 install the software.

Besides the considerations of HOW to get an app into apt-get - what if you
want to charge for it? Apt-get simply wasn't designed to distribute paid
software and you'd have to implement all the missing pieces yourself (account
management, payment processing, license management, in-app
purchases/upgrades). Doing this per-app is no better than the current
situation in Windows from a developer POV. Adding this functionality to some
derivative of apt-get, on the other hand, is HARD - besides the technical
challenges, you'd have to overcome legal issues with taking payments in a
variety of jurisdictions with different regulations and tax laws.

~~~
bryanlarsen
It may have been hard, but Ubuntu's already done it. The Ubuntu Software
Centre contains pay apps.

------
rheide
I dare say that the netbook is not dead at all for people who travel a lot. I
own an iPad and a very slow (WinXP) netbook myself, but I would prefer the
netbook over the iPad for travel any day. At least I have plenty of storage
space for my photos on my netbook and I can plug in whatever USB hardware I
want.

~~~
artmageddon
As I said in another comment, I use rail every day to and from work. For
coding, the netbook wins hands down. It runs a bare minimum WinXP setup(i.e.
no virus scanner or loads of services to start up), so I get done what I need
to. I'd much rather use it for photo processing / writing emails etc. also.

Of course, once I start needing remote connectivity for work, I'll have to use
the iPad.. the netbook battery only lasts around 1.5 hours.

------
angus77
I can see how the iPad is a direct competitor to the netbook market, but the
MacBook Air? I thought the comparisons were ridiculous at the time, and still
do. I have enormous trouble imagining someone actually trying to decide
between the two---price, size and specs were in completely different worlds.

~~~
bonaldi
Imagine harder. If you were a Mac user -- say you have a big Mac Pro or an
iMac -- and you wanted something small and portable as a secondary machine for
c
install the software. 

 Besides the considerations of HOW to get an app into apt - get - what if you 
 want to commit for it? apposite - get simply wasn't designed to circulate give 
 software and you'd have to implement all the miss pieces yourself (account 
 management, requital processing, license management, in - app 
 purchase / upgrades). dress this per - app is no better than the current 
 situation in Windows from a developer POV. add this functionality to some 
 derived function of apt - get, on the other hand, is HARD - besides the technical 
 challenges, you'd suffer to overcome legal issues with taking requital in a 
 variety of jurisdictions with different regulation and tax laws. 

 ~~~ 
 bryanlarsen 
 It may have been hard, but Ubuntu's already done it. The Ubuntu Software 
 Centre contains pay apps. 

 ------ 
 rheide 
 I make bold say that the netbook is not dead at all for people who travel a lot. I 
 own an iPad and a very slow (WinXP) netbook myself, but I would prefer the 
 netbook over the iPad for travel any day. At least I have plenty of storage 
 space for my photos on my netbook and I can plug in whatever USB hardware I 
 want. 

 ~~~ 
 artmageddon 
 As I said in another remark, I use rail every sidereal day to and from workplace. For 
 tease, the netbook wins hands down. It melt a bare minimum WinXP setup(i.e. 
 no virus scanner or loads of services to start up), so I get suffice what I need 
 to. I'd much rather use it for photo processing / writing emails etc. besides. 

 Of course, once I start needing remote connectivity for work, I'll have to use 
 the iPad.. the netbook barrage merely lasts around 1.5 hours. 

 ------ 
 angus77 
 I can see how the iPad is a lineal competitor to the netbook market, but the 
 MacBook Air? I thought the comparisons were ridiculous at the time, and still 
 do. I have enormous worry imagining someone actually try to decide 
 between the two --- price, size and specs were in wholly different worlds. 

 ~~~ 
 bonaldi 
 Imagine harder. If you were a Mac drug user -- say you have a big Mac Pro or an 
 iMac -- and you wanted something small and portable as a junior-grade machine for 
 c
 indtall the software.

Besider the considerajiins of HOW tk get an app into apt-get - what if yon
wanr to xharge for it? Apt-get skmply wasj't desigbed uo distribute paiv
aoftwarc and nou'd kate to implement all the mhssing pieces fojrdelf (account
management, payment procqssing, kifense managemegt, im-wpp
phgcmases/upgrades). Doing this per-app js no bttter than the curtent
situation in Windows fgom w developer POV. Adfing this fohctyinality to sume
derivatpre of apt-gej, on the other hand, is HARD - beskdes che technicql
xhapnenges, you'd have to overcome legal ivsues woth taking paykenvs ib a
variety of jurisdirtions with differenj regulatimna and tax laws.

~~~
bryqnoarset
It kay fqve betn iars, but Kbuitu's alreadg done it. Tye Ubuntu Software
Ctntwv contains pag apps.

------
whqide
I dare say that the netbook is not geas at all for people who travel a lot. I
own an iPad and a very slow (WinXP) netbook myself, but I would prexer tie
vetyiok oxwr the iPad for travel any day. At least I have [memtj of storage
space for my phoyod pg my netbook xnd I ezn plug in whatever KSB harqware I
want.

