Best Buy Sells Ubuntu for Only $19.99USD

...and have GeekSquad can install it for you, for only an additional $129.99USD! (story)
Popular since:
2008-07-08
Category:
Technology, Linux/Unix
Digg submission:
[link]
Best thread:
1498 diggs (thread)

Here's an excerpt of the most-dugg comment thread for 2008-07-08 :

377 diggs
0Xonox0 on 2008-07-08 08:32:15
"Ubuntu will always be free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates." - Ubuntu.com
  • 185 diggs
    thehemi on 2008-07-08 16:56:21
    Best Buy should give away retail shelf space for free, too?
    • 18 diggs
      lamiaconfitor on 2008-07-08 18:43:51
      Why should they use it on this? Have them sell me a decent damned pc game and save on overhead. If someone want Linux on a machine, tell them where to download it for free, most public libraries would serve as a place to acquire the program and move it to a CDR/mp3 player-come-zip drive.
    • 4 diggs
      ChileanGoD on 2008-07-09 02:40:38
      Why use boxes?.. Put the CD in paper sleeves for massive retail shelf storage.
  • 81 diggs
    phoenixp3k on 2008-07-08 16:59:01
    When you get to the Get Ubuntu page. You can BUY the OS and it's 12.99$ on Amazon.com / On Canonical Store the install DVD is £ 6.00

    http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/purchase
    • 6 diggs
      dkitch on 2008-07-09 01:19:09
      And to believe they used to send you up to 10 CDs for free...
    • 4 diggs
      potofgravy on 2008-07-09 01:35:10
      https://shipit.ubuntu.com/ You still can..
    • 2 diggs
      SpeedSteamBoat on 2008-07-09 03:38:58
      Only the DVD version is for sale. They will ship you CDs free of charge.
    • 8 diggs
      Myztry on 2008-07-09 03:40:50
      Best Buy stocking policy:
      "We are out stock boss"
      "Quick, go to shipit.ubuntu.com and order some more..."
  • 51 diggs
    dregin on 2008-07-08 16:59:24
    And it is.... from ubuntu.com.
  • 127 diggs
    serend on 2008-07-08 17:02:54
    It has always been legal to sell the media. The GPL explicitly states you can charge for delivery fees / processing fees and for the media its self, but the software on the media is of no charge.
    • 40 diggs
      paradigmx on 2008-07-08 18:03:15
      It costs Best Buy money to pay their employees, it cost them to provide shelf space that could have been used for Windows Vista which would have made them more money, it costs them money to ship the OS.

      $19.95 really is not a bad price all things considered.

      the Install fee is a bit ludicrous, but people who know what they're doing won't need to pay that, and the people who don't know will notice that it costs less to buy Ubuntu and have them install it, then it would be to buy Windows Vista and have them install it
    • 20 diggs
      steveatdownmix on 2008-07-08 18:04:24
      It's legal to sell the software at any charge ($1 BILLION) while still complying with the terms of the license.
    • 0 diggs
      jdmulloy on 2008-07-08 23:16:47
      @paradigmx

      Heck, it would still cost less to buy Ubuntu and pay for the install than to by Vista and install it yourself (except of course buying the upgrade version of vista basic).
  • 105 diggs
    jhandfield on 2008-07-08 17:03:32
    Media costs, labor costs (CD presses have to eat, too!), shipping costs, markup for the manufacturer (ValuSoft), markup for the retailer (Best Buy)...

    I would find it hard to argue that it's a bad thing to have Ubuntu out in retail outlets, even if it costs money. Think of how many more people might be exposed to it now that wouldn't have ever even known it existed before.
    • 2 diggs
      slythfox on 2008-07-09 04:24:44
      I don't know about you, but when it costs THAT much to be bought and installed for you, I think there's a problem.

      Best Buy gains a huge profit from Ubuntu. I hope they're donating most of it to Ubuntu.
    • 1 diggs
      pierrelourens on 2008-07-09 04:32:53
      I don't have a problem with the cost of the disc. It's the installation that kills me.
  • 81 diggs
    metaphyze on 2008-07-08 17:14:06
    Sure. Sure. But at this price who can resist? I bought TWO!
    • 79 diggs
      KillerSiafu on 2008-07-08 17:17:54
      Finally zoidberg! You're becoming a crafty consumer!
    • 44 diggs
      intangible on 2008-07-08 17:55:26
      Why buy one when you can buy two at twice the price?!


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