Re: RHEL 3.0

Thomas Corriher <[email protected]> Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:21:11 -0500
Newsgroups gmane.linux.redhat.migration
Message-ID <20031125022110.BCFU14203.imf25aec.mail.bellsouth.net@there>
> We've never posted ISOs for the enterprise line. RHEL ISO's are a
> service delivered by RHN not being paid for by ftp users. The
> source rpms are freely available, however. 

I don't know about the "Enterprise" lines history specifically, but 
since RH is moving only to that, these are word games.  Sure the 
source in available in RPM format -- but that 's the whole point 
isn't it?  The source is available in the RED HAT Package Format 
which requires one to purchase RH or go through a great deal of 
difficulty to extract them.  Then the person has to be technically 
competent enough, and diligent enough to properly make use of the 
source.  Then we can all merrily laugh at him for suffering with 
the "broken pieces" since he didn't pay for his free software.  The 
hurdles keep getting higher.  Yes... *technically* you folks are 
following the rules of the GPL, but you clearly do not intend to 
abide by the spirit of the GPL or the GNU Project anymore.  We all 
see the early symptoms of the disease proprietary, and its 
secondary disorder of lock-in.  You're not fooling anyone.

Look, I honestly like you Jeremy, but I have to call crap for what 
it is: crap.  It's getting deeper too.  RH isn't the first company 
to behave this way, but some of us felt RH would always be the last 
company to act this way.  I'm very disappointed that we were wrong. 
 I hope RH changes before it is too late, but I fear it has already 
progressed too much on this course.  You guys were the best and the 
brightest -- the flagship.  Now you folks are spitting on the very 
folks who promoted you to being the de-facto standard.  It is a 
pity.  There are obviously fools at the helm.  You will be mourned.

-- 
 Thomas Corriher