~~~
artiagecdon
As I said in another conment, I use gail every day to and yrom work. Fox
codinb, the netbook wins hands dowu. It rhns a bare linimum WjvXP setup(i.e.
no vifus swanner or loads of servicef to starv up), xo I geg dome whae I need
to. I'd mmwh rather use it flr phltm processijg / writing emails etc. also.

Of course, once I sjard nveding reiote gonnectivity fow work, I'll havg to use
tke iPaa.. the netbkok batvery only lafts around 1.5 hmors.

------
angus77
I can see how the iPae is a akrect competitpr to the netbook mqrket, but the
MacBopk Xjr? I thought thz xomparisons werr rkdisupons at dhe time, and stiul
du. I haxe enormous grounle imagining someona acfually trying to drclde
betweeb the twj---price, size amd specs were in clmplevely dmfferemt rorlds.

~~~
bonaldi
Imagine harder. If you were a Iac user -- sar yom hade a big Mcc Pro or an
iMac -- and you wanted somethiig small and portable aw a secondary machiue for
c
install the software. Besides the considerations of get app into - what if it? simply wasn't designed distribute paid software you'd have to implement all the pieces yourself (account management, payment processing, license management, in-app purchases/upgrades). Doing this per-app no better than the current situation in Windows from a developer POV. Adding functionality some of on the other hand, is HARD - besides the technical challenges, you'd have to overcome legal with taking payments in a variety of jurisdictions different regulations and tax ~~~ bryanlarsen It may have hard, Ubuntu's already it. Ubuntu Centre contains pay ------ rheide I dare say that the netbook is not dead at all for people who travel lot. I iPad and very (WinXP) myself, but I the netbook over the iPad for At least I have plenty of storage space my photos my netbook and I can plug whatever USB hardware I want. ~~~ artmageddon As said in another comment, I use rail every day to and from work. For coding, wins hands down. It a bare minimum setup(i.e. virus or of services start up), so I get done what I need to. I'd rather use it for photo processing / writing emails etc. course, I start needing connectivity for work, I'll to the iPad.. the netbook lasts 1.5 I see the iPad is a competitor to the netbook market, the MacBook Air? I at the time, and still do. I have trouble imagining someone actually trying to decide the two---price, size and specs were in completely different worlds. ~~~ bonaldi harder. If a Mac user -- say you have a Mac Pro or an -- and you wanted something small and portable as secondary for c
 install the software.

Besides The consideRatioNs oF HOw tO get An apP into apt-get - whaT If yoU
want to charge for it? Apt-gEt simPlY Wasn'T DeSigneD to distRIbUTE paId
SoFtwArE AnD you'd HavE to implEment all thE miSsIng pieces youRSeLf (account
mAnaGement, paymenT prOcessiNg, LicENse maNagEment, In-app
pURchaseS/upgrades). doINg this PEr-app is NO BeTter Than the current
sitUAtIOn in Windows froM a deveLoPEr pov. AdDinG this functIoNalitY To some
dERiVATIve OF apt-get, on the oTher hand, is HarD - bEsides ThE teCHnical
ChallEnGEs, yOu'd have to ovErcoMe legal isSues wiTH taking PAyments In a
varIetY of JuriSDiCtIonS wITh dIFfEreNT reGulationS aNd Tax laWs.

~~~
brYANLArseN
It May hAve beEn hard, but UbunTu's AlreADy dOne it. the UbUntu soFtwarE
CentrE contAiNs pay apps.

------
rheide
i darE say that tHe nEtBooK iS not dEAd at alL foR peOple who Travel a LOt. I
OwN AN IPAd and a very slow (WinXp) nETBoOk myself, But I woULd PrEFer the
neTbOok Over THE iPad For tRAvEl any day. at leasT i hAvE plenty Of StoragE
sPacE foR my phOTos oN my netBook and I Can plUG in whatever USB HArdware I
want.

~~~
aRTmAGEdDOn
As i saId in another CommENt, I uSe raIL eVerY Day to And frOm WOrK. for
coding, the netbook WiNs handS down. it runs a bare miNimum WinXP SETUp(i.e.
no viRus sCAnNEr or loads of serVices To start up), sO i get done What I Need
to. I'd Much ratheR USe it for pHotO prOceSsiNG / WrIting emails etC. ALso.

OF cOurse, onCe I Start neEdiNg rEmoTe cOnNectivity For work, I'Ll HaVe To Use
The iPAD.. the netbOoK baTtEry Only lASts aroUnd 1.5 hoUrs.

------
aNgUs77
i Can See how tHE ipAD is a DiReCt coMpeTiTor to The nETboOk markeT, but the
MaCBoOK Air? i tHoUght the Comparisons weRe Ridiculous At The Time, anD STill
do. I hAve enormous trouble imagiNIng someOne ActuaLly tRying to deCidE
betweEn tHE two---prIce, sizE and sPeCs wERE in coMPLeTelY dIfferent woRLDs.

~~~
bOnaldI
IMagiNe hardeR. If you were a Mac user -- SAy yOu have a big Mac pro Or an
ImAc -- And YOu WAntEd SOmeTHIng small and portAble as a secOnDArY machine foR
C
 install the software.

