** Reply to message from Andrew Lentvorski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:13:47 -0700
> > What is the thinking behind this? Are they so convinced that their OS is > > wonderful that a Linux-only installation _must_ have some windows machines > > somewhere? > > Yes. And 99% of the time--they're right. in my opinion, the issue is not that these are Linux-only installations because that we know is not very likely. The issue is that libraries currently using Windows have been threatened with a BSA attack if they bring in ANY Linux. It is more likely that this is a market protection scheme than a scheme trying to protect Windows software vendors from piracy of their wares. > The BSA expects that the yearbook club will probably not be willing to > go through the bureaucracy required to get that Windows machine (in > spite of the fact that most Linux conversions *do* still have a > Microsoft site license--just a much smaller one). Of course, they will > decide that they don't want to shell out the $300 to buy it either. > > Aaaand, instant BSA bait. Oops. except that it's only $1,000 per issue and if this is really a mostly-Linux site, there really isn't a whole lot of $$$ involved for anybody with regards to the BSA. The BSA does not care about mostly-Linux sites because they have little power over them. It's the all-Windows sites which they have incredible control over because at $1,000 a infraction, it adds up if you've got a 50 or more machines. No BSA bait for Linux sites even if they have a copy or two of Windows lying around doing things like building yearbooks. And what Linux shop can't afford a few hundred for a Windows license? They probably have a few unused ones around just because it came with the cheap computer. Doug -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
