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Linux.com matches Microsoft software donation offers!
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October 10, 2002 (8:00:00 AM)
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- By Robin "Roblimo" Miller -
If your school, charity or government agency is suddenly graced with a visit by Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer offering to donate a free operating system or desktop office software, Linux.com will match that offer. Our software offer has no strings attached to it whatsoever. You don't need to start paying for upgrades after a few years or anything like that. Too good to be true? Bill and Steve might think so, but we don't!
If your school, charity or government agency is suddenly graced with a visit by Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer offering to donate a free operating system or desktop office software, Linux.com will match that offer. Our software offer has no strings attached to it whatsoever. You don't need to start paying for upgrades after a few years or anything like that. Too good to be true? Bill and Steve might think so, but we don't!
To begin with, we'd like to offer you a complete Linux operating system absolutely free. In fact, we'll offer you a choice of many different Linux versions, not just one product. Go to this server, pick your favorite, and download away.
But you'd better hurry. This offer is only good until ... well, for the rest of this century, anyway, and probably well beyond that (assuming the human race and the Internet and ibiblio.org all last that long).
Free registration
To register your copy of your chosen Linux distribution, all you have to do is mutter "free as in free beer and free as in free speech" under your breath while it installs. Simple, eh?
Heck, you can even skip the muttering and we won't tell anyone. Can Microsoft beat that offer with "free" Windows? Can you just install it and let it rip? Or do you need to have some sort of insanely long Secret Passcode and agree to a long user agreement written in lawyer-talk before you can use your "free" Windows? If you need to click "I agree" and input a Secret Passcode, you need to check how you define "free."
While we're on this subject, you may want to ask Microsoft if you can copy your "free" Windows CDs and install Windows on any additional computers that get donated to your organization. No? That doesn't sound very free, does it?
Well, we here at Linux.com hereby grant you unlimited rights to copy and redistribute any GPL software you want, including Linux. That, my friend, is what "free" means. And if you decide to use GPL software without our specific permission, you still have those rights.
Free office software!
But wait! There's more! That's right, we're not only going to give you, absolutely free, a world-class computer operating system renowned for its reliability and security features, but we'll throw in a complete set of office software you can use to create and edit documents of all kinds -- from business cards to books -- manipulate spreadsheets, create and edit drawings and photographs, and even use to make and present slide shows with animated graphics and special effects.
You can get your free office software directly from OpenOffice.org. Tell 'em Linux.com sent you and you'll get a free pat on the back, over and above everything else we're offering. Unbeatable!
Once you download and install your office software, you can join any one of a number of email lists where you can get free technical support. (You can learn more about these lists from the same Web site where you got the free office software.) What's more, you may suggest improvements to the software directly to the people who develop it through these very same email lists.
Go ask Microsoft if you can talk directly to the software engineers who work on MS Office. Ha!
And did I mention that these OpenOffice.org support services don't cost a dime? And that you don't need to fill out complicated online forms and give your corporate fax number to aggressive salespeople before you can use them?
Other Open Source software
You need a Web browser, you've got a Web browser. Want solitaire and other cool little games? Included. Cool text and HTML editors? At your fingertips. Want to play music? Rock on! Do graphics creation and editing, from simple to complicated? Go for it. Need firewalls and networking features? Yours for the asking, no charge. And there's lots more ... look at a Web site called freshmeat for a seemingly endless list of software you can use with Linux -- most of it free.
What about professional support?
Sometimes it's best to hire a professional to help your organization get started with a new operating system and new software. This part of Linux is not free. But you can usually find someone local to help you by going to your local Linux User Group -- and that user group will also be full of people who will probably answer questions for free (if you ask nicely) if you prefer to do your own work.
Whether or not to go the professional route with Linux is purely up to you. Some do, and some don't. One good thing to note is that, what with Linux being free, you will find that many people have learned a great deal about how to deploy and network it on their own, and have gotten certificates or college degrees later. As you can imagine, the kind of person who is passionate enough about Linux to stay up nights learning to work with it out of love for the code itself is going to make a great consultant for you -- especially if that person also has solid professional administration experience and a good grounding in computer theory, as many skilled Linux people do.
Double your money back!
Now, to clinch the deal, Linux.com is going to make an extraordinary offer to you: If, after reading this article, you download any free Linux distribution or free Linux software it links to, and you are not satisfied with it, we will not only refund all the money you paid in licensing fees, but will give you double that amount, no questions asked.
Anyone care to compete with this offer? Bill? Steve?
Comments
on Linux.com matches Microsoft software donation offers!Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
dude...linux is free. join the club!
NO:
Blue Screens Of Death
Illegal Operations
WinXP Registration
!!!
--upgrdman
NO:
Blue Screens Of Death
Illegal Operations
WinXP Registration
!!!
--upgrdman
Better yet, buy one of those little <A HREF="http://wiccabilly.com/images/troll.jpg">trolls</a wiccabilly.com>.
Of course it is serious. Its 100 % correct. ITS ALL FREE. That is the joy of it. You FINALLY have a computing choice. And you dont have to spend a DIME. I cant belive that ANYONE (including corporate america) would not jump on the Linux bandwagon. Heck, the money you would save from all the license's could put a team of IT people through Linux certification, 1000 times over. Come on people, wake up and smell the freedom....
Look that is nice and all but with Companies still create Learning on windows based systems. All the cost savings and stability mean little. Johnny just wants to run his Reader Rabbit even if it crashes once in a while. Or snoopy CD. I know about wine but folks at schools from an IT perspective are not always technically savvy. If you work IT at a school and read this you are not the group I am talking about but you know who they are.
Great article, it's linked where no one that matters will see it though. (I'm talking CIO/CTO/CEO types, no offense my fellow geeks.)
Oh.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
I am a CTO and very much interested and will be soon implementing Linux. We have dumped our NT servers for Linux and that went very well. Price is a factor but function is the main factor. It's powerful, flexible and it works well. The price is great too. This is a no brainer.
Our 350 workstations will, in the next 18 months all be converted to redhat and OpenOffice.
Our employees will do their work on this with no problem.
Our 350 workstations will, in the next 18 months all be converted to redhat and OpenOffice.
Our employees will do their work on this with no problem.
i'm james. I'm a student, and I just set up 256 bit twofish encryption on my<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/home partition of my harddrive using hvr's excellent international crypto patch. I have no money to my name, and lots of college debt.
I use linux cause it's free. (and i can encrypt my hard drive, and do other neat tricks with loopback devices<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
anyway, funny article.
I use linux cause it's free. (and i can encrypt my hard drive, and do other neat tricks with loopback devices<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
anyway, funny article.
Only well-funded software companies can provide the rich, value-added user experience you describe. Remember, only profit drives innovation.