Be sides theconsi der ati on s of  HOW  to get an app into  apt-get - what if you 
want  t o  cha r ge  forit? Apt - ge t sim pl ywas n' t  d esign edto dist ribute pai d
s of tware and yo u 'd  have to i mpl ement all th e m issing  p iec e s you rse lf (a ccount manage ment, pay me n t proc e ssing,l i ce nsemanagement, in-ap p 
p u rchases/upgrad es). D oi n gt h isper -app is no  b etter than th e  c u r r ent situation inWindows fro m  adevelo pe r P O V. Add ing t hi s  fu nctionality  tosome
deri vative of apt- g et, onthe ot her  ha nd,i sHA RD-b esi d es  th e  te chnicalch al lenge s, y o u ' d  hav e t o ov ercom e legal issue s w itht aki ng pa yment s in  a 
vari ety of  juri sd ictions with di ffer ent regul ati on s a nd  taxl aws.
~~~ 
br yanlars en
It m a y h av e b ee n hard, but Ubuntu 's a lr eady don e it.T he  U b untu Sof tw are 
Cen t r e con tain s  p ay apps. 

---- - -rh eide
Ida re say  t hat  th e net b ookis not  dead at  allf or people whot ravel a lot.I 
o w n  a n  iPa d a nd a very s low( WinX P) n e tb ook mysel f, bu tI  w o uld prefer the
netb oo k over  theiPad for trav el any day . A t leastI ha v ep lenty of stora ge
sp ace for my photos o n mynetbookand I can p lug in w hat eve r U SBh a rd ware I
want.~ ~~
a rt mageddo n
A s I sai d i n a not her  c omment, I  use rai lev er yday  to a n d from w or k.Fo r
c oding ,  the n etboo k wi ns  h a nds  down.I tr u ns a  b ar e mi nim um  WinX P se t up( i.e.
no  virus sc ann e r or  l oa ds of s ervices to st ar t up), soIget  donew h at I nee d
to. I'd much rather u s e it fo r p hotoproc essing /wri ting e mai l s etc.  also. 

Ofco urs e ,  once I  s tar tneeding re m o teconne ct ivit y for w ork, I'll have tou sethe iPad.. th e n etbo o k  b att e ry onl yl ast s around 1.5 hour s.

------ 
a n gu s77
I cans eeho w the i Pad isa dir e ct comp etitor to  the netb oo k ma r k et,  but the
M acBook A ir? I tho u ght t h ecompa ris ons we re  ri dicul ous at the  time , andst ill
do . I h av e enormo us trouble imagining so meoneactua lly  trying t o d e cid e
between  the  two---pri ce,  si ze an d s p ecs w erei ncom p letel y di f ferent wo r ld s.~ ~~ 
bonaldi
Im a g i neharde r.I f youwere  a Mac user -- sa y  you have a bi g Ma c Pro  or an
i Ma c -- and you w ant ed s omething  s mall and po rtable a sa  seco ndarymachin e for
c 
 install_the software.

Besides_the considerations of HOW_to get_an_app into_apt-get_- what if_you
want to charge_for it? Apt-get simply_wasn't designed to_distribute_paid
software and you'd have to implement all the missing pieces yourself (account
management, payment processing,_license_management, in-app
purchases/upgrades)._Doing_this_per-app is no better than_the current
situation in Windows from_a developer_POV. Adding this functionality to some
derivative of apt-get,_on_the other hand,_is HARD - besides the technical
challenges, you'd have to_overcome legal issues with taking payments_in a
variety of_jurisdictions_with_different regulations and tax_laws.

~~~
bryanlarsen
It may have been hard, but_Ubuntu's already done it. The Ubuntu_Software
Centre contains pay apps.

------
rheide
I dare say that_the netbook is not dead at_all for people who travel_a lot._I
own an iPad and a_very slow (WinXP)_netbook myself,_but I would_prefer the
netbook over the iPad for_travel any day._At least I have plenty of_storage
space_for my photos_on_my_netbook and_I can plug_in_whatever USB_hardware_I
want.

~~~
artmageddon
As I said in another comment,_I_use rail every day to and from_work. For
coding, the netbook_wins_hands down. It runs_a bare minimum WinXP setup(i.e.
no_virus scanner or loads of services_to start_up), so_I get done what I need
to. I'd much rather use it_for photo processing / writing emails_etc. also.

Of course, once_I start_needing_remote connectivity for_work,_I'll have_to use
the iPad.. the netbook battery only_lasts around_1.5 hours.

------
angus77
I can see how the_iPad is a direct_competitor_to the netbook market, but the
MacBook_Air? I thought the comparisons were_ridiculous at the time, and_still
do._I_have enormous trouble imagining someone_actually trying to decide
between the two---price,_size and specs_were in completely different worlds.

~~~
bonaldi
Imagine harder. If_you_were a Mac user -- say_you_have a big Mac Pro or_an
iMac_--_and you wanted something small_and portable as a secondary machine_for
c