Hi,
I saw the buzz about maybe MS might sue "linux" distros and hardware people that run it and that there are many possible patent infringements.

Conspiracy aside, I found this link that goes through several links to the Sun owner who says balderdash

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5375070.html

However, he made an odd statement. He said that he didn't think of Red Hat as being open source any more because it is now liscencing?

I really don't know, but any one have comments?
woodsmoke

RedHat not only makes all their GPL source and much of their own source code available for download but you can download the binaries too. They go so far as to assist folks like whitebox linux!

Redhat does have a lot of stuff that isn't in the standard kernel but so do all the other distributions. This is a good thing as the additions make the system better and more secure.

Microsoft probably isn't in the mood to sue anybody right now, they have some major issues arising from the SCO/Novell law suit see http://www.groklaw.net/ for the gory details. They are also tied up with monopoly issues around the world and facing major problems with their copyright enforcement efforts.

Sun has discovered that their Solaris isn't very good compared to Linux for many tasks and are trying hard to cause the Linux vendors problems while not seeming to be as evil as Microsoft. It isn't working for the most part.

stan_qaz
hi
thanks for the comments, I just happened to see the buzz. I think, myself that if it hadn't been microsoft the top dog, that folks would now be bashing apple(think about how long it took for them to finally give up on the apple and mas os's. The top dog is always gonna get in the neck. People voted with their dollars.

But, I myself, and I'm not too bright, think that if MS tried to actually sue "linux" that even a conservative judge would throw it out...

So redhat provides the open source but sells the "enhanced" stuff, kind of like Fedora or Xandros?

I think that is great, if somebody wants to pay cash then fine, but if someone has the gumption to do it on their own then they should be able to...

I've actually installed Fedora Core 3 on a couple of computers that I donated and even one I sold, they guy WANTED linux... the only problem I had with it was that the file structure was just a little "too different" than Windows so that the folks I give computers to could feel like they could actually use it.

I've tried Mepis, and Knoppix but Xandros, so far, has the best "feel" in terms of people who don't have a clue think they can do it.

thanks for the comments.

I'll check the link!
woodsmoke

Fedora is a product of Red Hat under their user community support program, much more cutting edge than their server products.

I've found that setting up a /home directory with all the users under it by name and then giving each of them a documents directory leaves the new folks happy and able to find all their files. Once they go exploring it means they are getting hooked.

I installed XP on a machine today, about 8 hours into it so far and not nearly done, same thing on my Linux box is about an hour.

Yep,
I'm becoming more and more enamored of Linux.
woodsmoke