What's the deal with Ubuntu Pro? Annoying Update Dialog pop-up on Desktop? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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OK, I'm a bit confused at the moment. I was ware that Ubuntu is selling subscriptions. I was aware that some security updates required subscription plans; BUT I was under the impression this was for extended support (i.e. after 5 years for a LTS version) or maybe for less frequently used packages beyond what the core distribution ships with.

Now, i get a pop up that looks like the regular update screen, but lists updates I cannot install. So, essentially a sales pitch for Pro. This sounds like exactly the reason, why I'm no longer on Windows.

Can I securely run Ubuntu Desktop and Server, current LTS, without paying?

(crosspost: https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/10654646)

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[-] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

My understanding (and I'm happy to be corrected) is that feature and security updates will continue to be provided for Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Pro's update badgering seems to allow for updates to be provided for packages that aren't part of the base distro makeup - like packages that are held in non-Canonical repos.

For home users, Ubuntu Pro is free... for now.

I don't think it's anything horrendously bad, but the way it's been rolled out is pretty fuckin' far from good too.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

This is correct. There's no need for Ubuntu Pro to get the updates you used to get prior to Ubuntu Pro's introduction. Ubuntu Pro gives additional updates that were not available before and the community does not provide. It's free for up to 5 machines so you should register and enable it. There's no downside for now.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

OK, but still annoying.

Are those updates available on Debian, Fedora, ...?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

On Debian they're not. I've no idea how community support works on Fedora. I don't think there's corp support of any kind on Fedora.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Well, the list looked like those packages should most definitely in the core Canonical repos. Pretty standard libraries.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Ubuntu Pro is free.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Then, what's the point? APT worked perfectly well for decades without creating accounts.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

It's not free for commercial use. It's a paywall for companies

this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024

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