OpenBallot: Ubuntu + Yahoo = evil?

Use the best tool for the job

popey - February 2, 2010 @ 5:25pm

I use Google as my default for all browsers I use everywhere. Whether that's in Firefox, IE or Chrome on Windows, Mac and Linux.

When I first heard about the deal I switched my browser search provider to Yahoo! to see if there was much difference. Didn't like it, switched back after an hour or so.

I will be one of those people who upon upgrading to Lucid or installing new systems will spend a few seconds clicking the little drop-down then "Google" and then forget all about it.

I'll do that once per machine and then move on to more important things like, y'know, using my computer.

I use iGoogle (that's not

Anonymous Pidgeon (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 6:09pm

I use iGoogle (that's not copyrighted by Apple, I hope) as my homepage so the first thing I do anyways when I reinstall is change the homepage.

not that evil

Autonomous Penguin (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 6:36pm

The deal is not all that evil, it is more annoying from my point of view, all that it means to me is that I will have to change the default search engine when I first install ubuntu. Having said that I mostly use Mint now so it may be entirely irrelevant.

Moot point - What will the default Chrome search be set as?

Tom Fotherby (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 7:10pm

In Ubuntu 10.04 I probably won't change the default search provider in Firefox... but that's only because the first thing I'll do is install Chrome and make sure the search is set to Google.

I don't think many people would use Yahoo search JUST to show their support for Canonical. They'll change it to what they are used to. However, people like my mum who don't know or care which search provider they are using may as well indirectly support Canonical.

Yahoo!/M$ or Google?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 9:14pm

Yahoo!/M$ or Google? Neither. I'd switch straight to a search engine that properly respects user privacy, as I always do: [http://ixquick.com/]

It's also time for the fanbois to start waking up. Ubuntu exists as a free platform simply to bring in a user-base, so that Canonical can flog them other stuff; support services (to date), and software/music/God-knows what going forwards. They are not evil, nor the second coming for Linux. They are a business, looking to make a buck. Nothing more or less.

Can't even start on this

Polly the Parrot (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 9:23pm

If people don't see this as "selling out", I won't even bother to elaborate...

What's next? Bing as the default search engine?

I use yahoo for emails, so

bobthebob1234 (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 9:33pm

I use yahoo for emails, so ok in that aspect. To search however I use the firefox search bar thingy, which is set to use google by default but with a load of other search engines as well. Never actually used the default homepage search page, formats the results all weirdly... I don't care what the homepage is so long as it loads quickly. If I can get to my emails even quicker then all is good!

What would your rather? Paid Ubuntu or Yahoo

Angry Ubuntu User (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 9:49pm

There Only trying to earn Money. They do release an Enterprise edition or charge for their Linux Distribution that many other Linux companies do. What would you Rather, pay for Ubuntu or use Yahoo Search in Ubuntu. I know it is based on Microsoft's Bing but I wouldn't want Ubuntu to be paid for, or annoying ad's for Ubuntu support and discourage new Linux users from using Linux. I prefer Google but I don't want to pay for ubuntu.

one more reason to switch

highfructose327 (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 10:10pm

This move did not surprise me, after ubuntu one and ubuntu-tunes(utunes, whatever it is called) all of these things will create a revenue stream. I believe this is what Shuttleworth does, he builds businesses to make money then sells when the money is right. It served him well last time, so why would that change? Where ubuntu is going is very different to why I liked ubuntu when I first used it. So the answer for me was to switch to Arch, no hard feelings to ubuntu it was just time to try something new. Ultimatly I use Linux first and then choose a distro that fits my needs. Ubuntu's choice does not restrict my choice to use Arch. When they try to make a choice that would restrict every linux distro,that would be a true mark of evil.

Meh

Louis Bougeard (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 10:36pm

I may search for a few things in it so that i can feel like i've done my part to support Ubuntu then swith to the old trustie Altavista :P which will make no difference becuase when I install Chrome, google will be the default serch engine meaning that I can use the lesser of the two eivils, for the time being...

Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Ubuntu And Everything Else

Polly the Parrot (not verified) - February 2, 2010 @ 11:14pm

Bashing Google and making it look like Microsoft has become the new fashion, but I fail to see where the similarities are, if any.

Google has never charged users for anything and has no lock-in scheme. It supports the open-source movement. Its primary product - search results - is the best of its kind. It is a really innovative and creative company. Yes, it does collect data from its users, but who doesn't, these days?

