Re: Linux and Software Freedom

Eric Mitchell wrote:
> Now it starts. I still don't agree that the About dialog (or Firefox)
> should phone home, but that's OT here. However I can say that usually
> when I check the About dialog in any program it is to see if the
> version I have (usually shipped via my Linux-distro-du-jour) is and
> consult Google/Wikipedia to determine what the latest one is and if
> it's worth my time to install manually.
>
> Now one of the first ones I check is Firefox but as Wolfgang
> mentioned, a system-wide install of Firefox runs into problems here.
> How would this removal affect users in situations where Firefox is
> not permitted to update due to the method by which it was installed?
> That person would have to know somehow what the latest version is and
> where to get it. Would that replace the version information in the
> About box?


Linux distributions already hack up the update system in Firefox to 
disable Mozilla's participation in update checks and updates there. I 
see no reason why Linux distributions cannot change this as well.

- A