This is where all of the linux community sites in the world (mine included) fall down. We have all these great ideas, but can't seem to get those ideas under the noses of the people making the decisions.
As much as I agree with some of the criticisms people have of Redhat, at least when they have an idea, they can get it in front of people.
I write op/ed and news pieces too, but often I throw them out, because it's pretty useless to extol the virtues of Linux to Linux users, or to preach of the sins of Windows usage to people who inherently aren't huge fans of Windows.
Sad but true. There aren't many people out there on Windows community sites linking to stories like this.
As much as I agree with some of the criticisms people have of Redhat, at least when they have an idea, they can get it in front of people.
I write op/ed and news pieces too, but often I throw them out, because it's pretty useless to extol the virtues of Linux to Linux users, or to preach of the sins of Windows usage to people who inherently aren't huge fans of Windows.
Sad but true. There aren't many people out there on Windows community sites linking to stories like this.
Are you that naive? Profit doesn't drive innovation, competition drives innovation. Microsoft has never had, nor likely will ever have an ounce of innovation in them. Any innovation they claim was purchased. When there is no competition, there is no incentive for innovation, and prices sky rocket.
Free software developers profit by:
gaining know-how
receiving praise from their users
receiving bug-reports from their users
receiving new ideas from their users
receiving bug-fixes from other developers<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...
gaining know-how
receiving praise from their users
receiving bug-reports from their users
receiving new ideas from their users
receiving bug-fixes from other developers<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...
Don't forget, free software developers are also rewarded by:
using their own product
using good software
not having to use micro$oft products
not having to pay for micro$oft products
and by helping others (by at least offering an alternative)
using their own product
using good software
not having to use micro$oft products
not having to pay for micro$oft products
and by helping others (by at least offering an alternative)
"only profit drives innovation"
Not necessarily, throughout history we have seen great innovations for the better and for the worse. The need to kill others, faster, at a distance, and massively, has been one of the main reasons for innovations. Also, in the medieval days, England's desire to torture and execute was a major reason to invent “grand” new devices.
Not necessarily, throughout history we have seen great innovations for the better and for the worse. The need to kill others, faster, at a distance, and massively, has been one of the main reasons for innovations. Also, in the medieval days, England's desire to torture and execute was a major reason to invent “grand” new devices.
The empiric research and many real-life examples refute that retarded statement.
If you're making this offer to grade schools, we'll
have to change the 'free' clause. After all, we don't
want to encourage underage drinking. Plus, most kids
interested in 'free beer' would be thrilled if they
could buy it, and the rest probably don't care about
free beer.
have to change the 'free' clause. After all, we don't
want to encourage underage drinking. Plus, most kids
interested in 'free beer' would be thrilled if they
could buy it, and the rest probably don't care about
free beer.
Better watch out though, I expect that Microsoft will fly over to your house next and offer you a couple of million dollars to promote Windows instead.
pizza!!!!
Right! Pizza! (Or as we Greek say: Pita!)
Does anyone know a Linux software store, where we can get free gyros and pizza?!<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:
-Al (Jean-Luc) the Greek guy
PS Hey Kefalos! (If you've finally checked out newsforge...)
Does anyone know a Linux software store, where we can get free gyros and pizza?!<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:
-Al (Jean-Luc) the Greek guy
PS Hey Kefalos! (If you've finally checked out newsforge...)
About has many that have free beer...
Sure, pizza recipe is free -- go buy the ingredients and make your own.
It was joke man, a joke!
If you have to buy the ingredients, there for it is not free... Little hole in your logic, don't know if you caught it...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:)
-Jean-Luc
PS I make the best pizza in B.C. Canada
If you have to buy the ingredients, there for it is not free... Little hole in your logic, don't know if you caught it...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:)
-Jean-Luc
PS I make the best pizza in B.C. Canada
ah. you've got my laughing my ass off over here. very well done.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:)
I guess you will pay for this with the money you are getting from Microsoft for all the Visual Studio ads that I see on this site.
<tt>Hush your mouth! I was hoping no one would figure out our secret funding source... (`,')
- Robin <tt></TT></TT>
I tried to buy visual studio so that newsforge would show up on the m$ radar has a good place to waste ad dollars. Couldn't find the Linux or BSD versions. So I sent a letter of complaint instead...
I tried too, When contacted M$, they hung up on me...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:
I tried to get the Linux versions too, couldn't find them... When I contacted M$ they didn't say anything for a few minutes, then they put me on hold... That was a week ago... I'm still on hold, they play that lovely dial tone music...<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:lol:
Haha!! I know its you Jean-Luc!
I think that's pretty damn cool, personally<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;)
"Newsforge! Paid for in part
by our biggest competitor!"
"Newsforge! Paid for in part
by our biggest competitor!"
Ok,here it goes...
For an educational institution, LINUX is the way to go:
1. No new hardware to buy,even the old PCs can be put to use, NOT true with MS software as new and newer S/W comes out, it demands more and more from the hardware.
2. No separate compiler suite to buy, Linux comes with GNU compilers and tools.
3. Students must be educated how a multi-user environment works, now what a multi-user environment is, Linux or any *ixes provide that.
4. Office and other productivity suites are great, but last time I checked, all pertinent information like course syllabi, documentation were published using PostScript or plain old HTML.
If OpenOffice is to take off, there must be more of the XML-ized documents published on the web. So when some tries to open them, the realize they need OpenOffice.
5. All GOOD educational institutions do have Solarises or HP-UXs for their student accounts. So I don't think they would be interested in Linux a server solution for now. But what they do have a need for is the cheap workstations, which Linux can fill, that is if they haven't already accepted an MS offer.
I could go on and on, but people who make such decisions are computer literate, and infact they don't care much about "good" and "bad" technology, so if Linux is cheap and is viable common sense will tell them to use it.
MS has always played with the weakness of individuals, if you put money on the table, they will agree to anything. Examples can be found if you read the MS story, not the Microsoft version but the version some oldies can tell you.
This is no joke folks, when it comes down to finding a job, if your skill base is not required at businesses then it will start to pinching. This is a fight, and it will take every linux user to win it.
For an educational institution, LINUX is the way to go:
1. No new hardware to buy,even the old PCs can be put to use, NOT true with MS software as new and newer S/W comes out, it demands more and more from the hardware.
2. No separate compiler suite to buy, Linux comes with GNU compilers and tools.
3. Students must be educated how a multi-user environment works, now what a multi-user environment is, Linux or any *ixes provide that.
4. Office and other productivity suites are great, but last time I checked, all pertinent information like course syllabi, documentation were published using PostScript or plain old HTML.
If OpenOffice is to take off, there must be more of the XML-ized documents published on the web. So when some tries to open them, the realize they need OpenOffice.