Microsoft has engaged in highly unethical business practices before, trying to squeeze the last penny out of its users. Its privacy policies were never clearly stated. It prevents other companies from being creative and innovative by intimidating them with the prospect of patent-related suits. Lock-in? Microsoft speciality. Etc., etc., etc.

Now, how can one associate oneself with Microsoft and claim not to become also corrupt? If you lay on a bed of shit you end up smelling bad - even if you put a sheet (Yahoo!) between yourself and the shit. Ubuntu/Canonical will be reeking of Microsoft shit in no time, and all that remains to be seen is the extension of the damage.

Google is a *very intelligent* company, whereas Microsoft is just a predator and a thief. They rose to their prominent places in different ways and with a different set of values. Google works with the market, Microsoft against the market. I would *love* to work for/at Google, but would only work for Microsoft as a last resource for obtaining food (which is certainly not the case for Canonical).

So, in conclusion: Canonical, what a bad move! You are playing right into the hands of Ballmer & Company, and alienating a lot of the more informed users of Ubuntu. Shame on you! Moving away from Ubuntu - and staying clear of it - is my next project in the area.

No Big Deal

jdeslip (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 12:09am

I will probably give Yahoo a try for a day or two and then (unless I am pleasantly surprised) switch to google. No big deal. Hopefully this helps Canonical become a more sustainable company.

Very Bad

Subbu (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 5:55am

I dont like this deal.
It will hardly take few seconds for me to switch to Google as default search engine !

same same but different

inaj (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 6:55am

whether it is google or microsoft, the user is still tracked and every single action is logged, retained, analyzed, profiled, and so on.

google has already access to way too much personal data and microsoft will certainly be happy to survey ubuntu user web usage.

the whole "default search engine" business makes me sick, it's a reminder that the web has become a surveillance tool for big corporations and in turn governments.

I always take the extra step to remove the included default browser id that comes with almost every web browser.

Seal of approval?

High-rollin' Ron Donovan in a Commer Van (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 7:48am

Perhaps we're missing the point. To me this sounds like a tangible acknowledgement from Microsoft that Linux on the desktop is a serious proposition. Otherwise they'd have no interest in paying to get their search engine into a niche platform which had no future. MS must think Ubuntu is going places.

And it's only a search engine - inoffensive and easy to change. It's not as if Ubuntu are starting to ship naked people on their desktop wallpaper (oh hang on, they did that too once, didn't they)?

Irony

Tobi (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 8:49am

I like the deal because of its irony: Microsoft is paying Canonical to develop Open Source Software! (And switching back to Google won't be too difficult for the average user either).

easy enough to change ...

fraxinus (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 10:13am

... from Canonical's defaults. And I use LXQuick anyway.

I agree with dazfuller's point that perhaps we are looking too hard for signs of malign intent from Ubuntu. I don't use Ubuntu myself - I have never liked it. However, Canonical not only makes a vast contribution to the free software ecosystem (I'm leaving aside debates as to whether it gives back 'enough' to Debian or kernel development ...) but also provides desktop Linux with the oxygen of publicity. No-one else can help much with this last point, so far as I can see!

My enemy, my ally

Baldrick - February 3, 2010 @ 10:36am

I think this is well played by Microsoft and should follow up with Microsoft getting Canonical to run Ubuntu One off of Microsoft Azure. That would be a catalyst and safe ground for Microsoft to further develop any business model in the open source space without competing with itself.

For Canonical too grow as a business it needs to develop this level of partnership at this stage of it's evolution. Since the search engine change as well as the cloud partnership I postulate are more services than product, I think Canonical is safe for the moment and has not stepped away from its free software roots but contine to watch this space.

I'll give the Yahoo+Bing a try. I'll admit it will be like trying to ween off my daily Diet Coke fix

humm...okay...right

Buyongo - February 3, 2010 @ 11:36am

Okay so whats wrong with my ubuntu now? I think the guys at canonical should do what they can to make money, those resources will probably be used to make an even better distro, I mean look at it Ubuntu is by far the most competitive os to have come out on the open source world and yet people bitch about bing(yahoo), who uses the crappy search engine anyways. Sites are not listed and all the other issues that come with it. I stopped using Microsoft products and only use Open source programs I survive and if something bothers me I A.) Leave it alone B.) Change it C.)Ignore it. Microsoft and the propriety software world are feeling the open source commie geeks hot on their heels and they are doing what businesses do and thats compete. yahoo or bing will still result in bad search results and someone will notice and switch to chrome or google for browsing and results, just because its open source doesn't mean people have to starve. haha wackrosoft! go validate your b.s

Not that i think microsoft is evil but..

