Amazon.com naughtyness

[Fred Doolie]

Check out Amazon.com. Why pay $0 for a BUNCH of Ubuntu disks at www.ubuntu.com when you can get *one* at Amazon for only $9.99 - Regular price $12.99. What a DEAL!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G62IDU/qid=1150567415/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-0285333-5029566?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=229534

[DrSturgeon]

Shipit are CDs; Amazon is selling DVDs.

Some people don't have fast internet connections.

[Corvillus]

Also, you're paying for not having to wait for shipping. Shipit is free, but it takes a while to get your order after placing it, which is fine if you have a fast internet connection and can burn yourself a copy in the meantime. Ordering from Amazon would get it to you within a couple of days, which is ideal for people on dial-up connections who want to try the software now, but aren't interested in downloading a big ISO. Besides, Ubuntu is free software anyway, and one of the perks of free software is that anyone can sell it at any price they wish (as long as source code is also made availiable).

[Fred Doolie]

> Also, you're paying for not having to wait for shipping.

I placed two orders with Amazon in the last month. The orders were "shipped" the next day but took two weeks to get here.

> Shipit is free, but it takes a while to get your order after placing it

True

>Ordering from Amazon would get it to you within a couple of days

Weeks.

>anyone can sell it at any price they wish

Really? I just downloaded the DVD ISO last night. Copies for sale for only $250 and that includes free shipping!

Just kidding. I'll burn you a copy for $5 total. You can palpay it to sales@hankmaynardart.com.
Send shipping info to that email address. Check out the website too please. http://hankmaynardart.com

[Etoile]

I placed two orders with Amazon in the last month. The orders were "shipped" the next day but took two weeks to get here.

>Ordering from Amazon would get it to you within a couple of days

Weeks.
I get items from Amazon within three to five days of ordering, so this sounds like more of a USPS complaint. :-({|=

You could try signing up for Amazon Prime... :D

[aysiu]

God forbid you should actually want to pay some money to support a great product. Most of the profits go to Canonical, not Amazon.

[Fred Doolie]

God forbid you should actually want to pay some money to support a great product. Most of the profits go to Canonical, not Amazon.

Then buy them from Canonical and they'll get 100% of the money.
Look, the only point I was trying to make is that the creators said (I am paraphrasing) "This OS was made to be given free to anybody and everybody. It should be freely given and shared. We, the creators, will make nice disks and ship them to you for free because Ubuntu must always be free for the people".

I *LIKE* that idea! I sent off for 10 Dappers and nine of my friends are going to get Ubuntu CDs as gifts. I remember giving my buddy Rich one of the Breezy disks and when he reached for his wallet I said "NO! NO! Linux is free!"

My message was "Amazon is grabbing these free disks and making money off them. That destroys the spirit of Ubuntu". Something like that.

It just seemed way wrong to me. Kinda like loading up at the Free Soup Kitchen and then opening up a Soup Stand.

Well I was told that you can do that with open source software so even though it still seems wrong Amazon isn't doing anything naughty. My bad.

[Etoile]

Yep, that's pretty much what open source software is about. I can definitely see how it seems wrong, but the point is that it's free for people to do with as they please. If they want to sell it, that's up to them.

The unfortunate part may be that people could buy it without knowing it was available for free, though hopefully they'd at least Google "ubuntu" before plunking down the $10.

[aysiu]

Except that Amazon isn't grabbing free disks. It's made a deal with Canonical for Ubuntu DVDs.

The operating system is free, but the CDs and DVDs don't have to be. The CDs being free is an added bonus, and, as it's been pointed out, take a long time to arrive (two months for me).

A DVD you purchase from Amazon is a DVD, it takes less time to arrive, and most of the profits go to Canonical, not Amazon.

It's a fine thing, especially for those with dial-up or no internet connection.

[caldevil]

I think it just fine. There is no harm in selling CDs or DVDs and its perfectly legal.

[vayu]

Then buy them from Canonical and they'll get 100% of the money.
Look, the only point I was trying to make is that the creators said (I am paraphrasing) "This OS was made to be given free to anybody and everybody. It should be freely given and shared. We, the creators, will make nice disks and ship them to you for free because Ubuntu must always be free for the people".


It's another distribution channel and a high profile one at that. It's not about the money, it's about getting it out there. There are plenty of people who will run into those disks on Amazon that won't be tuning into /. or distrowatch.

As far as money goes it's not very expensive. Someone above offered to ship copies to people for $5. That's nice, but not viable on a large scale. It costs almost that much for shipping. Blank DVDs add on top of that. And so does the time it takes. It may be doable for someone on a small scale, but if 10,000 people wanted one and that price is $1.50 shy of the true cost and the person has to work to pay their rent and feed their family they'd be out a pretty penny or two.

[aysiu]

They still do ship CDs for free.

Do you know how long those take to arrive? Mine took two months.

Amazon will likely ship the DVDs to you a bit faster, and they also target a different niche--people who want or need the DVD version because they have dial-up or no internet connection.

