[CoLoCo] Canonical To Start Offering Commercial Software Via Aptitude

[TheZorch]

Kevin Fries wrote:
> This news from Canonical has me rethinking of an idea I had some time
> ago.  It involves commercial software and how Linux may be in a better
> position to implement it than Microsoft ever has, or probably ever will
> be.  Here is my idea in a nutshell:
>
> Microsoft has for years wanted to sell software as a service.  Many
> companies have done this to a certain extent, but none have been
> successful in the bigger sense.  The idea is that you pay for a 1 year
> license.  Any upgrades available during that time, you are entitled to
> for free.  (Some licenses from companies like Microsoft, Oracle, ESRI,
> etc work this way).
>   
I think the reason this model hasn't really worked is that also 
consumers don't want to have to pay for the same piece of software over 
and over again just for the right to use it.
> The problem has always been the distribution chain.  The software
> distribution chain in the Windows area sucks, badly!  To work around
> this, many programs such as WinZip, Kodak, HP, etc, place their update
> checker software in the system tray.  This gets annoying and overloaded
> quite quickly.
>   
I agree there.
> Step in Linux
>
> With a standard APT and YUM repository, the most current commercial
> software could be made available quite easily.  Not only that, updates
> can be distributed via the standard update channel.  The only problem is
> license management.  So imagine a program written into Gnome and KDE
> desktop environments called the Commercial Software License Manger.  It
> places all keys in /etc/commercial.  It has SSL credit card taking
> ability, and a reminder function that tells you when all your licenses
> are coming due (show on evolution maybe?).  When due, the software will
> allow you to enter credit card information to renew.  Meanwhile, APT
> and/or YUM keep your software up to date and current.
>
> All the advantages of Windows and their feature rich environments, with
> the ease of Linux software distribution.
>
> It would also encourage vendors to offer free or open versions of their
> software, that can be upgraded to commercial only when addition features
> are required.  This should slow down piracy, and allow companies to
> spend more resources on making better software.
>
> Just a thought... what do you guys think?
>
>   
This is a step in the right direction for Linux.  The whole Ideology of 
No Proprietary Anything which has been the mantra of die-hard Ubuntu 
supporters was holding the OS back, in my honest opinion.  You cannot 
shy from commercial software forever and hope to catch the attention of 
the average home PC user.  It just won't happen, period.  What Canonical 
is doing will help make Ubuntu more attractive to those who are shy 
towards FOSS or who are afraid to loose certain programs when they 
switch to Linux from Windows.  If a Linux version of the particular 
package they are using is available they'll be able to make the 
transition more smoothly.  That will be the key to Ubuntu eventually 
becoming a Mainstream Desktop OS in 2008.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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