lot for my "free" thing.
Ubuntu's "will always be free" statement once again made me cautious. But after using the distro last year, I waited for the punch from Ubuntu. It never came. I was using something that was completely great and it was free. I told many others that started experiencing the same thing. When asked "how can they do this", I had them read a page I had downloaded about how Mark was giving back to the Open Souce community, because it had helped him in his desired goal in life. The greatest respect I have is for someone who shares, and Mark Shuttleworth is at the top of my list. I am sure many of you have a simular story.
Having a choice is great freedom. And sharing your freedom with others is the highest gift you can bestow on another. Ubuntu is on the right track. Don't ever let your new found success cloud your decissions on offering the gift that was offered to you. If anyone chooses to come in from an outside source and influence you by offering greater success, it would be in the best interest of your community to look at all avenues, and investigate all possabilities, with an open mind and don't fall for "talk" but be convinced by actions. Let the skyrocketing success of Ubuntu remain just that, "Ubuntu's success". And don't fall for the "free" salesmans pitch of how it could be better, or it may just cost you more than you think.