Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider [LWN.net]

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 29, 2010 1:51 UTC (Fri) by maro (subscriber, #34315)
In reply to: Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider by Hanno
Parent article: Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

The difference being that Google has been the technically best search
engine for well over a decade. Personally I don't get why they'd pay Mozilla
to be the default search engine, since Google is what (most) people want to
use anyway.

Early Ubuntu releases were cute with their get-a-Debian-desktop-in-less-
than-a-day give-away CD's, but release by release Canonical just increase
to disgust me as they try to turn a profit. Other projects and distributors
drive the development that benefit Linux as a whole, while Canonical collect
the press, glory, and users (though the users they seem to collect, judging
from what I've seen on their forums, I hope they will keep...) Upstart is
the only Canonical-sponsored project I can come to think of that is useful
outside of Canonical, and even there you have to fill a copyright assignment
to contribute.

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Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 29, 2010 3:38 UTC (Fri) by dlang (✭ supporter ✭, #313) [Link]

their big contribution is that they have passed the 'it just works' threshold for the common desktop.

I've been using linux since 1994, it's been my desktop since 1997, so I'm not someone who isn't familiar with linux and desktop support. But I recommend Ubuntu for people new to linux, or for people who don't want to maintain their own system (including for family and friends who I provide the support for)

this is the first change I have noticed in the distro to make money. They offer paid support (every linux disto vendor does), and they don't give away the source to tools that run only on their servers. that's also very common.

that's not reason to be as hostile as you seem to be.

now if you really want to get into a distro pissing match, I could start in about all the certified redhat experts who can't admin their way out of a paper bag ;-) but I know that every distro will accumulate bad users along with good users and try very hard to recognise that the vocal group are seldom the majority.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Feb 3, 2010 11:56 UTC (Wed) by Hanno (guest, #41730) [Link]

> The difference being that Google has been the technically best search engine for well over a decade.

Since a long time, it has also been the only search engine with a built-in, very lucrative business model for those who integrate it: Make Google your users' default and Google will give you a share of the Adsense revenue.

You might want to read up on Mozilla's sources of income. Technical excellence is certainly not the only reason for Google being the default search engine in Firefox.

Google can do this for all of their products, e.g. for Android and ChromeOS: "Thats right; Google will pay [manufacturers] to use their mobile OS. I like to call this the 'less than free' business model. This is a remarkable card to play. Because of its dominance in search, Google has ad rates that blow away the competition."

> though the users they seem to collect, judging from what I've seen on their forums, I hope they will keep...

Certainly, whenever something gains mass appeal, one needs to diss it for attracting people less smarter than oneself. I am quite convinced that your favourite Linux distribution is only used by smart and beautiful people.