[SOLVED] Slackware from Amazon

brianL · 08-07-2013, 06:52 AM

While I was browsing LQ before logging in, this was advertised in the sidebar:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003AU0WDM/

Is it legal, ethical, above-board, authorised, whatever? My suspicions were aroused.

mrclisdue · 08-07-2013, 07:05 AM

There's one born every minute - PT Barnum (apparently, but I'm guessing neanderthal man said "there's one born every birth")

Can't chime in from a *legal/licensing* viewpoint, but whilst I'm irked, I lean more towards an "it's amoral" as opposed to unethical, though defining the practice is pretty subjective anyhow.

cheers,

cascade9 · 08-07-2013, 07:08 AM

Legal? Yes (Though I have no idea what is in the .pdf files, they could be dodgy).

Authorised? You'd have to ask Patrick Volkerding. I'd doubt it.

Ethical? Depends. $25 for a few burnt DVDs and some .pdfs doesnt sound like that good a deal. Sure, you'll pay more for the DVDs from the slackware store, but then Patrick Volkerding gets some money. At least I hope he does!

https://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store

*edit- stupid me, I misread the £ and $. Makes those discs even more expensive, about $35 US.

Habitual · 08-07-2013, 07:12 AM

Exposure for Slackware is a good thing.

brianL · 08-07-2013, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

Legal? Yes (Though I have no idea what is in the .pdf files, they could be dodgy).

Authorised? You'd have to ask Patrick Volkerding. I'd doubt it.

He visits this forum, so I'm hoping he'll notice this.

brianL · 08-07-2013, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

Sure, you'll pay more for the DVDs from the slackware store, but then Patrick Volkerding gets some money. At least I hope he does!

https://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store

Yeah. I've had a subscription since 13.1. It's about £47 per release, cheap and good value for money when compared to M$ products.

hitest · 08-07-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

It's about £47 per release, cheap and good value for money when compared to M$ products.

Agreed. Excellent value indeed. I'm looking forward to my subscription as well.

chrisretusn · 08-07-2013, 07:23 PM

Read the review, pretty much tells it all. There is only one place to buy Slackware in my opinion. We all know were that is.

http://www.amazon.com/product-review...owViewpoints=1

jefro · 08-07-2013, 07:31 PM

I don't see anything illegal or otherwise to this. People have been making linux available for decades in the from of 5 1/4 inch floppies to modern digital downloads.

I paid to join a bulletin board a long time ago. It was the only way to get linux back then.

What does amazon offer that a company like this doesn't? https://www.osdisc.com/index.html?affiliate=distrowatch

ReaperX7 · 08-07-2013, 08:51 PM

I would only buy a copy from the Official Slackware store to be safe. That way you get the real deal, and it's actually helping out Patrick.

GazL · 08-08-2013, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

I don't see anything illegal or otherwise to this.

Looks like a clear case of Trademark infringement to me. They are selling a product and calling it "Slackware".

cynwulf · 08-08-2013, 05:07 AM

This seller is also selling a lot of other distros: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/browse.ht...=A3AP7T084KPGV

They seem to be asking far too much for a DVDR, DVD wallet and a printed cover... I'd like to know if this is actually legit?

I checked on debian's official vendor list, as debian is one of the distro's they're reselling, and "Prizix" are listed as a US based vendor: http://www.debian.org/CD//vendors/#us

TobiSGD · 08-08-2013, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GazL

Looks like a clear case of Trademark infringement to me. They are selling a product and calling it "Slackware".

Exactly what I thought. I just PMed PV to make him aware of this thread.

XavierP · 08-08-2013, 07:59 AM

IIRC, this is legal and above board. It's up to the market to set a price and to the user to decide whether or not it is better to buy cheap from Amazon and risk getting a bad copy or to buy from the source and know that it will work fine.

TobiSGD · 08-08-2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XavierP

IIRC, this is legal and above board. It's up to the market to set a price and to the user to decide whether or not it is better to buy cheap from Amazon and risk getting a bad copy or to buy from the source and know that it will work fine.

The question is if this vendor is allowed to use the Slackware trademark or not.