On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:46:47 +0100 Anthony Atkielski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Jacob S writes: > > > Good. I'm glad to see the average Windows user looking around the > > computer store still gets to see an alternative once in a while. > > I'm pretty sure I've seen Mandrake, SuSE, RedHat, Fedora, and a couple > of other Linux versions in computer stores. > > A few years ago, I bought my first copy of FreeBSD (4.3) in a computer > store. Now I can't find FreeBSD anywhere; I had to burn my own CD > from a download to install 5.3. So, FreeBSD is vulnerable to this same hypocrasy; where it is sold in stores but still hailed as a "free" OS? > > So, where on www.debian.org do you see them trying to sell > > something? > > On the first page, with the ad for XS4ALL. If you click on "Getting > Debian," the first option given is purchase of the CDs. Except that's simply listing the ways you can get Debian. If you look at the list you will notice there is not a single Debian owned organization on there selling cds. They provide links to people that do for your convenience. They do this as a service - without getting any kind of reimbursement from the vendors for listing them on the Debian website. For more details see these pages on the Debian site: http://www.debian.org/CD/vendors/info http://www.debian.org/CD/vendors/adding If that makes Debian non-free, then FreeBSD is non-free too (or used to be) - when you purchased version 4.3 from a computer store. > > But Linux was compared to Microsoft, which would indicate that some > > consider it to be giving in to evil influences. > > I don't think the trend towards commercialism is healthy, noble, or > altruistic, although it's understandable. But it's a bit hypocritical > of Linux fans to claim disdain for the Microsoft-style business model > when they are following precisely in Microsoft's footsteps themselves. > Of course, this was inevitable, but the Linux crowd never understood > that. Except you haven't proven that Debian has a "trend towards commercialism". My point in all of this is that your generalizations of "Linux" would be about like Linux users saying all of the BSDs are the same. And, by the way, if you look at www.debian.org and www.freebsd.org, you will notice that they are both owned by non-profit organizations. That's totally different from a "Microsoft-style business model". HAND, Jacob _______________________________________________ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