5. All GOOD educational institutions do have Solarises or HP-UXs for their student accounts. So I don't think they would be interested in Linux a server solution for now. But what they do have a need for is the cheap workstations, which Linux can fill, that is if they haven't already accepted an MS offer.
I could go on and on, but people who make such decisions are computer literate, and infact they don't care much about "good" and "bad" technology, so if Linux is cheap and is viable common sense will tell them to use it.
MS has always played with the weakness of individuals, if you put money on the table, they will agree to anything. Examples can be found if you read the MS story, not the Microsoft version but the version some oldies can tell you.
This is no joke folks, when it comes down to finding a job, if your skill base is not required at businesses then it will start to pinching. This is a fight, and it will take every linux user to win it.
Far more capable emulators for foreign OS software than Micro$haft is even capable of running.
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 11, 2002 04:18 AM
See this thread from a Linux in education newsgroup: http://archives.seul.org/seul/edu/Oct-2002/msg000<nobr>3<wbr></nobr> 8.html
M$ is going after the market (if you can call it that when it's free as in beer) for keeping old computers running in schools. K-12 ltsp has been making some inroads and M$ is apparently noticing
snip:
>>Hey guys,
Looks like MS is starting to pay attention to public concern. I
got a very nice email from a lady who works for MS asking if I am
still trying to load Linux on old machines at my school. It seems MS
is now looking into making available OS's and Works for older machines
in schools. She says she hopes it will be free, and wants to come
visit. Comments?
M$ is going after the market (if you can call it that when it's free as in beer) for keeping old computers running in schools. K-12 ltsp has been making some inroads and M$ is apparently noticing
snip:
>>Hey guys,
Looks like MS is starting to pay attention to public concern. I
got a very nice email from a lady who works for MS asking if I am
still trying to load Linux on old machines at my school. It seems MS
is now looking into making available OS's and Works for older machines
in schools. She says she hopes it will be free, and wants to come
visit. Comments?
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 11, 2002 04:27 AM
Snip:
Tell her to go $#@! herself. Who is she anyhow? Melinda Gates, Billy boy's wife? I hear she uses Linux.
Tell her to go $#@! herself. Who is she anyhow? Melinda Gates, Billy boy's wife? I hear she uses Linux.
Yes, that's about right. Microsoft treats schools like carp until they start mentioning Linux, then Microsoft treats them to some free software. Hell, I wouldn't want it! Even if it is free, Microsoft won't offer security fixes for old software, and it certainly won't use the current Office file formats.
I personally don't see why all of the schools and governments in the world just don't shout out "Hey, we're switching to Linux!". Man, Microsoft would be handing out cash so fast that Bill would have to sell his paintings to keep people using Microsoft software!
You want Microsoft
I personally don't see why all of the schools and governments in the world just don't shout out "Hey, we're switching to Linux!". Man, Microsoft would be handing out cash so fast that Bill would have to sell his paintings to keep people using Microsoft software!
You want Microsoft
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 11, 2002 04:50 AM
Billy Boy paints?
What images of hiself slaying the Penguin? I got several of those, but its the reverse...
-Al (Jean-Luc)
(Note to Rob and gang,
I got an acount just
to lazy to get the password)
What images of hiself slaying the Penguin? I got several of those, but its the reverse...
-Al (Jean-Luc)
(Note to Rob and gang,
I got an acount just
to lazy to get the password)
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 13, 2002 05:50 AM
Dear Microsoft,
I'm using windows at home, but now that I had to upgrade my system, I'm seriously thinking about Linux. Mostly because it is free, and it's supposed to be more stable and secure than your offering. Plus I've heard there is not upgrade cost, ever.
Anonymous Reader.
(Do you think they're gonna send me some cash?)
I'm using windows at home, but now that I had to upgrade my system, I'm seriously thinking about Linux. Mostly because it is free, and it's supposed to be more stable and secure than your offering. Plus I've heard there is not upgrade cost, ever.
Anonymous Reader.
(Do you think they're gonna send me some cash?)
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 12, 2002 01:07 AM
> No new hardware to buy,even the old PCs can
> be put to use, NOT true with MS software as new
> and newer S/W comes out, it demands more and
> more from the hardware.
Have you looked at more recent distros like Mandrake 9 or Red Hat 8? They seem to be following the same trend.
> If OpenOffice is to take off, there must be
> more of the XML-ized documents published on
> the web. So when some tries to open them, the
> realize they need OpenOffice.
Could you clarify what exactly you are stating here? I'm not even sure it is in English. Are you saying to view a XML document you need OpenOffice? Or to create XML-ized version of documents you need OpenOffice?
> be put to use, NOT true with MS software as new
> and newer S/W comes out, it demands more and
> more from the hardware.
Have you looked at more recent distros like Mandrake 9 or Red Hat 8? They seem to be following the same trend.
> If OpenOffice is to take off, there must be
> more of the XML-ized documents published on
> the web. So when some tries to open them, the
> realize they need OpenOffice.
Could you clarify what exactly you are stating here? I'm not even sure it is in English. Are you saying to view a XML document you need OpenOffice? Or to create XML-ized version of documents you need OpenOffice?
Re:Software donation by Microsoft/Linux.com
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 12, 2002 03:12 AM
If OpenOffice is to take off, there must be more of the XML-ized documents published on the web. So when some tries to open them, the realize they need OpenOffice.
****
CORRECTION: OpenOffice, although it uses _a_ XML format, does not mean that it can read all XML formats. In fact, it cannot. Mozilla can edit XML documents - at least the ones using the XHTML tags. And so on and so forth. The rest of your points were good, this one was not.
****
CORRECTION: OpenOffice, although it uses _a_ XML format, does not mean that it can read all XML formats. In fact, it cannot. Mozilla can edit XML documents - at least the ones using the XHTML tags. And so on and so forth. The rest of your points were good, this one was not.
I'd bet some people who are not familiar with the distinction between freeware and Free Software are going to be routed here, and there's nothing in the article to explain what GPL software is, so I thought I would offer up some links to useful references:
<A HREF="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html#TOCGPL">The GPL, and other free software licenses</a gnu.org>
<A HREF="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">The philosophy behind Free Software and how it differs from freeware</a gnu.org>
GNU sucks, well at least Richard Stallsman does...
They hate KDE so much. I think Linus should complete the Linux OS and cut out GNU in GNU/Linux.
They hate KDE so much. I think Linus should complete the Linux OS and cut out GNU in GNU/Linux.
Ok, sure the GPL and GCC are good. But GNU really has nothing to do with Linux... AS MUCH AS THEY WANT US TO BELEIVE IT THEY DID NOT CREATE LINUX!!!
They didn't create the kernel, just most of the most important stuff...
