ubuntu-ngo team mailing list archive

[Alan Pope <alan@xxxxxxxxx>]

2009/8/21 Paolo Sammicheli <xdatap1@xxxxxxxxxx>:
> What about a USB memory with just packages *not* in live cd? Somethings like a
> complementary stick to use in combination with the CD. IMHO the live CD is
> already a great way to set up a pc (and old PCs doesn't boot from USB).
>

Hmm. That's tricky. Chances are that some time after the Live CD is
made the packages will be updated. So you'll still need _some_ of the
ones that are on the CD on the USB drive too. I guess you could figure
out what packages are on the Live CD then just add those as exclusions
to debmirror. I could see that trimming it down by a maximum of about
2GB, probably much less.

> Selling preload usb hard disk with entire repository at a fair price could be
> a little business IMHO (the size make sense to be bought instead to download
> it).
>

The benefit of buying a USB stick/disk pre-loaded with an Ubuntu
repository is that once you copy the data off, you get to keep the
stick and use it for anything else. So the only charge that could be
made is a nominal one over and above the initial cost of the drive. If
it were automated then the amount of human intervention is low.

* User places order for hard disk, choose which architecture, sections
and releases they require.
* Website calculates capacity of hard disk needed for selections,
presents a price, order confirmed.
* Backend system has a number of hard disks plugged in and ready to go
- or a person reads the order and plugs a disk in.
* Automated build script does everything required to make the custom
hard disk and test it then sends an email to the admin
* Admin puts the drive in packaging and dispatches it to customer.

:)

Cheers,
Al.