[RFC] ShipIt CD-RW

[Jonathan Hirschman]

Gabriel Dragffy wrote:
> Perhaps this might mean Cannonical agreeing a JIT (just in time)
> approach to getting CDs pressed, so at the end not so many are left 
> over. Perhaps the online shipit order could actually be processed by a 
> third party, i.e. Cannonical out-sourcing the shipit system, so they 
> don't have to worry about dispatching CDs World-wide.
>
>
> Regards
> Gabe
>   

Here's a crazy idea - let the community help.  How about this:

- Cannonical creates a free app that is essentially a Ubuntu CD-maker - 
downloads the image (or verifies that the latest is already downloaded), 
burns it, verifies it, done. One click.

- Allow Shipit requests to opt into a community fulfillment option, 
essentially informing user that they'll get it faster, at the risk of 
compatibility, giving up their mailing address, etc. and that they take 
no responsibility for what arrives.

- Cannonical creates a CD "matchmaking" site, one that shows the closest 
requests (for cheapest shipping), for "Friends of Ubuntu" type users. 
Registration process hopefully keeps the riff-raff out. New FOUs are (or 
are not?) informed that their CDs may actually be going to another 
random FOU for testing via the CD-maker verifier- a way of keeping folks 
honest?

- "friends of Ubuntu" users fulfill the requests. All costs (CD, 
postage, etc) are borne by the FOU.

- Cannonical rewards fulfillments with something  - perhaps free support 
points, or something? - that likely costs them less than the fulfillment 
process.

- Shipit recipient is impressed by community spirit.


Of course, all it'd take would be one evil person to put a dead mouse in 
the package and have that get through. Guess it'd be a good test of the 
community.

jh