Linus didn't create GNU/Linux... AS MUCH AS YOU WANT US TO BELEIVE IT HE DID NOT CREATE GNU/LINUX!!!
Linus didn't create GNU/Linux... AS MUCH AS YOU WANT US TO BELEIVE IT HE DID NOT CREATE GNU/LINUX!!!
Ha ha *snort* snort* ha ha *snort*
Oh boy, oh boy, good one. Ha ha. You are killing me... please stop. Ha ha.
Oh boy, oh boy, good one. Ha ha. You are killing me... please stop. Ha ha.
They don't hate KDE - I know this for a fact.
What the GNU project does dislike is proprietary licenses - and the Qt toolkit used to be under one.
Since then, they have put Qt under a disjunctive license which allows people to use it under the GNU GPL and that lifts any complaints.
Oh, and for Linus to have even written the Linux kernel, he required GNU software.
Your information here is both incorrect and out of date.
What the GNU project does dislike is proprietary licenses - and the Qt toolkit used to be under one.
Since then, they have put Qt under a disjunctive license which allows people to use it under the GNU GPL and that lifts any complaints.
Oh, and for Linus to have even written the Linux kernel, he required GNU software.
Your information here is both incorrect and out of date.
"Oh, and for Linus to have even written the Linux kernel, he required GNU software."
Yeah, everybody knows that... There is nothing wrong with GNU software or the people that make it, they just borrow the GPL and GCC. However a lot of people love Linux, just don't like the big guys at GNU... Personally I'm indifferent to whether or not Linux should be called GNU/Linux fight. But, a separation between Linux and GNU, might not be so bad after, Linus did set out to make an OS not a kernel for GNU. Perhaps that idea should become reality... (In the long run, but it will take time...) Anyhow, that is just my opinion.
The GPL works great with general software such as games and office suites. But I don't think the GPL works with everything, such as DEs (desktop environments...). For example If someone were to make a new wonderful DE for Linux, some idiot will port it to some other OS. Thus requiring a change of name (eg: Linux Explorer, became Xplorer) Sure we need multi-OS DEs but, we need one of our own too... (GNU Hurd has their own: Gnome...) Anybody care to comment on this? (I know someone is working on this, but I'm not currently at liberty to say who...)
Yeah, everybody knows that... There is nothing wrong with GNU software or the people that make it, they just borrow the GPL and GCC. However a lot of people love Linux, just don't like the big guys at GNU... Personally I'm indifferent to whether or not Linux should be called GNU/Linux fight. But, a separation between Linux and GNU, might not be so bad after, Linus did set out to make an OS not a kernel for GNU. Perhaps that idea should become reality... (In the long run, but it will take time...) Anyhow, that is just my opinion.
The GPL works great with general software such as games and office suites. But I don't think the GPL works with everything, such as DEs (desktop environments...). For example If someone were to make a new wonderful DE for Linux, some idiot will port it to some other OS. Thus requiring a change of name (eg: Linux Explorer, became Xplorer) Sure we need multi-OS DEs but, we need one of our own too... (GNU Hurd has their own: Gnome...) Anybody care to comment on this? (I know someone is working on this, but I'm not currently at liberty to say who...)
Just so you know, I'm not saying Xplorer is a DE, I'm just using it as an example (I re-read it and it might seem to some as if I'm saying that...).
Linus did set out to make an OS not a kernel for GNU. Perhaps that idea should become reality...
Why re-invent the wheel? FYI, Linus has said that GPLing the kernel was one of the best decisions he's made. From context, I infer that your intention is that Linux should migrate away from Free software principles. This is a phenomenally Bad Idea.
I don't think the GPL works with everything, such as DEs
Why is the GPL bad for a DE? Both GNOME and KDE are GPL'd. You have not demonstrated your purported drawback to this strategy.
For example If someone were to make a new wonderful DE for Linux, some idiot will port it to some other OS.
Why is that bad? The new derived version of the DE would have to be GPL'd also, so who cares?
Thus requiring a change of name.
There is nothing in the GPL about needing to change the name of a program that you modify and re-release (although it would be common courtesy in many cases). Anyway, I fail to see the relevance.
What is this multi-OS DE you're talking about? Since when is Gnome the DE for GNU/Hurd? Last I checked it ran under GNU/Linux as well...
Sounds like you want to make a DE for Linux under a proprietary license. Such a project would be doomed to fail, because (1) you would not have access to the huge armies of volunteer programmers that your Free competitors do, and (2) no one would want to use the non-Free DE.
Why re-invent the wheel? FYI, Linus has said that GPLing the kernel was one of the best decisions he's made. From context, I infer that your intention is that Linux should migrate away from Free software principles. This is a phenomenally Bad Idea.
I don't think the GPL works with everything, such as DEs
Why is the GPL bad for a DE? Both GNOME and KDE are GPL'd. You have not demonstrated your purported drawback to this strategy.
For example If someone were to make a new wonderful DE for Linux, some idiot will port it to some other OS.
Why is that bad? The new derived version of the DE would have to be GPL'd also, so who cares?
Thus requiring a change of name.
There is nothing in the GPL about needing to change the name of a program that you modify and re-release (although it would be common courtesy in many cases). Anyway, I fail to see the relevance.
What is this multi-OS DE you're talking about? Since when is Gnome the DE for GNU/Hurd? Last I checked it ran under GNU/Linux as well...
Sounds like you want to make a DE for Linux under a proprietary license. Such a project would be doomed to fail, because (1) you would not have access to the huge armies of volunteer programmers that your Free competitors do, and (2) no one would want to use the non-Free DE.
You are incorrect about people not wanting to use a non-free development environment. Kylix is a non-free development tool for Linux and has a fairly strong user base. Most people I know are willing to use any quality tool, regardless of the license it is released under.
"From context, I infer that your intention is that Linux should migrate away from Free software principles. This is a phenomenally Bad Idea."
You think I'm talkin' commercial software? NOOO!
If it sounds like that, I'm sorry. And yes moving away from free software principles is a horrible idea... All I think is that Linux should quit borrowing GLIB and the Bash shell etc. If people want to use them, that their problem. And companies like Xandros
( http://www.xandros.net ), Mandrake and Redhat should include the GNU stuff on a second CD labelled "GNU software". Understand now?
"Why is the GPL bad for a DE? Both GNOME and KDE are GPL'd. You have not demonstrated your purported drawback to this strategy."
Okay, I demonstrate it now: Both KDE and Gnome were once just for Linux. Now they have been ported to many OSes (Mostly UNIX clones), as result they are no longer referred to by many as Linux DEs, rather as Free UNIX desktops. Okay we need at least one like that. eg. So if a freeBSD user had to use a Linux machine say at work, they could make the transaction to Linux machine no problem (KDE and GNOME already fill this nitch... maybe freeBSD isn't the best example of a different OS, but whatever...).
