Linux for Human Beings.
Ubuntu is a popular Linux operating system for PC / mobile devices, etc.
Developed by Canonical & based on Debian (another older Linux OS) which is known for it's rock solid stability.
Ubuntu is trusted everywhere computing by professionals and common users alike.
Can someone explain to me why the fuck I should pay for installing packages that are available in other distros?
WTF Ubuntu???
These packages are not available in other distros and you can get them for free for up to 5 machines. Previously you weren't able to get them at all without paying for corp support.
It’s free for personal use. It used to be a paid-only service to let you get 10 years of security updates (LTS support is usually only 5)
Right, it’s premium support for corporations that want to stick with a release past its normal expiration date.
The labor required to perform that maintenance costs money, and honestly it’s shit work that you’d have to pay me a lot to convince me to do.
I don't use ubuntu, so this is news to me. Please clarify by answering this question: The fuck?
Ubuntu Pro is free now for personal use
You're paying for extra support. This is nothing new. This is how FOSS makes money outside of begging for donations.
So basically they're following the redhat model? OP made it seem like something very different..
Except Red Hat has slightly different model with the different distributions. With Canonical the Ubuntu Long Term Support version has 5 years support and you can opt for 5 years more. This extra 5 years is free for personal users and businesses up to 5 devices.
I don't run Ubuntu, but was surprised I'd not heard of this.
This is canonical trying to make money for security updates, and stopping companies just running it for free, instead of using a licence (my own take). They are following a model by IBM, apparently.
You can get round it by getting a 'pro' licence for free for up to 5 machines. At least according to ask Ubuntu. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1452299/im-getting-the-message-the-following-security-updates-require-ubuntu-pro-with
More reasons to avoid Ubuntu, imo.
That's not at all what's happening. Canonical have not put anything that was previously available without an account, behind this service. As others have noted, they're making something that was previously paid-only, free for up to 5 machines.