Thanks for a dose of sanity... It is hard to understand this level of carping... People should save the vitriol for companies getting fat on predatory proprietary practices, rather picking on one of the few companies whose business plan actively contributes to FOSS. We don't know that they are even breaking even at this point. I wish them well, and think that small measures like this, and the donation link, are reasonable attempts to improve the sustainability of FOSS desktop support and development.
On Fri, Oct 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Alan Truesdale <[email protected]> wrote: > Wow I really can't believe the fuss! I use 12.04 lts but had to see what > every one was whining about. I booted a live session of 12.10 and it took > about three clicks to disable the amazon results in the dash and remove the > affiliate link to amazon on the side bar(it is a link bringing up Amazon > in Firefox via affiliate link not it is not a software program). > > In my opinion there is nothing wrong with adware (advertising supported > software). I think people confuse adware with bloatware software with a > subset of its features disabled installed on a pre-installed operating > system. This software is usually set up to be the default for certain > activities and uninstalling leaves your system in an unstable state. Thus > forcing the inexperienced user to purchase the pro version of the software. > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/**Adware<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adware> > > By the definition just every installation of Firefox that has Google > search set as the default is adware as Mozilla get a cut of ad revenue > generated from this page. Mozilla is largely funded by this. My opinion is > neither Firefox or Ubuntu 12.10 are adware because you can opt out without > loss of functionality and there is no pro ad free version for sale. > > Ubuntu is making it easy for a user to contribute to their distro of > choice but also make it easy to opt out. There is a simple not now link on > the contribution page and disabling the affiliate links in 12.10 are simple > enough for even a causal user to do. I hope the next installer has an opt > in instead of requiring opt out and I will recommend that to the people at > Canonical but am grateful to contribute especially when it actually costs > me nothing. > > This is free software and I am happy the community gives us choice to pick > distro for what ever reason but am a little disturbed by the hyperbole > around this action by an organization that has helped change the perception > of GNU/Linux from geek only to user friendly . > > As for the spyware objection all web accessing software and especially web > browsers are spyware. This is because the net is a giant spyware system > powered by server side cookies and click pattern identification. Even when > you disable local cookies and try to be anonymous someone somewhere is > monitoring your online activities. It is commerce that funds the net and > commerce wants to know you because it is easier to serve you if they know > you. At least with Ubuntu you can tell them not to monitor your activities > by opting out. > > My 2 cents > > > On 12-10-25 05:02 PM, Jeremy wrote: > >> On 24/09/12 10:41 AM, Jeremy wrote: >> >>> http://yro.slashdot.org/story/**12/09/22/1319216/ubuntu-will-** >>> now-have-amazon-ads-pre-**installed<http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/09/22/1319216/ubuntu-will-now-have-amazon-ads-pre-installed> >>> >> >> Here is a screenshot of it in action: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/** >> 8326/8123116192_9cf4ff6dc1_o.**png<http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8123116192_9cf4ff6dc1_o.png> >> >> You can see the amazon icon on the sidebar I was talking about. Note that >> I did not do anything special here except boot up a new VM then search for >> shades of grey (for humour's sake). >> >> I am on Mint Debian now ;) >> >> Jeremy >> ______________________________**_________________ >> mlug mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://listes.koumbit.net/**cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mlug-** >> listserv.mlug.ca<https://listes.koumbit.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mlug-listserv.mlug.ca> >> > > ______________________________**_________________ > mlug mailing list > [email protected] > https://listes.koumbit.net/**cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mlug-** > listserv.mlug.ca<https://listes.koumbit.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mlug-listserv.mlug.ca> >
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