But we need our own recognizable LinuxDE that is released under a GPL style licence (possibly called LDPL? [LinuxDestop Public Licence]) that prohibits porting. This licence would be and should, used only for this purpose.
"Why is that bad? The new derived version of the DE would have to be GPL'd also, so who cares?"
The creators would... (read on... I explain further on...)
"There is nothing in the GPL about needing to change the name of a program that you modify and re-release (although it would be common courtesy in many cases). Anyway, I fail to see the relevance."
It is relevant, if one sets out to create a DE called "LinuxDesktop", and it is ported to an other OS. What would we call it then? You see my point? And to whole idea is to make a DE that is only for Linux. I think we need a Linux only DE. Maybe I'm the only one who feels the need.
"Since when is Gnome the DE for GNU/Hurd? Last I checked it ran under GNU/Linux as well..."
Sure it does, but Gnome is the official GNU DE, right?
"Sounds like you want to make a DE for Linux under a proprietary license. Such a project would be doomed to fail, because (1) you would not have access to the huge armies of volunteer programmers that your Free competitors do, and (2) no one would want to use the non-Free DE."
I've already stated that it would not be under a proprietary license, I don't need to repeat myself. Hypothetically speaking, I would have to have a really really low IQ to even think about creating a non-free DE (There is no market for one anyhow, even on a commercial OS! A lot of people tried for Win3.x, it did work! And yes there is a few for the real UNIX, but KDE and GNOME are taking over). That’s all I got to say. If anybody is interested email me at al_hornet@linuxmail.org . Some source code for LinuxDesktop already exists... I'm currently doing a double major in Computer Science and business at a university in Canada. But I'm still not very good with C++... (No I don't want anybody to do my homework<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:) I'm not even taking a C++ class right now! So no jokes okay?)
Alwasp (Jean-Luc)
You think I'm talkin' commercial software? NOOO!
If it sounds like that, I'm sorry. And yes moving away from free software principles is a horrible idea... All I think is that Linux should quit borrowing GLIB and the Bash shell etc. If people want to use them, that their problem. And companies like Xandros
( http://www.xandros.net ), Mandrake and Redhat should include the GNU stuff on a second CD labelled "GNU software". Understand now?
"Why is the GPL bad for a DE? Both GNOME and KDE are GPL'd. You have not demonstrated your purported drawback to this strategy."
Okay, I demonstrate it now: Both KDE and Gnome were once just for Linux. Now they have been ported to many OSes (Mostly UNIX clones), as result they are no longer referred to by many as Linux DEs, rather as Free UNIX desktops. Okay we need at least one like that. eg. So if a freeBSD user had to use a Linux machine say at work, they could make the transaction to Linux machine no problem (KDE and GNOME already fill this nitch... maybe freeBSD isn't the best example of a different OS, but whatever...).
But we need our own recognizable LinuxDE that is released under a GPL style licence (possibly called LDPL? [LinuxDestop Public Licence]) that prohibits porting. This licence would be and should, used only for this purpose.
"Why is that bad? The new derived version of the DE would have to be GPL'd also, so who cares?"
The creators would... (read on... I explain further on...)
"There is nothing in the GPL about needing to change the name of a program that you modify and re-release (although it would be common courtesy in many cases). Anyway, I fail to see the relevance."
It is relevant, if one sets out to create a DE called "LinuxDesktop", and it is ported to an other OS. What would we call it then? You see my point? And to whole idea is to make a DE that is only for Linux. I think we need a Linux only DE. Maybe I'm the only one who feels the need.
"Since when is Gnome the DE for GNU/Hurd? Last I checked it ran under GNU/Linux as well..."
Sure it does, but Gnome is the official GNU DE, right?
"Sounds like you want to make a DE for Linux under a proprietary license. Such a project would be doomed to fail, because (1) you would not have access to the huge armies of volunteer programmers that your Free competitors do, and (2) no one would want to use the non-Free DE."
I've already stated that it would not be under a proprietary license, I don't need to repeat myself. Hypothetically speaking, I would have to have a really really low IQ to even think about creating a non-free DE (There is no market for one anyhow, even on a commercial OS! A lot of people tried for Win3.x, it did work! And yes there is a few for the real UNIX, but KDE and GNOME are taking over). That’s all I got to say. If anybody is interested email me at al_hornet@linuxmail.org . Some source code for LinuxDesktop already exists... I'm currently doing a double major in Computer Science and business at a university in Canada. But I'm still not very good with C++... (No I don't want anybody to do my homework<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:) I'm not even taking a C++ class right now! So no jokes okay?)
Alwasp (Jean-Luc)
Freedom has this strange way of allowing people to do things.
Take away the freedom to port applications and you take away most base freedoms outright.
There's a reason why the GNU GPL doesn't say that all programs released under the GNU GPL are part of the GNU project: it would be against the concept of Free Software.
If people want to take all of the GNU tools and replace them, then they are free to do that. I, personally, will have no quarrel with them as long as they license their software as Free Software.
If people want to port Free Software to other platforms, more power to them. I won't deny somebody that right simply because I want to feel exclusive. Elitism is for fascists and fools.
Take away the freedom to port applications and you take away most base freedoms outright.
There's a reason why the GNU GPL doesn't say that all programs released under the GNU GPL are part of the GNU project: it would be against the concept of Free Software.
If people want to take all of the GNU tools and replace them, then they are free to do that. I, personally, will have no quarrel with them as long as they license their software as Free Software.
If people want to port Free Software to other platforms, more power to them. I won't deny somebody that right simply because I want to feel exclusive. Elitism is for fascists and fools.
Well you might use a Microsoft developer
product to build a program, but that doesn't
make Mozilla for Windows a Microsoft product.
And besides, you don't need the GNU\ to get
the idea across. Any idiot knows that
"Linux" = "GNU\OS + Linux usually with X."
Let's call it GNU\X\KDE\Linux, or
GNU\X\Gnome\Linux. Or GNU\GGI\Linux, or
what the hell ever. There are tons of pieces
that go into the OS, but the one piece you
can ALWAYS expect to be there in "Linux" is
the Linux kernel.
"GNU\OS" could come with Hurd or Linux.
"Linux" always means Linux with GNU, except
in very very rare cases where someone cares
enough to make their own C-Lib.
Besides, who wants to type out GNU\Linux?
There are 4 keys there that don't need to be
typed to get the idea across.
product to build a program, but that doesn't
make Mozilla for Windows a Microsoft product.
And besides, you don't need the GNU\ to get
the idea across. Any idiot knows that
"Linux" = "GNU\OS + Linux usually with X."
