I wonder if this is even legal?
Forum: Linux and Free Software
Topic: I wonder if this is even legal?
started by: Zucca
Posted by Zucca on Sep. 25 2006,07:46
| Quote |
| 'Linux XP' is a Linux distribution that was released to imitate the "Windows XP" environment and help Windows users feel at home and attract more Window s users to this project. The current version of Linux XP is 2006 (December 19, 2005). A fee of $9 is charged after the 90th boot. |
Doesn't it violate Linux licence?
Posted by mikshaw on Sep. 25 2006,13:27
If you mean GPL, no it doesn't. You can charge what you want for GPL software, as long as the source is provided and as long as it remains under GPL. The user has the option to go elsewhere for software if the charge is not to his liking.You might also consider the possibility that not all the software included in this distro is open source. It might have commercial applications included.
In any case, I don't think that nag is going to remain very long. It's exactly this sort of marketing annoyance that caused a lot of people to switch from windows to linux in the first place.
Posted by Zucca on Sep. 25 2006,13:37
| Quote (mikshaw @ Sep. 25 2006,11:27) |
| You might also consider the possibility that not all the software included in this distro is open source. It might have commercial applications included. |
That just sounds so... unbeliveable.
Linux software. Not free?
Anyway Linux that looks like Windows is not a good thing.
People who want to use it think it as a 'Free Windows' which is THE wrong way to think..
Posted by mikshaw on Sep. 25 2006,15:59
Excluding any commercial/shareware software that might be added (Suse did that for quite a while before releasing OpenSuse), the software is still "free" in the sense that the source code of any GPL'd software is available for modification, redistribution, and unrestricted personal use. The term "free", as applied to this software, is not necessarily "free of charge". However, due to its open nature, the same software can be obtained free of charge in other places. The user has the choice of looking elsewhere, and there are hundreds of good distros available that include the same software at no charge.I have no idea what the $9 is for, so i'm just speculating. It could be there to cover the cost of licensing proprietary windows-compatibility software.
Posted by clivesay on Sep. 25 2006,16:15
If you're curious you can still torrent it for free like I did.edit: Now I see you're talking about the product key part. Well, that distro isn't the first one to do that. It's interesting to watch the Linspire/Freespire thing. I doubt that people will have a lot of interest in a Linux 'XP Clone'.
I have tested Windows Vista and I think that next year will be a great time to try and convert Windows users to Linux because Vista is different enough that they'll need to re-learn a little about how to navigate the desktop.
Posted by Zucca on Sep. 26 2006,11:45
THANK YOU Microsoft. "The day when Microsoft starts to produce something that doesn't suck is probably the day when they start producing vacuum cleaners."
Posted by Sgt on Dec. 06 2006,00:22
Redhat and others charge....Guess what??? I'm not using them either....
Posted by muskrat on Jan. 14 2008,04:45
| Quote |
| I have tested Windows Vista and I think that next year will be a great time to try and convert Windows users to Linux because Vista is different enough that they'll need to re-learn a little about how to navigate the desktop. |
Here it is a year later, I I have found it quite strange, windows users don't complain about having to change thier ways to use vista. But try and get them to change to linux and all they do is complain.
Posted by clivesay on Jan. 14 2008,12:40
| Quote (muskrat @ Jan. 13 2008,22:45) |
| Here it is a year later, I I have found it quite strange, windows users don't complain about having to change thier ways to use vista. But try and get them to change to linux and all they do is complain. |
They are complaining....a lot! BUT, I think that since it's Windows, they think it's just part of having a new computer. It's strange how people are.
The biggest thing that my customers are using that makes Linux a difficult sale is itunes.
Chris
Posted by jpeters on Jan. 14 2008,16:29
| Quote (clivesay @ Jan. 14 2008,07:40) |
| The biggest thing that my customers are using that makes Linux a difficult sale is itunes. Chris |
For DSL in particular, I would speculate it's the inability to play flash 9 videos, which have become the standard (unfortunately).
Posted by jpeters on Jan. 20 2008,17:20
| Quote (jpeters @ Jan. 14 2008,11:29) | ||
For DSL in particular, I would speculate it's the inability to play flash 9 videos, which have become the standard (unfortunately). |
Re: Flash 9. I just received notice that one of my brokerage accounts is REQUIRING flash 9 for password login. I'm guessing other sites will be following suit as the latest security enhancemnent. (talk about getting controlled by corporate slimes...)