Plan for Edgy CDs
Hi folks -
I wanted to give an update on Canonical's current thinking about Edgy CDs.
Our current plan is to keep ShipIt open but to continue shipping Version
6.06 LTS CDs rather than Edgy CDs. The rationale for this is that we
want to focus the investment we make in ShipIt where it will have the
largest impact, and continuing to support the long term supported
release is more beneficial than sending free CDs for the latest, cutting
edge release.
We will still produce CDs for Edgy, but are looking to make them
available through other channels. Specifically,
- every approved LoCo team will receive a shipment of 500 CDs
("approved" means teams that have been approved by the Community Council)
- we would like to find a set of official distributors for the CDs.
These distributors will be required to pay for the CDs (to help cover
our production costs) and then can resell them. We are initially
targeting the low cost online sellers of Linux CDs and would like to get
at least one in every major geographic region. That way users without
the bandwidth to download the latest version can still get an "official"
CD for a few euros/dollars/pounds. *If you have suggestions of reliable
companies/sites that can do this in your region, please email Christina
Armstrong at
christina.armstrong@canonical.com directly.* Please note
that these should be professional and reliable organisations that are
already in the fulfillment business (i.e,. that the have the
infrastructure to process and respond to thousands of orders per week-
this isn't something you want to take on in your spare time).
- We would also make the CDs available to anyone else who wants to
purchase them. Some details to be worked out, but the current thinking
is that we would make them available at the same price (probably
something like EUR 1.50/CD), there would be a minimum order size of
about 100, payment in advance.
Note that of course Ubuntu is still available for free - the new release
will still be available for free download, and the artwork will all
still be made available on DIYMarketing so that people can make their
own CDs. But this process will allow people to get the Canonical CDs
(which I'm told people want), faster than they currently can through
ShipIt, and at nominal cost. And note that 6.06 LTS CDs will still be
available for free from ShipIt.
As I said, there are still some details to be worked out, but I wanted
to share our current thinking with you. If you know a reliable company
that would like to distribute the CDs and has the existing
infrastructure to do so, please email
christina.armstrong@canonical.com