Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (2974 mails)

["Timothy R. Butler" <tbutler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Normally I would not copy an entire message, but I do this time.
> I'm not sure how "browser wars" became a venue for criticizing
> Suse for YAST, but I must say that having a protocol that brings
> in money is an eminently logical step for a Linux distributor.

  Sort of, although I might note no other major distro does this, AFAIK. As
I point out, if the license does indeed retrict including YaST on a CD that
is sold (see below), what if RedHat had done the same? Then we wouldn't have
RPM on most distros. What if Linus had done this with Linux? Well, you get
the idea. I have nothing against close source software - however it seems
that it is funny coming from a company that makes it's money from open
source...

  NOTE: I'm wondering if the license really restricts including it on a CD
that is sold. Perhaps it is simply saying I can't put YaST up on my site and
say "Get YaST for $10!." Any word on this from SuSE?

> If everybody could copy the CD's and sell them for $1.99, why would
> anyone buy the distro from Suse?  If we would like to see Suse stay
> in business for a while, I'm all in favor of paying the $39.95, or

 Well... I would imagine the following would be the reasons:

   1.) The $1.99 one has 1 CD, not 3 or 7 IIRC.
   2.) You get absolutely no "official" support (and some people may want
that)
   3.) You get absolutely no "manuals."

  Personally, since you can download SuSE online, the key to this isn't the
cost, but simply priciples. Should a company that depends on the
contributions of thousands of developers, then not contribute back one of
it's key components to the community. Now, before I get accused of being a
RMS-style purist, let me say I don't mind close sourced software - I just
wonder if Linux distro companies should be the ones producing such.

> whatever.  I could always stay with an earlier version, if I were
> unwilling to pay my dues, or I could always download Debian, or
> FreeBSD.  No, my friends, I will be happy to pay for the upgrade.
> All you cheapskates out there are likely to put Linux in the
> garbage can.  I think it's worth more than $1.99.

  Well, you are right it's worth more than $1.99 (although the steep $69
price for pro is way too much, IMO). But that is not what I'm saying. And
let me say, I'm really saying way too much - I don't have a YaST license in
front of me, so I can't read ever detail of it - I'm just going by snipits.
However, if I start up Tim's Distro, and wanted to include YaST, and that
stopped me from selling my distro, then something, IMO, is wrong.

  -Tim

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Timothy R. Butler                              Universal Networks
Information Tech. Consultant    Christian Web Services Since 1996
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