Also, from a business standpoint, it's far easier to manage a for-free shipping operation than to start taking credit card transanctions directly. There's a lot more that would involve for the business office at Canonical to do what Amazon is doing.

[weasel fierce]

More ways to get Ubuntu, and get it in the spotlight.

[RAV TUX]

I don't have a problem with Amazon selling Ubuntu DVD's I wish them the best in their joint venture.

Afterall it was Amazon who was instrumental in the development of Cowbell and we all know you can never have enough Cowbell.http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1055/ferrell0dd.gif (http://imageshack.us)

http://more-cowbell.org/index.php/Main_Page






One should also note you can by Ubuntu 6.06 DVD's on Ebay for .99 cents with as little as $2.99 shipping and handling.

http://search.ebay.com/ubuntu-dvd_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ300


This particular seller even has 100% feedback rating not bad for $3.98:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-DVD-Ubuntu-Linux-6-06-LTS-Dapper-Drake-for-x86-32-bit_W0QQitemZ7249391521QQihZ015QQcategoryZ41881QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This seller is even nice and honest enough to include this statement:

"Just so you know, you can actually order a copy of Ubuntu CD sent to you for absolutely free by going to shipit.ubuntu.com. Of course they only ship the CD version and not the DVD version as you see here. Not only that the shipment of the free CD from Ubuntu can take up to six weeks according to their request page. I'm sure the reason for this delay is due to the overwhelming popularity of Ubuntu Linux."

[purdy hate machine]

Choice is a good thing. I hope more Linux distro’s get the opportunity to sell CD’s/DVD’s on Amazon.

[shapht]

Does anyone know what packages/repositories are on these DVD disks? More to the point, are universe/multiverse included, or are only a larger subset of Main/Restricted? No dvd burner to check for myself.

[RAV TUX]

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6303/b000g62idu01aa280sclzzzzzzzv66.th.jpg (http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b000g62idu01aa280sclzzzzzzzv66.jpg)

Ubuntu 6.06 LTS DVD (PC Edition) (Jewel Case)
by Canonical Ltd (Consignment)

when you go to the Ubuntu shipit site they have links for Ubuntu DVD's that take you right to Amazon and if you look they are selling on consignment.

The best thing quite honestly would be for Ubuntu users to 1. buy a DVD on Amazon. 2. give ubuntu positve and clear reviews 3. help out on the DVD amazon site with more info.
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127 in Software / Yesterday: #861 in SoftwareThe sales rank has jumped from #861 to #127 lets all ship in help ubuntu sale on Amazon. I will buy a DVD next month, lets also give them high and truthful rating to help educate and inform. Also help fill in the missing info needed to help make Ubuntu DVD sales a success on Amazon.

[Iandefor]

Then buy them from Canonical and they'll get 100% of the money. Canonical isn't selling Ubuntu DVD's, except via a proxy like Amazon. Canonical agreed to the damn deal; they aren't getting ripped off.

[RAV TUX]

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/specialrequest


See Also: Ubuntu DVDs

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/@@/ubuntu-icon Ubuntu 6.06 LTS for PCs (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000G62IDU)
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/@@/ubuntu-icon Ubuntu 6.06 LTS for 64-bit PCs (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000G648GA)
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/@@/ubuntu-icon Ubuntu 6.06 LTS for Macs (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000G6677S)

__________________________________________________ ______________________

Ubuntu 6.06 LTS DVD (PC Edition) (Jewel Case)
by Canonical Ltd (Consignment)
Platform: http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/icons/browse-icon-linux.gif Linux
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0.gif (1 customer review) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000G62IDU/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/104-4145890-4764744?ie=UTF8&n=229534&s=software)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154 in Software / Yesterday: #178 in SoftwareUbuntu 6.06 LTS DVD (64-bit PC Edition) (Jewel Case)
by Canonical Ltd (Consignment)
Platform: http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/icons/browse-icon-linux.gif Linux

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,655 in Software / Yesterday: #2,573 in SoftwareUbuntu 6.06 LTS DVD (Mac Edition) (Jewel Case)
by Canonical Ltd (Consignment)
Platform: http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/icons/browse-icon-linux.gif Linux

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,644 in Software / Yesterday: #6,607 in Software

[xcalibur]

Does anyone know what packages/repositories are on these DVD disks? More to the point, are universe/multiverse included, or are only a larger subset of Main/Restricted? No dvd burner to check for myself.


Does anyone know the answer to this question?

[bruce89]

Does anyone know the answer to this question?
It is all of main and all of restricted.

[xcalibur]

It is all of main and all of restricted.
Thanks very much.

[shapht]

It is all of main and all of restricted.

Oh I see. Thanks then.

Hey does that mean I can install any *buntu variant with this DVD, since Xfce, KDE, are now in main with GNOME? If so that definitely be a useful disc to have.

[aysiu]

Oh I see. Thanks then.

Hey does that mean I can install any *buntu variant with this DVD, since Xfce, KDE, are now in main with GNOME? If so that definitely be a useful disc to have.
Yes.

http://packages.ubuntu.com