Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products?

Posted by danielfrese on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @03:53PM
from the self-post dept.

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?

( 5 comments | 2 points | on HN )

Re:Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products? by wmf on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @03:55PM (#4481148)

Because there is no business model for that company.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products? by danielfrese on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @04:03PM (#4481182)

I don't buy that argument.

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

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products? by lumberjack on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @05:22PM (#4481534)

Both RHEL and Canonical already offer that kind of support.

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

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products? by viraj_shah on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @04:40PM (#4481360)

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.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no Red Hat for consumer products? by ScottWhigham on Thursday September 06, 2012 @10:42AM (#4484308)

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".

[ Parent | on HN ]