Although it would have been great to have Kiwix readyI we’ve pushed out OpenDisc 08.10, and for the first time we’ve managed to synchronise the releases, something we can hopefully continue to do into the future.
With version creeping for almost every program (except FileZilla, strangely) the size was at tipping point, so rather than try to begin to decide which program(s) to delete, we made the jump to DVD. It’s quite a small DVD (not even 50MB over a CD) but when we switch to Kiwix we should be able to expand that out healthily. The poll we held had around 15% of people unhappy about switching, and with media prices at low levels now there really isn’t as much of a problem as there would have been a year ago when the idea germinated.
We’ve been toying with the idea of physical media for a long time, and get the odd offer to provide copies of OpenDisc to people, but you can never really tell what kind of quality people are receiving and in nearly every case none of the money spent makes it back to the project – not that we’re by any means money-grubbing, but people should be able to receive OpenDisc while supporting the project. The only way that’s possible is to offer and supply copies directly.
The main problem that I forsaw is that people might get the wrong idea about us “selling” open source software – I know of at least two cases of developers themselves getting upset at people eBaying their software (whilst legal under the GPL it’s not always completely moral) and pocketing the profits for their hard work.
It’s a fine line between profiteering and supporting development, so we worked out an unusual and different way for people to get copies of OpenDisc while still supporting an open source project.
We’ve accepted monetary donations since the move from TheOpenCD, and although few and far between each donation is greatly appreciated, and has not only paid for operating costs but also this new venture into physical media. So as an added thank you we’re sending out copies of OpenDisc to anybody who donates $15 or above. Why $15? It covers the media, printing, mailer and postage (airmail), with the remainder going to continued development and operating costs.
Hopefully the reception for this isn’t negative – it’s the most neutral way we could think of to provide physical media, but I can see it might be taken the wrong way. Time will certainly tell. 
- The Kiwix delays are a little tiresome, although David Bolton has done a huge amount of work to get it almost ready. [↩]
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