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540

Option to have software repository shipped with the Ubuntu laptop

540 points posted to Linux, Laptops by steve2 05/02/07

This is for people with limited monthly bandwidth usage:
Have an option, of having a large part of the ubuntu software repository shipped on a dvd with the computer. The dvd should at least contain most free or non free hardware drivers and most importantly absolutely anything that anyone might need to get an internet connection (including the ubuntu wiki articles and maybe a collection of good forum posts about getting internet). Furthermore it should have most codecs, the kde and xfce environment, LaTeX, the kernel sources and other important stuff that is not on the install cd. The rest of it can be filled with other software in order of popularity.

hjwasson
05/02/07		 That sounds very doable, using DVD media. It should be included, just like device driver CD's are included for other (Windows) systems. The only problem I see is keeping the repository current. Dell might only update the disc image once a year (or less) - so your library might not have the latest and greatest.
cosh
05/02/07		 Good idea!! Would make a new computer experience much more enjoyable having all that free software available on DVD (which costs virtually nothing to produce).
yertthedestroyer
05/02/07		 This needs to affect all computers, not just Ubuntu and Linux computers. Instead of preloading the thing with crap, we should have it on a disk so we can load it at our leisure.

However, I do see how useful it is to have a Linux DVD. My first Distro that I got from a Linux Group included some, and even though I have broadband, it was very useful having it all in one place.
thiago
05/03/07		 The repository, with all packages 95% of the users want, could probably fit in one or two DVDs, or even in the HD. HDs have become SO huge these days, that some few gigas won't even make a difference.
hjwasson
05/03/07		 Yes, but until HD or Blu-Ray becomes ubiquitous, it will have to be DVD's - why put data on a disc the user can't access? Perhaps if Blu-Ray or HD combo drives become cheap & common, it will happen sooner that I think:
 http://www.dvd-recordable.org/Article3189.phtml
thiago
05/08/07		 I meant Hard Disk, not High Definition Disk.
 
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