I don’t want to compromise free software principles simply to attract new users. I’d like to gain GNU/Linux users, but not at the expense of the values of the free software movement. And I think one of our core values should include rejecting software patents and related encumbrances.

(And it’s really not that hard today to add mp3 support to a standard Ubuntu installation. If Joe Newbie isn’t willing to figure out that much, then he doesn’t have my sympathies.)

If I like an operating system then I only expect to use it on hardware that supports it properly (and “proper” here is different than in Windows: for a device to be properly supported it’s driver must be open and maintained within the kernel project -consequently, Nvidia’s and ATI’s graphic adapters are still not properly supported).

The cost of linux vs. windows has never come up. Windows is free to them, it “comes” with your computer (don’t even get me started on piracy). They don’t care that you have to click on two things so you can play an mp3 (you have to install codecs on “glorious” windows media player as well(not mp3’s but most other stuff)…only it rarely works). DVD’s are a little harder but all you need is it set it up once(I’m more than willing and able to do it).

The problem is compatibility with software and hardware. The value of Windows isn’t that it’s cost $300. The value comes from knowing that you can walk into bestbuy and pick up whatever crappy/expensive software/hardware you want and it will work on your system. “Oh you mean I can’t run CrapTax 2007 on linux”; Deal breaker. The only thing that windows has that beats linux is compatibility. The OS with the greatest compatibility comes “free” with the computer when you buy it. Why would I want to install some OS that doesn’t do one thing I want to do even if it does everything else better? What advantage is there in that? These are the question people ask. They don’t say, “Well it doesn’t cost $300, so I think I won’t want it.”

Windows wins because most people don’t want choice, if it means that they have to put in effort to educate themselves on what works and what doesn’t. It’s been a long time since the system requirements of a software program or hardware prevented people from using it. I have 7 year old computers that can run any software out there today(except new games and vista stuff…which is why most people upgrade). People don’t like Vista, because it’s not compatible with everything. Some things just don’t work with it and that’s a deal breaker.

Ubuntu needs a better page for supported hardware and software. They need to pay someone to compile a website with all the compatible hardware on it, so I can go to the store and buy parts that I know will work on Ubuntu. They have something like that but it’s not good enough. If people are going to have to look up what works on linux it better be easy, because that’s something you don’t have to do with linux. People will be really impressed with their new wireless usb dongle if all they had to do was plug it in and it works…”wow I didn’t have to put in a driver cd and restart my computer. I just pluged it in and it works. Go Linux…I love it” That’s how it works if can buy/find software that is compatible with Linux. I just has to be easier to get that info because you won’t find it at the store in the near future.

But we cant anymore.

Businesses like Canonical who want to sell support for desktop Linux need cash, and cash doesn’t come from technical users. Cash comes from corporations and home users.

Perhaps Canonical doesn’t target Joe Newbie, but I think that someone should.

World might be a slightly less annoying place interoperability-wise if GNU/Linux or other free OSs were used instead of Windows by “average Joes”, but if they kept relying on patent-encumbered software then there wouldn’t be much of a change. Real change can only occur when the average consumer decides to pay attention to the subject, educating himself and using good judgment -but that doesn’t appear to come any time soon.

Of course, marketing-wise, the specific suggestion might be a smart move for Canonical -but I don’t feel that really concerns me as a not-so-casual user.

Let me see if I can explain my opinion in another way. The problem with Joe Newbie is that he couldn’t care less about politics, FOSS or even computers to any great extent. To Joe Newbie, his PC is a necessary evil and he will show it as much interest as you would show your lawnmower…

Just imagine if you will that you need to replace your lawnmower. Do you immediately get the cheapest one you see? Probably not.

You’ll evaluate it on its features as well as its price. That’s what Joe Newbie is going to do with his computer.

That’s why I think we need to incorporate licensed/non-free software into a distribution. Joe needs it. Software without it is going to piss him off and he’ll just end up playing a few quid more for Windows.

You could always buy a cheap lawnmover and add a grassbox, adjust the blades yourself, patch on some handlegrips and paint it orange, but you are not going to bother unless you’re a lawnmower enthusiast?

You’ll just go spend a few quid more on a lawnmower that’s already set up for you.

What a lot of FOSS advocates forget is that Joe Newbie is nothing like them

There will never be a paid version of Ubuntu. I advocate Ubuntu because I know that it’s Free. I can tell people honestly that I’m not giving them trial software, a demo, or a lite version. You want proprietary stuff you can purchase? Fine, that’s what the commercial repository is for.

As for this average Joe, the average Joe has no idea Ubuntu doesn’t come with mp3 support out of the box. The reason for this is that as soon as he tries playing one, a) the application manager opens, checks off the package he needs, and directs him to click apply, b) the application manager downloads and installs the packages, c) the song starts playing. I’m tired of hearing of this mythical average user who can’t get mp3s and dvds to play, because that’s so pre-Feisty. A complaint alongs these lines indicates to me that someone never actually tried it.

If Joe Newbie won’t use Linux because Windows is $300 and “better”, then you haven’t adequately explained Free Software. I’d suggest giving this a try before trying to turn Ubuntu into SLED

Very well said. I can’t think of a better way of stating the money issue with Linux.

Also, I think my comments about the number of distros was misunderstood. Should there be only one Linux distro? Absolutely not. Should there be over 100 distros? God no. There is a fine line between healthy competition and sea of confusion.