RE: [aclug-L] Linux on store shelves

[Jonathan Hall <jonhall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You don't have to pay for a Linux distribution to avoid compiling all your
programs.  I use Debian Linux, and it's free, and comes with a plethora of
precompiled programs (about 3 times as many as Red Hat does, by the way).

As far as what business practices I don't agree with... I answered that
largely in the mail I just sent to the list about 5 minutes ago.  But in a
nutshell, I don't like that they contract with other companies to do
development.  I think it's GREAT that other companies are doing
development, but I don't think it's in anyone's best interest for them to
contract with a specific Linux distribution developer.  And by signing
those contracts, I think Red Hat is demonstrating a high profit motive,
rather than a humanitarian motive (they are a commercial entity, you can't
completely blame them).

I guess, as far as a company goes, Red Hat isn't bad.  I just don't like
the idea of commercially developed Linux distributions.  I would have the
same complaints about Caldera OpenLinux, etc... they just aren't as big,
so haven't had as many other companies offer to sign cooperative
development contracts with them....


> I agree with you whole-heartedly. I'm just paying them for the time that I 
> will 
> save myself in having to go out and find the Alpha versions of the 
> applications, the time spent waiting on downloads, the time spent getting the 
> packages on which the application I want to try depends, the time spent 
> troubleshooting Makefiles because the author has a different setup than mine, 
> and the time spent compiling the application to even see if I like it. Don't 
> get me wrong, I love the fact that there is a free alternative to the M$ 
> collective, but I don't have all the free time that I would like to have to 
> putter around with Linux. In exchange for more time, I gladly surrender 40 
> crisp bones, and try all the stuff on the CD. When (not if) I find something 
> I 
> can't live without, then I will go get (and compile) new versions as they 
> become available. To what specific business practices do you not agree?
> 
> JA
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan Hall [SMTP:jonhall@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:30 AM
> To:   ACLUG
> Subject:      Re: [aclug-L] Linux on store shelves
> 
> I refuse to support RedHat softwrae.  I don't agree with their business
> practices.  $40 to support Linux seems backwards, since Linux's philosophy
> is based entirely on FREE software.
> 
> Paying for free software suports non-free software... it's bass ackwards
> if you ask me.
> 
> 
> On Fri, 19 Mar 1999, Clint A. Brubakken wrote:
> 
> > The advantage of the $40 is 2-fold. First you get some support, Second you
> > get software that doesn't come with the cheap versions.
> >
> > Also you're supporting Linux, and Gnome through red hat (and yes your
> > supporting the ceo salary too, but compared to Bill Gates, its a drop in
> > the bucket)
> >
> > I got my copy of 5.2 for $5 though so maybe I'm a hypocrite.
> >
> > Clint
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, Jonathan Hall wrote:
> >
> > > Or you can get it from CheapBytes for under $10, or download it for free!
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, Joseph Rose wrote:
> > >
> > > > I was browsing in Best Buy - Eastgate today and was surprised to find 
> almost
> > > > two dozen boxes of Red Hat 5.2! Price was under $40 for standard 
> > > > version 
> but
> > > > they also had "server" version for around $90. Most remarkable was one 
> lone
> > > > copy of "Idiot's Guide to Linux" for $10 that included a CD of Caldera 
> Open
> > > > Linux1.3 (I almost bought it but I've already got Slackware and Redhat)
> > > > Maybe linux is making a difference!
> > > > Joe Rose
> > > >
> > > > ---
> > > > This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
> > > > want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
> > > > aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send 
> > > > your
> > > > message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > >
> > >
> > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > >   Jonathan Hall  *  jonhall@xxxxxxxxxxxx  *  PGP public key available
> > >  Systems Admin, Future Internet Services; Goessel, KS * (316) 367-2487
> > >          http://www.futureks.net  *  PGP Key ID: FE 00 FD 51
> > >          -=  Running Debian GNU/Linux 2.0, kernel 2.0.36  =-
> > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > >
> > > ---
> > > This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
> > > want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
> > > aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send your
> > > message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > >
> >
> > +-----------------------------------------------------+
> > | The Cheez-Czar  http://www.hackboy.com/~cabrubak    |
> > 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark.
> > 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  
> ----
> >
> > ---
> > This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
> > want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
> > aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send your
> > message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.
> >
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>   Jonathan Hall  *  jonhall@xxxxxxxxxxxx  *  PGP public key available
>  Systems Admin, Future Internet Services; Goessel, KS * (316) 367-2487
>          http://www.futureks.net  *  PGP Key ID: FE 00 FD 51
>          -=  Running Debian GNU/Linux 2.0, kernel 2.0.36  =-
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> ---
> This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
> want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
> aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send your
> message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.
> ---
> This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
> want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
> aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send your
> message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.
> 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  Jonathan Hall  *  jonhall@xxxxxxxxxxxx  *  PGP public key available
 Systems Admin, Future Internet Services; Goessel, KS * (316) 367-2487
         http://www.futureks.net  *  PGP Key ID: FE 00 FD 51
         -=  Running Debian GNU/Linux 2.0, kernel 2.0.36  =-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

---
This is the Air Capital Linux Users Group discussion list.  If you
want to unsubscribe, send the word "unsubscribe" to
aclug-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx.  If you want to post to the list, send your
message to aclug-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx.