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This is the new model, subscription
You've been able to get Mandrake and Linspire through subscription for a while now, and both companies are doing fine.
It certainly makes a lot more sense than buying software. Linspire's software is freely downloadable from peer to peer networks, but for updates and click'n'run, you pay the subscription, and the subscription is

(1) not a lot of money, so a purchasing decision is pretty easy

(2) obvious differential over Debian (THE free version) for non-technoids: it's much easier to install, and get to a running level.
Debian can exhibit a kind of inter-library oscillation if you go beyond stable, and stable is a bit old. {I love it, but I wouldn't recommend it to a non-technoid friend}.

(3) clear, easy to implement business model for the vendors. (and easy to understand for the user).

I think the $100 for OSX update model for Apple Macs isn't a million miles from this.

I can see Microsoft moving towards this model eventually. They kind of tried it, but seemed to fail perhaps due to internal organisational problems that a probably related to a product release cycle of a couple of years.
I guess they're going to work harder now to convince customers to move towards a subscription model.

But it will happen in my opinion.
Posted by: hipparchus2000   Posted on: 10/26/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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This is the new model, subscription  hipparchus2000 | 10/26/04
Yes, good point, but UserLinux is comming too.  DonnieBoy | 10/26/04
Debian?  Roger Ramjet | 10/27/04
Which is funny  rapson | 10/27/04
the implementation was different  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
For some people, yes, for others, no  CobraA1 | 10/27/04
I admire Sun more and more every day.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/26/04
Verry Scarry  Roger Ramjet | 10/27/04
Admirable's nice...  Anton Philidor | 10/27/04
Solaris is pretty much the same as Linux in engineering terms  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
I agree, but conside Sun's marketing clout.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/28/04
ok  V Sanders | 10/26/04
Sun could never get OEMs to go agaist the ms cash bac k program  V Sanders | 10/26/04
Yes, Debian is for Hackers, but it is the choice to base another distro  DonnieBoy | 10/27/04
Don't forget...  vdraken | 10/27/04
One word: Applications  ibnanouk | 10/27/04
Amen dude!  SantiagoCrespo | 10/27/04
or a preinstalled linux system  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
Zombie Programmers  Roger Ramjet | 10/27/04
desktop linux is growing fast though  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
Linspire (Lindows) has done this longer and better  RogerFairmont | 10/27/04
Jolly Roger  Roger Ramjet | 10/27/04
relies on WINE - no it doesn't  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
Linspire? Are they even still in business?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/04
CNR is cool  voska | 10/27/04
Sorry, but at least one court said you BUY software.  Update victim | 10/27/04
Not exactly the case  j.m.galvin | 10/27/04
From what I've read  voska | 10/27/04
In this case  j.m.galvin | 10/27/04
Duck hunting.  Anton Philidor | 10/27/04
Why do you license?  voska | 10/27/04
PCs are workstations  michael-t | 10/27/04
Don't trust the roadmap  alscook@... | 10/27/04
Office XP Pro OEM is only $150  george_ou | 10/27/04
But who wants to buy a new PC to get Office XP?  voska | 10/27/04
it's a free country  hipparchus2000 | 10/27/04
Only thing a Sun should do is burn  FilledOut | 10/27/04
Doesn't look like renting to me  BillShepp | 10/28/04

What do you think?

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