Let's call it GNU\X\KDE\Linux, or
GNU\X\Gnome\Linux. Or GNU\GGI\Linux, or
what the hell ever. There are tons of pieces
that go into the OS, but the one piece you
can ALWAYS expect to be there in "Linux" is
the Linux kernel.
"GNU\OS" could come with Hurd or Linux.
"Linux" always means Linux with GNU, except
in very very rare cases where someone cares
enough to make their own C-Lib.
Besides, who wants to type out GNU\Linux?
There are 4 keys there that don't need to be
typed to get the idea across.
Actually, no - any idiot doesn't necessarily know about GNU...
Simply because you know about it, doesn't mean that everyone saying "Linux" really means "GNU/Linux"
But, besides the point, the discussion wasn't originally about naming. The discussion was about some person not liking GNU for reasons that were both inaccurate and without any significant basis in rationality.
Simply because you know about it, doesn't mean that everyone saying "Linux" really means "GNU/Linux"
But, besides the point, the discussion wasn't originally about naming. The discussion was about some person not liking GNU for reasons that were both inaccurate and without any significant basis in rationality.
There are tons of pieces that go into the OS, but the one piece you can ALWAYS expect to be there in "Linux" is the Linux kernel.
Actually, the two things you can be sure of are the Linux kernel and the GNU tools... the kernel is useless without the tools.
If it helps, think of it this way: Linux needs GNU (the kernel is useless without the GNU tools) but GNU doesn't need Linux (GNU tools in *BSD, even installed on top of commercial OSes, Solaris 9 comes with a CD of GNU tools). Linux is just handy for GNU because it gets more publicity than *BSD.
I was muttering "klatu barata nictu"!
Hey you've been watching 'The day the earth stood still!!' The director of that movie also directed several original Startrek episodes... Just thought you'd like to know...
Linux rules!
-Al (Jean-Luc)
_________________
I run Linux on
the Enterprise
Linux rules!
-Al (Jean-Luc)
_________________
I run Linux on
the Enterprise
I thought that line was from "Army of Darkness"
Nope, I rented 'The day the earth stood still!!' the other day. Perhaps it is quoted in "Army of Darkness" I haven't seen it and so I don't know.
-Jean-Luc
-Jean-Luc
See also:
http://us.imdb.com/Mlinks?0106308
Movie links for "Army of darkness" from IMDB:
References
Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
Day the Earth Stood Still, The (1951)
Amazing Colossal Man, The (1957)
Spartacus (1960)
Zulu (1964)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
"A-Team, The" (1983)
Nightmare On Elm Street, A (1984)
Stryker's War (1985)
Aliens (1986)
Yup.
http://us.imdb.com/Mlinks?0106308
Movie links for "Army of darkness" from IMDB:
References
Yup.
Never seen "the day the earth stood still" but that phase is the one that Ash misquotes when taking the Necronomicron, unleashing the army of darkness.
Perhaps we could keep a (strictly voluntary of course) site to keep track of these nice free installs by distribution. For those distributions which *sell* software (like Red Hat), at the end of the tax year, they can deduct the retail gain X number installed. Only fair, since when MS refers to the value of the software they "give away," they do it in terms of their own retail purchase price.
(Which shows how screwed up our tax system is<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;))
timothy
(Which shows how screwed up our tax system is<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;))
timothy
<A HREF="http://counter.li.org/">The Linux Counter</a li.org>
I am a linux & very happy with it . I am running my system for 4 years with linux with out any crush.
But the thing is in my country ( I am from India ) internet abnd width is very low , the speed is 56 kbps at max since here still the dailup network is populer so downign loading Rh 8 will be a matter of
down load for a week & so the telephone line cost & internet cost.
Though I have better solution I generally perfer to buy CD roms generally the lower price & got my Rh 7.3 in that way , 8 of our firend bought it & copied it just costs Rs 250 per head.
So I think the given offer is mainly for US baased people.
Anirban Biswas.
But the thing is in my country ( I am from India ) internet abnd width is very low , the speed is 56 kbps at max since here still the dailup network is populer so downign loading Rh 8 will be a matter of
down load for a week & so the telephone line cost & internet cost.
Though I have better solution I generally perfer to buy CD roms generally the lower price & got my Rh 7.3 in that way , 8 of our firend bought it & copied it just costs Rs 250 per head.
So I think the given offer is mainly for US baased people.
Anirban Biswas.
Per head?
Just use the same disk on all the systems.
"Rs 250" per everyone you know!
And the US isn't the only country with
badass internet connections<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:)
Just use the same disk on all the systems.
"Rs 250" per everyone you know!
And the US isn't the only country with
badass internet connections<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:)
Anirban Biswas
I'm sorry to hear that... I know, dialup is slow.
I don't think the given offer was intended for just for North Americans. But there is always problems like this... I hope you guys can get high speed Internet soon (I still haven't got it yet, so don't feel so bad, a lot of us are still in the same boat<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:) ).
Good Luck!
Jean-Luc
I'm sorry to hear that... I know, dialup is slow.
I don't think the given offer was intended for just for North Americans. But there is always problems like this... I hope you guys can get high speed Internet soon (I still haven't got it yet, so don't feel so bad, a lot of us are still in the same boat<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:) ).
Good Luck!
Jean-Luc
If you and your friends are interested in a particular distro, you can download portions of the ISO from separate dialup connections and merge them together and burn the ISOs onto CDs. They're all free for doing that. No piracy here! (I know<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.. who cares about piracy, u might ask. Well, it just feels good to be doing the right thing. Good karma there,<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:-))
Sometimes I pirate, sometimes I don't.
Depends on what I'm getting.
I bought Chrono Trigger when I could easily
have the downloaded ROM. But I just like having
the real thing...
Depends on what I'm getting.
I bought Chrono Trigger when I could easily
have the downloaded ROM. But I just like having
the real thing...
Once again we are also having a conflict with the word free as well. It is a shame that it costs you money to get a distribution but that is the same for everyone. I live in Canada (you know the big ass country to the _north_ of the United States) and I pay around $50 a month for high speed internet access. Sure that isn't much that is some. It usually takes a day to get all dics of the distribution because the sites are primarily limited to a mere 30 kb/s (which makes HS kind of useless). So let's say that there are 31 days in the average month so $1.60 a day. So to obtain a copy of a five disc distribution (like RH8) I spend $1.60 on my internet acces about $0.60 per disc for a total of $4.60. See I didn't get Linux for free either.
It is a problem with the English language:
Linux isn't free, its free.
French, Spanish, hell even German do a much better job of it:
Linux n'est pas gratis, son libre.
It is free to be modified, distributed, and used. That is the key definition of the word.
It is a problem with the English language:
Linux isn't free, its free.
