Free beer tommorrow

[the lemming]

While looking around I keep coming across the phrase "free as in beer" but I'm not sure how it relates to linux.

Is linux free, or is there a hidden cost somewhere along the line which is not necessarily in cold hard cash?

[Brunellus]

While looking around I keep coming across the phrase "free as in beer" but I'm not sure how it relates to linux.

Is linux free, or is there a hidden cost somewhere along the line which is not necessarily in cold hard cash?
this is a problem with English. It doesn't differentiate between "without cost" and "without hindrance." "free" can mean both.

Ubuntu is offered without cost--"free as in 'free beer'"--and also without hindrance: free as in speech.

Propreietary software may be offered without cost--the preinstalled copy of windows that ships on most computers is effectively "free beer" for most consumers--but not without hindrance. You cannot copy or redistribute it; you cannot modify it.

[compmodder26]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre#Libre

[Hex_Mandos]

It means that Linux doesn't HAVE to be free as in zero cost. Companies like Novell or RedHat can sell Linux, and it's perfectly legal for them to do so.

[daynah]

Free as in beer means most linuxes will be free like when you get a free beer... you don't pay anything. Ubuntu is free as in beer.

This is opposed to Free as in Speech. Linuxes allow you to change whatever you want about them. I, Daynah, can take Ubuntu, make a... Daybuntu. And that's okay. Free as in Speech. Everything that is Open Source is Free as in Speech.

These phrases are used so that when you say "Ubuntu is free!" people know what you're talking about. Do you mean you don't have to pay money? Or do you mean Ubuntu gives you great freedom with the code and you can alter whatever you want?

With Ubuntu, the answer is... yes! :)

[use a name]

While looking around I keep coming across the phrase "free as in beer" but I'm not sure how it relates to linux.

Is linux free, or is there a hidden cost somewhere along the line which is not necessarily in cold hard cash?

A real bad hangover? :P J/k No such thing with quality beer. Well, unless linux takes over your life and you simply forget to go to bed. (Ok, some might have real issues that have to be solved. Not to ignore that... But at least tasting this beer is free!)

[the lemming]

Companies like Novell or RedHat can sell Linux, and it's perfectly legal for them to do so.


Is that a bad thing?

[Brunellus]

Is that a bad thing?
no, not really. They're selling the service, not the software. When you buy Red Hat (RHEL) or SUSE (SLED) or even Ubuntu, you're buying their support services for a given period of time.

It matters less to us atomized, individual users. But for corporate users who may not have enough IT expertise in-house, it makes sense to go with a service plan.

The nice thing about this is, if they play their cards right, RedHat keep raking in money off their service contracts on a steady, annual basis.

[Hex_Mandos]

Is that a bad thing?

No, it's quite good actually. If Linux makes business sense, its continued development is guaranteed.

[the lemming]

no, not really. They're selling the service, not the software. When you buy Red Hat (RHEL) or SUSE (SLED) or even Ubuntu, you're buying their support services for a given period of time.

That's very interesting.

You say Ubuntu provide a service as well?

I only ask because no matter how hard I try I can not get ubuntu to install on my PC. It keeps crashing right after I install off a Live CD. Would they be able to resolve this issue?

I have happily installed ubuntu onto my laptop and it is going to stay there. All I have to do now is get a bigger hard drive and clone Xp onto the new disc before putting ubuntu on :-)
But that's a little project for the summer:o

[Brunellus]

That's very interesting.

You say Ubuntu provide a service as well?

I only ask because no matter how hard I try I can not get ubuntu to install on my PC. It keeps crashing right after I install off a Live CD. Would they be able to resolve this issue?

I have happily installed ubuntu onto my laptop and it is going to stay there. All I have to do now is get a bigger hard drive and clone Xp onto the new disc before putting ubuntu on :-)
But that's a little project for the summer:o
http://www.canonical.com/services

Canonical is Ubuntu's main corporate sponsor. Or, put another way: Ubuntu is Canonical's business.

[compmodder26]

Ubuntu provides paid support. Mostly for commercial services though. Unless you as an individual don't mind paying $250 for 1 year of support.

http://www.ubuntu.com/support/paid

[the lemming]

Ubuntu provides paid support. Mostly for commercial services though. Unless you as an individual don't mind paying $250 for 1 year of support.

http://www.ubuntu.com/support/paid

Thanks for the links and advice chaps. Unfortunately $250 is a bit too much to get ubuntu to work on my PC. Infact I cant get any ubuntu style product to work on my PC:(
Even Mint would not play.

So much for free beer :popcorn:

[jfinkels]

Thanks for the links and advice chaps. Unfortunately $250 is a bit too much to get ubuntu to work on my PC. Infact I cant get any ubuntu style product to work on my PC:(
Even Mint would not play.

So much for free beer :popcorn:

Well this should be it's own thread on the forum, but have you tried the alternate install disk? How much RAM do you have? What kind of computer is it?

[the lemming]

Well this should be it's own thread on the forum, but have you tried the alternate install disk? How much RAM do you have? What kind of computer is it?


Sadly I have created loads of threads on my problem and have resigned myself to the fact that my PC will not support ubuntu. My PC has more than enough to theoretically work with ubuntu but for some reason falls flat on its face during the instilation.

Such is life :(

Now, this beer. If I have broadband can I get real ale direct to my computer?

[Brunellus]

Sadly I have created loads of threads on my problem and have resigned myself to the fact that my PC will not support ubuntu. My PC has more than enough to theoretically work with ubuntu but for some reason falls flat on its face during the instilation.

Such is life :(

Now, this beer. If I have broadband can I get real ale direct to my computer?
links to the relevant problem thread please.

[shen-an-doah]

Now, this beer. If I have broadband can I get real ale direct to my computer?

Someone needs to create this service immediately.

[the lemming]

links to the relevant problem thread please.


OK, if you think it would help.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=436203

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=436290

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=434808

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=435666

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=436087

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=436807



I even tried to log a problem but gave up through frustration of having to repeat myself.

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/6343




Hope you find it all interesting reading. And if you could point my problem onto somebody who could help then I would be greatful.

I would like to point out that I did manage to successfully install a competing version of Linux onto my PC but I would much prefere to have ubuntu.