DSL Subscription

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: DSL Subscription
started by: Rapidweather

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Posted by Rapidweather on Feb. 06 2004,01:16

There are several things that might be solved with a subscription plan where the
DSL user would pay a one time fee up front, say $50.00, and would automatically get new versions sent to him, and perhaps betas not released to mainstream, for
a total of say, 10 CD's. Postage and handling being a big expense, so the actual number needs to be fairly determined.
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When the 10 are sent, then your subscription is up.
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A lot of us are, let us say, enthralled by the idea of DSL, and would like to be able
to get some betas to test, and provide feedback through this board.
Those comments would generate interest in the subcription idea.  Perhaps the
subscription would only be for betas, some of course, almost as complete as the
release.
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What the developers of DSL get is more feedback, and perhaps code itself.
You know, Microsoft has many thousands of such testers, and I heard that
Windows XP was provided to them for $9.95.
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All the DSL beta testers get in return for any suggestions and or code provided to DSL  is an occasional suprise in the mailbox, a new
CDROM from John!  
And the fun and satisfaction of having contributed something to a nice, unique Linux distribution.  With out mailboxes filling up with statements, bills and
other $%*)#@ nowadays, what a nice suprise, a DSL CD!
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With the subcription plan, I could forget about having to order DSL for a
while! It'll appear automagically in my mailbox!
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Posted by salan3 on Feb. 09 2004,16:09

I would be interested in this (but not the Beta's).
I do wonder  how much work this would be to manage though?
I am happy to support DSL and buy the CDs but I have had experience of things like this and if a lot of people 'subscribe' then the admin can take up a noticable amount of time.
If it goes ahead then I would be interested.
Alan
P.S. everyone I show DSL to is amazed at whats in it and how well it works!

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Posted by str1d3r on Feb. 12 2004,03:45

I think this is a bad idea.  No offense John, but I seriously think that until the program is perfected, it shouldn't be charged. Besides, it's open source!  Who would want to charge for open source!  (50 bones is a large chunk of money for a 48 mb OS! :P)  I also think that it would be a time consuming process for John to have to keep burning and sending out CDs to a LOT of people.  At least I wouldn't want to do that...on the other hand, I am lazy.  Just my two cents.

-Str1d3r:p

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Posted by hasty on Feb. 12 2004,19:10

I agree.
John has created DSLas a labour of love

This would turn it into a chore/obligation.

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Posted by davide_Glinks on Feb. 12 2004,20:23

it could work for some people who can afford that. for some others it would not.
open source soft CAN be sold and actually IS BEING sold. No scandal in this.
It's just depending on what you want from your project and how you deal with users..

my two cents

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Posted by Rapidweather on Feb. 15 2004,00:13

Only those folks interested in seriously working with DSL would want
a Subscription. I'm working with DSL every day, mostly trying it on new
(old) computers. I find out something new every day about how DSL will
run (or won't) on various boxes, with various hard drive setups. I like to
get DSL put on the hard drive, so it will run a little faster than on the CDROM.
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The main thing that would arrive in the CD's in the subscription plan is a
new /knoppix folder. That folder I place in /dev/hda1 on this computer, and
boot with a boot floppy. Of course, running off the CD itself, I just navigate
to where my restore tarball is, and #filetool.sh restore, and all my stuff is back.
A new /knoppix folder, when booted, would have a new default menu, and
perhaps some items like MozillaFirebird to add on to one's system, and then
backup for future use.
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Without a subscription plan, one just has to keep checking the DSL website,
and look for a new version number, or read posts about that, to see what
new items/changes are now available. Those with Broadband get to download
and prepare their own CD's. I like to order mine, as I only have dialup, and
older computers to work with in my computer room.
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Some of the big commercial companies like Mandrake have some sort of
subscription plan, so I thought this idea might be tossed around some.
I hate the thought, however, of John being swamped with CD orders,
and having to mail out more because of the Subscription Plan, and not
have any time left to work on DSL.
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