[linux-elitists] RedHat drops the other shoe

[Kurt Wall]

Feigning erudition, Lee wrote:
% On Thursday 27 February 2003 10:13, Net Llama! wrote:
% > My $deity, its horrifying that Redhat actually wants to make a profit!
% > Such bastards.
% >
% > Sorry, but i don't see how this is a bad thing.  Granted, i haven't seen
% > the actual email in question, but i suspect that ftp://updates.redhat.com
% > will remain freely accessible, and that anyone wanting automagic updates
% > would have to pay.  Getting a service usually means paying for said
% > service.  The fact that Redhat provided it gratis for this long should be
% > commended.
% >
% Correct me if I'm wrong but Red Hat is open-source isn't it? I seem to 

Red Hat Linux is open source, yes. What does that have to do with making
money? The Red Hat automatic updating gizmo is a fee-based service not
covered by open source rules, especially when you consider that they 
will almost certainly continue to issue updates that people have to go
and get themselves.

So, people got to register 1 system for free with the automagical
updater. Suddenly (gasp! horror! surprise!), Red Hat decides that's
going away and everyone has to pay for the feature. Kind of like a
drug dealer gives the first hits for free until you're addicted, then
starts charging you. ;-)  "First hit's free!"

% recall that Caldera went down a similiar road and their apologists applauded 
% them for wanting to make money so they could continue churning out 
% open-source for a fee. Now the son of Caldera (SCO) wants to sue everybody 
% who uses linux. Kinda makes you wonder when RH is going to sue everybody 
% using RPM.

Eh? What "similar road?" I'm no fan of Red Hat (or of Caldera, for that
matter), but I'm not seeing your point or the similarity here. Mind 
explaining?

Kurt
-- 
Anthony's Law of Force:
	Don't force it; get a larger hammer.