Definite cultural problem within the open source/free software community. People use it for both definitions of 'free', and complain heavily over everything that isn't free (in $$). Small companies need to account for the risks they're taking for the community in their margins, otherwise they starve and fail -- notice the # of failed linux companies in the last 10 years?
JWZ once said, "linux is only free if your time is worth nothing." With modern distros, that's no longer the case -- you get a nice desktop system with less hassle than most windows users. But, the misconception between money, labor, and risk continues on in the community. In the oft-repeated spirit of the open source community, if you don't like how someone else is doing it, do it yourself. Hmm, just thinking out loud here. Would it be possible to distribute OM (Om now?) phones through the community? Single LUGs get together and order a batch (maybe resell as a fundraiser), with the help of some 'become-a-distributor-quick' system? I don't know how complicated it is in the EU to sell imported goods (I'm in the states, this sort of stuff is one of the few last benefits), is it possible to make it easy for a small group (or just 1 person with a few hundred euro) to make themselves a distributor? _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community