Anonymous Penguin - February 3, 2010 @ 1:31pm

I will change the startpage, not because i think microsoft is evil, but to support google. A lot of interesting technology and cool descisions comes out of google.

mircosoft, google, what the ****

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 2:18pm

I don't care if yahoo, bing, google, etc. is the default search plugin, I will change anyway. not because I'm not satisfied with the results but I don't want to be spied on. that's why I'll use ixquick.com ...

Default Search

scouser73 - February 3, 2010 @ 3:29pm

Ubuntu changing the default search engine is a good thing, not only will Canonical get money for the searches made on Yahoo!, but it will help improve the distro even more when new iterations are released. We should all help to back Canonical & Ubuntu by using Yahoo! search.

As long as it works

Ray Woods (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 4:50pm

Just as long as anything works well people will tend to use it.

As long as you can easily change it, should you not like the default option, there's no problem.

If you get tied in without the freedom to change from a default option, now that's the time to worry.

So far I'm not worried.

Thanks guys

Huw - February 3, 2010 @ 6:01pm

Thanks to the people who mentioned Ixquick - now my default search engine.

Who Really Cares?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 6:28pm

Let's face it, it probably costs Canonical a small fortune to keep developing Ubuntu, so they need to pursue whatever opportunity they can to remain afloat, whether that is through this deal with Yahoo or Ubuntu One. I think we should go with this as it would keep running the distro which brought Linux into the 21st Century.

Would any of you known?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 3, 2010 @ 9:17pm

Would any of you known that Bing was the search engine behind yahoo if it weren't mentioned in this article? Some of you may have read the news when it came out, but it isn't like there is a big "powered by Bing" sticker on the Yahoo homepage.

Phrased a different way, half of you would probably be applauding the decision as a way to keep Ubuntu "free". Most people care a lot more about free of charge than freedom. Personally, I'd like to closed source software come to Ubuntu, because that is the only way Linux users are going to get the killer apps that will truly spawn the year of the Linux desktop.

Until that day, when users can play WoW without a "not" emulation layer; can update their ipods with itunes; can install turbo tax, and do all the other things a normal Windows or Mac users can do, natively, without using exploited, often illegal (patent infringing) knock off programs that don't function correctly, Linux is going to remain in geekdom and server rooms forever.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a free software advocate, when the shoe fits. Unix like systems are vastly superior OS wise to anything Microshaft has produced and there are many free programs I wouldn't live without, but we need to face facts. Until we have an OS where free and commercial software are welcome, it will forever be a niche product and I would love to see it usurp Windows.

Nah, I think it will ok. I

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 4, 2010 @ 2:42am

Nah, I think it will ok. I say whatever helps Canonical help pay the bills and their workers.

Heck No!

abcdefg, hijklmnop. (not verified) - February 4, 2010 @ 3:39am

Gmail has been my e-mail client for oh...since I first got e-mail. and Yahoo just sucks. bottom line. sucks. I won't even use firefox anyway, the first thing I do on a new ubuntu machine is add the chromium ppa, and download chromium. Although it's O.K. if Canonical signs a deal with them, they need money, no way around it. If a Microsoft puppet company will give them that money, that's O.K. with me. But there is no way I will ever use bing. I like my search results un-biased, thank you.

It's all about choice

LesP (not verified) - February 4, 2010 @ 11:54am

The deal with Yahoo is there to make money for Canonical, but the choice of search engine is with the user.

Yes I support Canonical, they have produced an excellent distro. Lets remember that they are a business, they are in it for the money. Ubuntu is a product of Canonical and they are free to choose how they market Ubuntu.

But my choice of search engine is not influenced by them, it is my choice and I will choose the best for my needs.

I don't mind.

TomMan - February 4, 2010 @ 4:14pm

I don't really mind if the default search engine is Yahoo!, I will always switch to the search engine that gives me the best results whether that be Google, Yahoo! or Bing.

And, in the end we are all winning:
Ubuntu can get better due to extra funding and Microsoft might get some more users in the search engine front.

