[Cialug] Ubuntu question

[Stephen Hawkins]

dc,

On Friday 20 January 2006 14:24, David Champion wrote:
> Stephen Hawkins wrote:

> > Does anyone know anything about Ubuntu's business model?  If so could you
> > please explain it to me.
dc wrote:
> It's similar to the Underpants Gnome...
>
> Step 1: Get yourself a millionaire "astronaut" with nothing better to
> spend his money on.
> Step 2: ???
> Step 3: Profit!

I went to the Ubuntu website a few days ago and clicked on a button to request 
a free Ubuntu CD.  Today a package came in the mail from some strange place 
called France, with 5 CDs in it.  Not counting any software contributions, 
Ubuntu is paying for the website, the CDs, the burning of the CDs, the 
packaging (both the CD holders, and the mailing package), and the postage 
from this France place, to my "Secret Mountain Laboratory", located on a 
mysterious, misty, snow covered peak, high in the majestic Boone Mountains.  
My wife, who has an MBA, was aghast when she found out that I paid nothing 
for this.  She, for a short, but measurable time, hovered very close to 
systemic shock, when I told her that I could probably ask for more, and get 
them for FREE.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she sputtered, "How do they make money?"

I, her Geek husband, having no detectable interest in finance, beyond paying 
for new toys, and with a new toy in hand, shrugged my shoulders, and mumbled 
something about "Global Warming, and a "UN food for CD's program", and 
retreated to my Ham Radio / Computer room.  Later, knowing that my MBA Wife, 
will ask again, and again, until she gets an answer that makes sense to her, 
I posted the question to the mighty cialug group mind, in the hope that:

A.  Someone will know
or
B.  Someone will make up something that sounds like it was thought up by an 
MBA.

Thanks,
Stephen (no I did not write that book) Hawkins
-- 
73 49 111 01001001
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. B. Franklin.
Stephen Hawkins NG0G
ng0g at arrl.net