I had a feeling of foreboding when I heard Novell announce that no proprietary software would be shipped. It seems as though it is a lack of focus on the customer ... and perception is the rule. The Novell position actually makes sense, and is the right thing to do by
On Saturday 19 August 2006 21:29, Peter Van Lone wrote: the customer--- as a gpl distribution. Many of us like the idea that we can depend on the distribution to have gpl consistency. We don't want Novell or anyone else to reinvent M$.
Instead, should we not be making licensing agreements, and being sure that linux stays can stay competitive in the media player/codec (and yes, DRM ... yuck) markets? Nope. Stick with gpl... in the distribution... the customer is then free to install (or not) proprietary code to their heart's desire... but leave the distro gpl.
Isn't the reality that there are probably always going to be proprietary software/hardware solutions? It seems to me linux has to be able to play in the world as it is, while also trying to change that world. Not in the base distribution... gpl is a good thing.
Or ... is it ok that linux stays niche? Its ok that linux stays free... as in open and accessable... gpl is the way to do this.
-- Kind regards, Mark H. Harris <>< harrismh777@earthlink.net