A no-cost Windows killer: On Sale Now, only $26!
"Tired of Windows? Wish you could find an alternate operating system that will work on most PCs _ even those sold in the past decade? Reluctant to fatten Microsoft's coffers? Look no further than Ubuntu, a Linux operating system developed mostly by volunteers. Since the code in Ubuntu is what's called "open source," any talented developer can submit enhancements, have it reviewed, and have those improvements appear in the next release."
The punch line comes at the end of this piece.
"To order the bootable DVD, send $20, plus $6 for shipping, to WashingtonCD, PO Box 351531, Los Angeles, CA 90035, or online at www.washingtoncd.net."
But! That's not all! At www.washingtoncd.net you find this:
"Ubuntu -- Linux Operating SystemPlus $6 for shipping. Isn't that special!
Price: $20.00
Retail: $39.00
You Save: $19.00
This item is in stock "
A quick visit to Ubuntu.com, and I found Buying Ubuntu on CD and DVD. This links to authorized distributors all over the planet, and their pricing is rather different than WashingtonCD. For example, at On-disk.com CDs and DVDs are under $5.00US, and couple bucks for shipping. (WashingtonCD is not an authorized distributor.) Canonical will ship you a CD edition for free. Really free, not free + money.
Don't wait, folks, get your unauthorized no-cost Windows killer for only $20 + $6 shipping now!
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You do realize the psychology involved here, right? The target audience for Technology Marketing Corporation probably can't believe that anything free (as in beer) is really worth anything. Slapping a $20 price tag on a CD is enough to get people to take it seriously.
However, I'd bet they'd get more takers at $50. ;)
@sgtrock
The funny thing is, you're probably right. People seem to take to heart "you get what you pay for". Look at how RHEL is almost ubiquitous in the enterprise but Debian, which is equally or even more capable, is relatively obscure. RHEL costs buckets of money, Debian costs nothing.
I know of course there is CentOS, which seems to be mostly used by people who like RHEL and have eventually discovered something free can be just as good or better.
I wonder what Canonical thinks of this, $26 for an Ubuntu CD. I know Best Buy sells them (or used to sell them) for about that much. Maybe some more demand can be generated with a higher price.
Though, if we leave the word free (as in beer) out, I wonder if that'll make it harder to introduce the concept of free (as in speech) to the users. Or, maybe it'll make it less ambiguous.
If the person is trying to make Linux look bad, that is one thing. Otherwise, they are entitled to charge whatever they think is worth their time to write up all the gimmicky stuff and support the business in any other way. Hey, some people won't show up for work if they aren't going to get paid their usual $100/hr.
In any case, when these noobs see the lower prices elsewhere, they will know they will be getting a better deal at the new site perhaps.
To be introduced to Linux+FOSS, I'd gladly make another (eg) $30 "mistake". Surely, if Microsoft has the gall to charge their prices for their software, this software is worth the $26 and then some.
For less than that, the person marketing Linux might not want to bother.. and perhaps the person seeing the offer might not be tempted.
If only more people did the same as this person and then donated the leftover money to worthwhile causes that can really make US dollars go far, we'd be a little closer to achieving world peace and happiness and gaining a huge number of contributors to Linux+FOSS.