French, Spanish, hell even German do a much better job of it:
Linux n'est pas gratis, son libre.
It is free to be modified, distributed, and used. That is the key definition of the word.
Just some statistics/facts for people in US about Internet Costs in India :
* In India when you buy a Dialup, it does not come with a toll free number (i.e. the phone charges are extra).
* There is a charge of Rs.1 for every 3 minutes of phone usage.
* ISP charges are like Rs. 1000/month
So taking the current convertion rate 1 US$ = 50 Rs. (Rs. is Indian Rupee)
So do the math to calculate the cost to download 5 ISO images using Dialup connection.
Just to give you some idea, a decent wage if you work in a big city here is Rs.15,000/-.
And last month I paid Rs. 5000/- as phone charges for using internet for around 3-4 hours a day (i might have used more hours on some days..just an estimate). That translates into $100.
So I'm paying $100 phone charges for 3-4hours a day dialup connection besides paying the ISP charges seperately.
* In India when you buy a Dialup, it does not come with a toll free number (i.e. the phone charges are extra).
* There is a charge of Rs.1 for every 3 minutes of phone usage.
* ISP charges are like Rs. 1000/month
So taking the current convertion rate 1 US$ = 50 Rs. (Rs. is Indian Rupee)
So do the math to calculate the cost to download 5 ISO images using Dialup connection.
Just to give you some idea, a decent wage if you work in a big city here is Rs.15,000/-.
And last month I paid Rs. 5000/- as phone charges for using internet for around 3-4 hours a day (i might have used more hours on some days..just an estimate). That translates into $100.
So I'm paying $100 phone charges for 3-4hours a day dialup connection besides paying the ISP charges seperately.
Yeah you are right the high value of dollar a big problem for us . If you spend $ 1 you spends here rs 50 & also a decent salary of rs 15000 is $ 300 , & I think it is a very poor salary for any decent US based jobs .
So the cost is also a problem . We smiply can not afford to download 5 cd ISO for 4 or more days ( & still I do not have any jobs because I am still a student )
Anirban Biswas.
Kolkata
So the cost is also a problem . We smiply can not afford to download 5 cd ISO for 4 or more days ( & still I do not have any jobs because I am still a student )
Anirban Biswas.
Kolkata
Firstly, thanks for the geography lesson. Now stop being patronising.
Secondly, your $4.60 is a lot less than a month's dialup charges.
Thirdly, Linux is both free and free.
Linux est gratis et libre.
Just some statistics/facts for people in US about Internet Costs in India :
* In India when you buy a Dialup, it does not come with a toll free number (i.e. the phone charges are extra).
* There is a charge of Rs.1 for every 3 minutes of phone usage.
* ISP charges are like Rs. 1000/month
So taking the current convertion rate 1 US$ = 50 Rs. (Rs. is Indian Rupee)
So do the math to calculate the cost to download 5 ISO images using Dialup connection.
Just to give you some idea, a decent wage if you work in a big city here is Rs.15,000/-.
And last month I paid Rs. 5000/- as phone charges for using internet for around 3-4 hours a day (i might have used more hours on some days..just an estimate). That translates into $100.
So I'm paying $100 phone charges for 3-4hours a day dialup connection besides paying the ISP charges seperately.
* In India when you buy a Dialup, it does not come with a toll free number (i.e. the phone charges are extra).
* There is a charge of Rs.1 for every 3 minutes of phone usage.
* ISP charges are like Rs. 1000/month
So taking the current convertion rate 1 US$ = 50 Rs. (Rs. is Indian Rupee)
So do the math to calculate the cost to download 5 ISO images using Dialup connection.
Just to give you some idea, a decent wage if you work in a big city here is Rs.15,000/-.
And last month I paid Rs. 5000/- as phone charges for using internet for around 3-4 hours a day (i might have used more hours on some days..just an estimate). That translates into $100.
So I'm paying $100 phone charges for 3-4hours a day dialup connection besides paying the ISP charges seperately.
And if a school were to apportion that cost among 500 students the price would drop to about $.08 USD plus the cost of the blank CD's. Here in the US, the cost would be about double that<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... almost 16 cents! What other operating system can you (legally) get that handles desktops, servers, PDAs, Mainframes and even wristwatches for the cost of the media? And offers continuous tech support in the local language at no extra charge? When the operating system only costs 16 cents per seat, you can afford a whole lot more hardware.
Perhaps the word "free" is not technically correct in every possible circumstance<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... but we are talking pocket change, not even folding money. Most institutions can afford Linux from the petite cash account.
Perhaps the word "free" is not technically correct in every possible circumstance<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... but we are talking pocket change, not even folding money. Most institutions can afford Linux from the petite cash account.
But It Is Also A Great Business Opportunity
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 15, 2002 04:42 PM
In India, downloading GNU/Linux is not cost-effective because of high phone and ISP charges.
So what can a smart entrepreneur do? Download a GNU/Linux distribution, and sell CD-ROMs. Keep then cheap and affordable...in a populous country like India, high volume of sales can mean a lot of money.
As software for GNU/Linux is updated frequently, you can sell subscriptions. Buy a subscription and get new CDs every three months...or every month.
Build a brand name, sell GPL/FDL-licensed manuls, offer distribution choices (Debian, Mandrake, "Laal Topi" (Hindi for crimson headgear), etc. You can even offer GNU/Linux support too.
So what can a smart entrepreneur do? Download a GNU/Linux distribution, and sell CD-ROMs. Keep then cheap and affordable...in a populous country like India, high volume of sales can mean a lot of money.
As software for GNU/Linux is updated frequently, you can sell subscriptions. Buy a subscription and get new CDs every three months...or every month.
Build a brand name, sell GPL/FDL-licensed manuls, offer distribution choices (Debian, Mandrake, "Laal Topi" (Hindi for crimson headgear), etc. You can even offer GNU/Linux support too.
RedHat *used* to have a non-pofit organization dedicated to providing software and services to educational institutions. They no longer do this. When I asked why, a RedHat representative told me that they were a for-profit company and so discontinued this non-profit service. Quick thinking, too. They wouldn't want to risk a tax break, good publicity and getting a new generation of kids, and maybe their parents, using their operating system.
I guess they were having financial troubles.
(They always are.)
With negative profits you can't expect them
to be paying money out all the time. They have
to "cut off the figner to save the hand." If
the company is going broke, and one branch
isn't pullign in any cash, that have to kill
it...
(They always are.)
With negative profits you can't expect them
to be paying money out all the time. They have
to "cut off the figner to save the hand." If
the company is going broke, and one branch
isn't pullign in any cash, that have to kill
it...
