Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4481130

by danielfrese • 14 years ago

2 5 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Red Hat is a pretty successful open-source company.

I am wondering, why is there no company like Red Hat that builds awesome open-source products but for the consumer space?

wmf• 14 years ago

Because there is no business model for that company.

danielfrese• 14 years ago

I don't buy that argument.

I would pay for an Ubuntu that runs flawlessly and supports more software.

viraj_shah• 14 years ago

I think you like a few others represent a small segment. Of the consumers willing to use Red Hat, those who would pay is even less. Enterprise is a much bigger piece of the already small pie.

lumberjack• 14 years ago

Both RHEL and Canonical already offer that kind of support.

Specifically for Ubuntu: http://www.canonical.com/enterprise-services/ubuntu-advantag...

ScottWhigham• 14 years ago

I'm trying to wrap my head around what "open-source products... for the consumer space" even means. Are we talking open-source toasters/microwaves/appliances? Doors? Windows? Toys? I'm just not sure I understand what we're talking about when you say "Products".

Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products?

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