Get over it

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 4, 2010 @ 9:16pm

I dont see anywhere in the GPL that states that you cannot do what you like with GPL'd code.

The GPL talks the talk about "freedoms", so where is the freedom in being able to do with you're distro what you like. This petty complaining about motives or what someone has done with a distro, is just making FOSS look petty.

It looks as though FOSS/Linux is not designed to be a viable alternative to MS, but it seems to be specificly designed to be a spear head weapon used to fight MS.

This is not why people would (or should) use FOSS, they should use it because it is supposed to ensure you're freedoms, and to provide a viable alternative to MS and other OS's.

So what is it you want linux to be? I for one would look for software that does what I need, and I can legally use that I find usefull and of value to me, I dont mind paying for it if necessary.

That also applies to other system components that make up my PC, like the motherboard, RAM, CPU and so on. All those components are proprietary IP and hidden from us normal users.

So showing that all linux is good for is to attack MS, and not compete in terms of quality, functionality, support, and user satisifaction is certainly detracting for linux. and it's just one more thing that people look at when evaluating FOSS linux for thier own use.

This STUPID argument that you cannot touch anything connected to Microsoft is just that stupid. Why do you do it. and How's it working for you??

It seems Linux/FOSS has been around for a very long time, yet over the years it seems to be quite stagnent, and unable to achieve the market penetration and user base it needs to "critical mass". And yet all you can do is bitch and complain about MS. It's a sorry look, and I wonder how long it will take you guys to work out that this tactic is a failure. Once you decide something is not working, it's best to try something else.

Making the same mistakes over and over again, and not learning from them is a sign of insanity...

good business sense. You can

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 6, 2010 @ 3:28pm

good business sense. You can change what search engine you use, it doesn't mean you are tide into it.

Ideal Blasphemy

Linux5150.com (not verified) - February 7, 2010 @ 11:27pm

This is ideal blasphemy folks. In no uncertain terms, Google is the superior search engine, and for Canonical to replace it with Microsoft/Yahoo's search engine, of far lesser quality, is betrayal at best. I understand that the opposition will be funding our Linux, which I'm not entirely against. It just feels ideally wrong, to provide an inferior feature, knowing this is the case. I will promptly be removing Yahoo's search engine from my search toolbar and replacing it with the best!

Get Bing background for Ubuntu

Niko mojo (not verified) - February 9, 2010 @ 9:50am

Nice script to get the Bing background on your Ubuntu desktop.
Hope the Microsoft haters won't be offended too much :-)

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2009/12/set-bingcoms-background-of-day-as-your.html

At Last

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 10, 2010 @ 6:42am

Ubuntu have done something to upset the masses. I reckon a lot of people set google as their home page now anyway so they won't notice who the default search engine is. But then I use Mint and Fedora so why should I care?

Update on search engines

avoura - February 10, 2010 @ 10:30pm

I now use ixquick after reading a recommendation on it here. So goodbye to Google and Yahoo as default search engines, although they are still available. Except in Chromium, which still has Google as the default.

Google Cleaner Than Clean Despite Chinese Censorship Deal ???

I'm a GNU, a-gn-other GNU (not verified) - February 11, 2010 @ 6:12pm

I mean if we're gonna have moral outrage at Canonical making money, what was the justification for Google climbing into bed with internet censorship so they could operate in the Chinese market ?

Could it possibly have been to make money ?

This whole debate reminds me of the folk purist shouting "Judas" at Bob Dylan for daring to play an electric guitar because that was selling out & being commercial. C'mon guys, grow up a bit.

If Ubuntu just existed as somebody's hobby, how usable would it be ? Would you even have heard of it ?

Google != (Microsoft + China + Bing + Censorship)

Polly the Parrot (not verified) - February 11, 2010 @ 8:17pm

First of all: people, please use nicknames (not Anonymous Penguin), and make them easy to refer to. Otherwise, replying to the comments gets unnecessarily complicated. For instance, look at this: "I'm a GNU, a-gn-other GNU". WTF?

Now, to my reply:

@ I'm a GNU, a-gn-other GNU (February 11, 2010 @ 6:12pm)

I got positively despondent with the comments on this post. One or two people seem to understand the implications of what Canonical is doing; the rest doesn't see, doesn't care or pretends nothing is happening. Actually, the proportion of pro-Microsoft comments is so high that I think something fishy is going on on this forum/blog/post/discussion. Microsofties being paid to post, maybe?

