Canonical to Sell Linux OS Ubuntu for $20
My experiences with Linux are, shall we say, limited, but I thought this piece of news was somewhat interesting.
Canonical distributes open-source Linux products like their operating system, Ubuntu. While the operating system is free of charge, Canonical is going to offer it for sale at Best Buy for $19.95. Now, why would anybody spend money on an operating system that is free of charge?
Part of the reason is support, and Canonical is teaming with ValuSoft to offer 60 days of setup and installation support to customers wary of stepping into the Linux sphere without a little help.
Of course, is Joe six-pack going to go with Linux under any circumstances, especially when his PC already came with Windows on it? Who exactly are Canonical and Best Buy targeting with this release?
My guess is a combination of curious do-it-yourselfers who hate Vista and want to try something completely different now that XP is hitting the road and curious nerds that feel a sense of legitimacy with Linux when they see it in a box on the shelf of a major electronics chain. In the end, what this may do for Ubuntu is give it some publicity and encourage people who are wary of Linux to accept it. They sell it at Best Buy, right?
Story via Ryan Paul at Ars Technica
Technorati Tags: linux, ubuntu, best buy
