Selfish me… time to change
I finished reading Stephan Hermann’s blog post, Myths of Linux Distributions and other operating systems, where he lambastes several common Linux distro myths, and I had a moment of reflection. Part of his #5 wherein he states…
…You get your stupid Linux Kernel and Linux Distro for free, I repeat, You don’t pay anything for it….
…made me realize that I’ve been using Ubuntu for the better part of the last three years, for free. Aside from the subsidized Windows licenses that are bundled with a few of my laptops, I haven’t paid for an operating system since before my first Ubuntu installation. And while I haven’t enjoyed every feature, Ubuntu has been a liberating computing experience. Knowing this, I began to feel guilty about my usual request of a free CD for every Ubuntu release from ShipIt. Theoretically, I could hunt down the area’s LoCo and get one through them, but that doesn’t make up for the added cost I’ve contributed to Ubuntu’s budget over the years. While the CDs are free to receive, it still costs money to make and ship them.
So from now on, I’ll be purchasing CDs through the Ubuntu Shop. I tried to look into canceling my recent free CD request for 9.10 Karmic Koala, but it’s already been given to the shipping department and most likely on its way. I did, however, put an order in at the Ubuntu Shop for a 5-pack of Ubuntu Desktop CDs and an Ubuntu cap.
It’s not much but at least it is a start.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:52 am
way to go. I think this is probably the best way to express ones appreciation. If you’re living in a Northern country, then there is really no excuse to continually order free CDs. But for those living in the South, stuck with an adverse exchange rate, its still probably the only way to get hold of a tangible copy of the OS. I hate having to ookipen a recordible CD after spending hours downloading an iso image. Having a copy of the real thing makes one feel like Ubuntu really is the alternative to Windows. Perhaps once the alternative economy catches up, we’ll be paying for CDs with talents, an economic exchange system that is based on community trading. [[link removed]]