> In fact, if Apple decided to give Rhapsody away with source code
> (as Netscape is doing their Communicator), then it would penetrate
> rather quickly across all platforms I believe. It could outdo NT
> if it was source ware, and Bill would really get comb for his hair.
Though this would be interesting, I don't think this will happen. Rhapsody is not just a web browser (which, for all of its hype, is not a very complex piece of software), it is an entire operating system, development environment, windowing system, etc. representing more than 10 calendar years and thousands of person-years of development effort. To give this away for free would be a grave mistake.
The problem with NetScape giving their browser source code away to the public means that before long, we're going to have thousands of different version of their browser out there and there will be no quality or consistency control. Maybe this isn't a huge deal with a web browser... but imagine this with an entire operating system! It could be a nightmare.
The Linux and FreeBSD folks have a pretty tight community and some very innovative ways of keeping control of their software... but such a thing could not be guaranteed with Rhapsody.
Randy |
