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Technology Stocks : LINUX -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: g_m10 who wrote (1005)	2/13/1999 6:06:00 PM
From: E. Charters	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2615

the real deal behind free software is open systems that are fixable not a win98 upgrade that is a bug fix. There is nothing wrong with charging for it as Irma La douce said. But the whole corporate world could not have created the consensus that was Linux. Only the "free" software world. Software costs what it costs to maintain it. Software cusomters are customers for life, like a car customer is a mechanic's friend. Now that mature framework exists, we cab hang all kinds of commercial hats on it. Not so the windows world it seems. Therein lies the advantage. EC<:-}

To: g_m10 who wrote (1005)	2/13/1999 7:30:00 PM
From: Rusty Johnson	Respond to of 2615

Linux Small Machines ... Future products include the NetWinder RM rackmount server, and the NetWinder LC Linux desktop workstation. The NetWinder LC will feature Corel WordPerfect 8, Netscape Communicator, and the K Desktop Environment. From linuxmall.com 32bitsonline.com E-machines $399 computer running a Cyrix 300 MHz chip seems like a natural for Linux. Or one can just add a hard drive to an existing desktop PC like I did. More stuff: Linux-Mandrake 5.3 Released linuxtoday.com Under the Hood feedmag.com MetaChart (The MetaChart is a very complete hypertext chart comparing Linux and Windows NT) darkelf.net Creative Labs and Linux 32bitsonline.com

To: g_m10 who wrote (1005)	2/13/1999 7:44:00 PM
From: Mitch Blevins	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 2615

>>Is it a conspiracy of hypocrisy?<< Maybe... maybe not. If there is hypocrisy, it is not for the reasons you are citing. I believe that if you asked ESR, RMS, or Torvalds how money related to their stated beliefs on software, they would claim that money is completely orthogonal to what they are trying to achieve. You have three independant ideas that are intertwined in what everyone refers to as Free Software/Open Source: 1) Ownership of ideas "Intellectual property" is a misnomer. If you believe that ideas can be owned by a single person or company, then you also believe that ideas can be bought or sold like any other commodity. Because ideas and information can be easily reproduced nowadays, we have laws designed to "protect" the "owners" of these ideas. Some view these laws as a restriction of individual freedom. It is a political and/or moral belief that a government or other entity that seeks to restrict what you can think, or which information you can share with others, is inherently wrong. 2) Viewable Source Having the source code available for a software program has many advantages. The most commonly used analogy for software without source-code availability is the one about Buying a car with the hood welded shut. 3) Gratis Software Not charging for software is independent of the above two points. Many freeware/shareware products do not require a monetary payments, but still restrict what you can do with the software and do not make the source code available (MS Internet Explorer is an example). The conflict comes when people discover by making their software Free(1) and Open-Souce(2), they find it difficult to charge money for their software (3). Actually, you could charge money for it, but by virtue of it being Free(1), the first person you sell it to could turn around and give/sell it to anybody else, causing your supply/demand ratio to skyrocket by an almost unlimited supply. Thus, many companies or people who either make money selling shrink-wrapped software, or who would like to make money by selling shrink-wrapped software will reject the Freedom as spelled out in (1) using phrases such as: "But how are programmers going to eat?" Of course, anyone who honestly believes in (1), would find this statement as ridiculous as hearing a similar one from proponents of returning to pre-Civil-War slavery: "Our company makes its living by making shackles for slaves. How are the shackle-makers supposed to eat?" The reality is, that some of the shackle-makers were hurt by the end of slavery, and others adapted to making other metal products. Do you honestly believe that the total demand for programming skills will drastically lower if we remove the legal restrictions on the use and redistirubtion of programs? If it does lower, then so be it... that's free enterprise. Creating an artificial legal construct to increase demand for a certain product is as silly and harmful as government subsidies for wheat farmers _not_ to grow wheat. -Mitch

To: g_m10 who wrote (1005)	2/13/1999 7:55:00 PM
From: Rusty Johnson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2615

People will do things they love to do for free ... my guess is that contributing to the Linux kernel is very satisfying. I don't write C++ or JAVA ... but I will be happy to shave the legs of Claudia and Cindy for FREE! Tell them I make an incredible tomato soup and toasted cheese w/sliced onion and deli mustard sandwich. Just hoping to do my part and leave the world a slightly better place ... Rusty "Shave Boy the Martyr" Johnson If Rusty won't do it ... who will? P.S. Money isn't a very effecient way to pay people. You get a check ... deposit it in the bank ... write another check ... get some cash ... buy beer. I've always thought your employer should just e-mail Guinness and the makers of Alaskan Amber ... and the kegs should be delivered to your door. (all rights reserved) Life could be so simple if only Rusty were King. Maybe this internet thing will find a solution ... Linux ... Money schmoney, show me the BEER!

To: g_m10 who wrote (1005)	2/13/1999 8:18:00 PM
From: Rusty Johnson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2615

Linux ... the best things in life are FREE! You've heard me say it a million times (give or take 999,995). Now it appears in this article. More evidence that the world listens to this thread. Linux users unite against Microsoft By Rebecca Eisenberg OF THE EXAMINER STAFF Sunday, February 7, 1999 It's always fun to write about the open source/free software scene. The columns always generate a lot of e-mail as well as discussions linked on Slashdot (slashdot.org), a popular geek-news Web site. Best of all, writing about free software lets me sing two of my all-time favorite mantras: There is power in numbers, and sometimes the best things in life are free. sfgate.com Linux ... power in numbers.