So, I won't waste my time on that topic anymore.

Now, as for Google and censorship: Google is still *waaaaaaay* cleaner than Microsoft. Microsoft just said "we'll do whatever is necessary to do business in China, even abide by their censorship laws". Google, on the other hand, at least had the decency to come out and protest publicly, even saying that they might close their Chinese office(s) and end their Chinese operations. Even if that was a hypocritical move (and I don't believe it was) it is still less evil than Microsoft.

And it is not about being a purist. It is not about choice. It is about Canonical/Ubuntu sneaking a "piece of the enemy" - a poisoned apple, if you will - into their product. Even Ubuntu updates will *push* Bing! Millions of Ubuntu users will be unaware of the change and will start inflating Bing/Microsoft market share because they will have been *deceived* by Canonical. Will Canonical do *anything* for money? If so, they are at least as bad as Microsoft. Want choice? Why not keep Google as the default but allow the suckers - I mean, some users - choose to switch to Yahoo!?

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. What else is Canonical planning to hide in Ubuntu for the future? I lost my confidence in them, and hope the rest of the FOSS community also does. For me it is "goodbye, Ubuntu. Die, and have no peace in your rest". As soon as I can I'll be going to some other distro - a *HONEST* one.

Ubuntu is becoming evil

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 14, 2010 @ 5:35pm

Not that a lot of people have jumped on the Ubuntu bandwagon, Ubuntu is trying to become the Microsoft of Linux and sabotaging open source software. They have dropped Google search and switched to a Microsoft partner, Yahoo and Bing search. They are also dropping other open source software including OpenOffice & Gimp. Now is the time to go back to Mepis Linux.

I have **no issue** with

noshellswill (not verified) - February 15, 2010 @ 5:28pm

I have **no issue** with PAYING for Ubuntu -- a one.time fee < lusr registration > seems the better option among many while maintaining the "useful fiction" of free open_source software.

In the (M$) past I have sought-out and paid creators of free-ware whose work, proven-by-use I deemed valuable. A few were surprised ... some (PROXOMITRON) flatly refused payment.

Yahoo is Bing!?!

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 17, 2010 @ 3:20am

When I am forced to use one thing or the other I try to make the provider cry. Windows IE defaults to Google search. Android/Chrome defaults to Bing search. After using both alot I hate to admit I like the results Bing gives me (more fine tuned) than Google gives (every link ever).

MS is corrupt so what do you expect?

clippy (not verified) - February 20, 2010 @ 5:20am

This is extremely bad for Ubuntu and Linux as well.

Ubuntu has been infiltrated by Microsoft paid stooges and astroturfers (yes, many of those posting here are paid by Microsoft).

And why not. Microsoft considers Linux to be their biggest competitive threat. And Microsoft's approach to competition is to destroy it by any means, legal or not.

Bill and Steve are not men of honor. They are master manipulators who use others to take the risks and to do their dirty work. They are not businessmen to be respected. They are schemers; expert double-crossers.

Microsoft is also a non-repentant convicted monopoly that escaped it's punishment by destroying an honorable judge. Microsoft does not represent the best of capitalism. It represents the worst of organized crime. Bill and Steve have no respect for the laws of any country (and have abused the intent of these laws countless times).

If you don't care (or you are doing their dirty work for them) then you share in Microsoft's crimes and you have no honor. Enjoy your blood money.

It is well known that

Open Source Lover (not verified) - February 23, 2010 @ 11:26am

It is well known that Microsoft Corporation works actively against free open source software in the market. Then by establishing a direct or indirect liaison with Microsoft and Yahoo, Canonical is certainly going to damage their credibility and reputation in the free open source community.

If these rumors are true, then many people will move away from Ubuntu. This is sad but true.

chrome plate it

tonybaldwin (not verified) - February 27, 2010 @ 6:35am

I'm not going to use firefox, anyway.
I have a couple of laptops (this one on which I'm writing, and an everex cloudbook) that run ubuntu (my main box runs debian).
If/when I upgrade to karmic, I will continue to use google chrome as my default browser.
The ubuntu start page is a non-issue.
I alway change default browser settings (home page, remove preinstalled bookmarkes, etc.)
I'm thinking of trying a different distro on this laptop(again), but I am also eyeing a dell mini w/ubuntu, so, I'm likely to still have some ubuntu around.