I'd be the last guy to have RedHat spend any money needlessly, but as this article pointed out, its laughably simple to compete with other OSes who are trying to give their software way. It wouldn't take a big leap of accounting creativity to create a non-profit organization that supplies free operating systems to schools and then take a tax cut on the expenditures for the advertising. Apple leveraged a similar idea and they ended up pocketing some nice change from their educational focus. The exact process that gets Microsoft criticised on this forum would be an excellent way for RedHat to generate more revenue.
Linux has a big marketing problem. Almost no one hears about them unless IBM tells them about it. This is a cheap, simple way for them to get more distros in front of more people. And, ultimately, its possible that schools will purchase services from RedHat to support their free software.
And web both know they're having financial troubles. They always are!<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;)
Linux has a big marketing problem. Almost no one hears about them unless IBM tells them about it. This is a cheap, simple way for them to get more distros in front of more people. And, ultimately, its possible that schools will purchase services from RedHat to support their free software.
And web both know they're having financial troubles. They always are!<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;)
RedHat having financial troubles ???? are you insaine ??? RedHat single handedly accounted for approx 50% of Linux desktop sales, and 75% of ALL Linux total revenue !! A link to the article stating the statistics was even posted on linux.com about a month ago. Finiacial problems my ass, they're making more money then all the other distro's combined...
I guy A is losing his shirt and guy B is losing his pants, then guy C, who is only missing a shoe is a success, right?
Sweeeeeeeeeeeet man this is the best article i've seen this year funny but informative.
If you actually want to appeal to the schools and you actually have a clue, next time mention all the educational software we have such as our drop-in replacement for BlackBoard, gradebook and scheduling software. Blackboard is costing these guys up the wazoo and we have an (the only?) alternative. Why were you silent about LTSP? or SEUL? Do you not know about them? Frankly, I don't think you know what you are talking about and it ticks me off that you pretend to address the public on behalf of Linux as a whole. Okay<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... Linux is free, intellectually and, to a very large extent, financially. So what? If that were all Linux had to offer, it wouldn't be on Gates & Ballmers radar. Forget free<nobr> <wbr></nobr>... let that be a nice bonus. Linux has LOTS more to offer. Even what I have written below barely scratches the surface.
Dear School Administrator,
Please excuse my colleague. He's not used to dealing with business people such as yourself for whom reliability and standardization are far more important than initial cost. He isn't accustomed to looking that far into the future. But I know you are.
So here is our value proposition:
We have cloned most of the software you already use. There is an absolutely minimal re-learning curve to adopt our products.
We have begun to add logical, intelligent and innovative changes as we establish ourselves as the new leaders in software development.
It is possible that we have not yet cloned everything you currently use . We have a mechanism in place for creating specialized applications at minimal cost.
We do, in fact, offer this software for you to use throughout its lifetime at no charge.On that point my colleague was 100% correct.You may upgrade at will, modify at will and even, with restrictions, publish.
We are an international organization with technical support staff in every country served by the internet. In most cases, free technical support is available (in your local language) 24 / 7 on a 1-12 hr delay basis. If you should decide that you need even more immediate technical assistance maintaining the product, we have formed companies for that purpose and can also direct you toward skilled individuals should you decide to build your own support structure in-house.
Our software will allow you to skip at least one and possibly several hardware upgrade cycles. In most cases, the same programs are available for all common platforms such as Mac, Intel, DEC, Sun and so on. It's a long list. This allows you additional freedom in assigning your people.
We can help you centralize control and accounting so that you will retain a very high degree of control over which commercially licensed products are installed on your computers. No more nasty and harsh surprises at audit time.Nor more surprise expenses or expensive litigation on this point. You can show the Business Software Alliance the door, politely or not.The Open Source Movement does not audit.
It's a poor administrator who spends his budget on litigation,constant retraining and "upgrades" that add no needed functions.
We think you are better than that. We think you can recognize a true value proposition when you see one. We think you can hold a finger to the wind and tell when the tide is changing.And it is, most certainly, changing.
We'd like to call on you soon, before you make another purchase decision regarding either software or hardware. You have questions, we have answers. Good ones. You can find us online by using the search term "Linux User Group" in your favorite search engine or by following this link:
<A HREF="http://www.google.com/search?q=Linux+User+Group&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0">Go Linux!</a google.com>
Dear School Administrator,
Please excuse my colleague. He's not used to dealing with business people such as yourself for whom reliability and standardization are far more important than initial cost. He isn't accustomed to looking that far into the future. But I know you are.
So here is our value proposition:
We have cloned most of the software you already use. There is an absolutely minimal re-learning curve to adopt our products.
We have begun to add logical, intelligent and innovative changes as we establish ourselves as the new leaders in software development.
It is possible that we have not yet cloned everything you currently use . We have a mechanism in place for creating specialized applications at minimal cost.
We do, in fact, offer this software for you to use throughout its lifetime at no charge.On that point my colleague was 100% correct.You may upgrade at will, modify at will and even, with restrictions, publish.
We are an international organization with technical support staff in every country served by the internet. In most cases, free technical support is available (in your local language) 24 / 7 on a 1-12 hr delay basis. If you should decide that you need even more immediate technical assistance maintaining the product, we have formed companies for that purpose and can also direct you toward skilled individuals should you decide to build your own support structure in-house.
Our software will allow you to skip at least one and possibly several hardware upgrade cycles. In most cases, the same programs are available for all common platforms such as Mac, Intel, DEC, Sun and so on. It's a long list. This allows you additional freedom in assigning your people.
We can help you centralize control and accounting so that you will retain a very high degree of control over which commercially licensed products are installed on your computers. No more nasty and harsh surprises at audit time.Nor more surprise expenses or expensive litigation on this point. You can show the Business Software Alliance the door, politely or not.The Open Source Movement does not audit.
It's a poor administrator who spends his budget on litigation,constant retraining and "upgrades" that add no needed functions.
We think you are better than that. We think you can recognize a true value proposition when you see one. We think you can hold a finger to the wind and tell when the tide is changing.And it is, most certainly, changing.
We'd like to call on you soon, before you make another purchase decision regarding either software or hardware. You have questions, we have answers. Good ones. You can find us online by using the search term "Linux User Group" in your favorite search engine or by following this link:
<A HREF="http://www.google.com/search?q=Linux+User+Group&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0">Go Linux!</a google.com>
><nobr> <wbr></nobr>...all the educational software we have such as our drop-in replacement for BlackBoard, gradebook and scheduling software.
Links, or at least names, please? I'm interested, as I currently teach, but have no idea where to find any of this stuff as there are no names or links posted for any of them...
Links, or at least names, please? I'm interested, as I currently teach, but have no idea where to find any of this stuff as there are no names or links posted for any of them...
really?
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 11, 2002 12:07 AM#