Re: Say it aint so Rhat

[Adam <adam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 From          : klug>klug-request
 To            : adam
 Subject       : Re: Say it aint so Rhat
 Date          : 08/11/99 11:02


>>I think this may be over reacting a little.  Star Office, Applix,
Metroworks,
>>Informix, and lots of products are closed.  I don't, and lot of people
>>don't,  hesitate to use them.  If a package is mine,  it my choice (and
>>ethical either way) if I open it or not.  Unethical is trying to close what
>>someone else has made open,  Rhat is not trying to do that.  They are
>>producing a package,  that will INSTALL Linux.  After installation,  that
>>package is no longer required, so it bears little or no impact on Linux.  I
>>can just as well install Linux with a Linux boot disk, and dd or tar
>>depending on my source media.  I can remember having to use DOS to install
>>Linux in the 0.99 days,  that was closed but it didn't effect my use of
>>Linux.
>As long as Redhat is still freely downloadable from their web site,
>and I can distribute it (as BSware), then I can live with it.
>(we just don't have the source code to their install binary)
>BUT, if you are required to purchase Linux from Redhat so you can
>install it, then I think they have gone too far.

Yes.  But I think they realize if they take away the "download" and copy
option,  thier market share will dry up like a puddle in death valley.  At
least I hope the realize that.  Deployment of Linux, at least for me, depends
on bieng able to make copies of the install media.  Does anyone have any
specific on their installer?  Is it a ram-disk Linux that installs the real
OS, or is it a stand alone booted program?  I've got to image it is the first
or they'd have to develope drivers for CD-ROMs, net cards, etc...  I've heard
that Caldera Lizard has been opened,  what specifically does that mean
in that case?  It seems that a distro's installer would be pretty distro
specific anyway,  how much of it is recylcable?