From the get-go, the company behind the popular Linux distribution Ubuntu - Canonical - has backed Ubuntu with Mark Shuttleworth's money. The big question has always been if Canonical is actually making any money. We have a rather clear and definitive answer to that one now.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-01-17
CentOS isn't without service!
CentOS is with service from the partner YOU want. You know a friend, student or partner which supports linux systems? Ask him if he can support your CentOS. Every Linux Supporter can Support technical a CentOS Network and he can Support the project to help the CentOS basic. And Canonical... Without Mark - Canonical is dead. Many words, many marketing und many buzzwords but no money.
Edited 2008-10-28 05:52 UTC
Member since:2005-11-13
CentOS isn't without service!
CentOS is with service from the partner YOU want. You know a friend, student or partner which supports linux systems? Ask him if he can support your CentOS. Every Linux Supporter can Support technical a CentOS Network and he can Support the project to help the CentOS basic. And Canonical... Without Mark - Canonical is dead. Many words, many marketing und many buzzwords but no money.
I think the point being made is that enterprise support with Red Hat Linux costs money. CentOS may have a thriving community of users, but a friend or a student is not going to cut it for most major corporations.
I work for a large company and we have had software requirements that Open Source could have filled, and in some cases we have went with a proprietary vendor specifically because of the support contract.
I think Canonical is smart if they focus on enterprise services over the desktop distribution, its worked out well for RedHat.
Member since:2008-04-15
you completely missed the point.
obviously ubuntu is nowhere without shuttleworth. he pretty much pays for everything as part of his rich guy philanthropy.
as far as community support goes that's not what a business is looking for in most cases and not what i was talking about...
Canonical isn't dead and while the only good choice i think they've made is base Ubuntu on Debian if earnings are increasing that usually means that the company isn't dead.
Member since:2005-07-07
i imagine that's exactly what ubuntu will be. free while you pay for support costs.
business will pay for support where users won't.
Which is why the OP said that they'll start focusing on the enterprise eventually, if they wish to become profitable. Selling services to end users is nice in theory but I don't think that it will pan out in practice.
Member since:2005-07-06
What sevices?
In the Linux world, Red Hat owns that market. Even Novell isn't managing to make much of a dent in it. Ubuntu need something different to make any waves, and they're not going to do it with what they're using.
Member since:
2008-04-15
as shuttleworth said they'll be focusing on services.
you want to use red hat you pay for support services. there's nothing stopping you putting centOS on but you don't get any help.
i imagine that's exactly what ubuntu will be. free while you pay for support costs.
business will pay for support where users won't.