On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 09:50:07 +0300
Lior Kesos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> ... very detail and correct analysis...
> But if you're the ordinary sysadmin Joe Either start paying for you're
> linux distro or you're going to have to work a bit more now.
Exactly. But:
1. Companies need to make mony, pay employees etc.
2. Most software companies business model is to *lock down*
the customer in per-seat licensing plans to recoup
their expences and have a profit.
3. Free software give us freedom, but companies that produce
software find it hard to be viable business.
The good news is that RedHat offers a different model:
1. The software remains free
2. You can buy our QA/integration/support etc. for a fee.
3. Or you can do it on your own for free.
4. Or you can outsource it as you wish (forks, etc.)
So payment becomes explicit for the services RedHat offers (in the
Enterprise edition), and may be judeged separately from the software
itself (is their support good, does their QA worth the money etc.)
The only dilemas I see are:
1. How many free software developers would want to work for the
RedHat brand -- I.e: manage the rhl project.
2. How binding is their social contract (forks allowed, transparency,
etc.) This is directly related to 1.
3. Small technical issue (which may develop to larger one) -- How
easy are RedHat trademarks be removed/replaced on the rhl-project
as required by them for redistribution -- would they mess with
the software to make it harder?
Bye,
--
Oron Peled Voice/Fax: +972-4-8228492
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.actcom.co.il/~oron
Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
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