Canonical, the next Microsoft?

Alejandro (a.k.a KZKG^Gaara)

2 minutes

 I have taken the trouble to translate this interesting post that I read yesterday on the blog Opensourcer.

For starters, the author does not claim that Canonical will soon transform into a global monopoly or some kind of evil empire led by a sad fat man named Steve. The point is that more and more Canonical seems, on the one hand, to be the target of an increasing number of criticisms and, on the other hand, it seems to give signs or indications of wanting to depart from the philosophy of free software.


Some of the latest decisions by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, are the ones that have triggered all this criticism and that, according to some, have involved it in "bad karma."

For starters, the inclusion of Mono. This is probably a thorn that many have had in a long time (practically since the beginning of Ubuntu).

  • Then comes the recent incorporation of Ubuntu One. A closed, proprietary software that causes much debate and that has already generated controversy. This is "compounded" by the decision to create a Windows version of the program.
  • Another very questioned decision has been to remove from the default installation of Ubuntu soft such as GIMP, OpenOffice (OO) and other applications much loved and loved by many users.
  • Also featured on this growing list of complaints is Canonical's recent survey to find out which applications would be closed (that is, which proprietary software) should be accessible in Ubuntu repositories.
  • Let's not forget the change of the default search page: now it is no longer Google but Yahoo.
  • The addition of Matt Asay as COO of Canonical is good news. However, despite being known, respected, and experienced, some free software "fighters" were very uncomfortable with some of his public comments.

Anyway ... what do you think? Is Canonical deviating from the path?


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  1.   Esteban said
    ago 11 years

    They are deviating as you say but to become like Microsoft I doubt it, or for that it will take a long time! Microsoft is purely business. That Canonical changes some programs by default I do not think it influences much since you can install it on your own, I do not think that is a big problem. Maybe you want to get some bills or go to know the work that there in that company, I do not know you do not know, but as long as they do not charge us for using Ubuntu or its distributions as Microsoft does with its Windows, particularly I do not it would affect a lot.

    Reply to Esteban