I just read this on NewsForge http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/01/19/1848219&mode=thread and I can't see if it's good for the Open Source community and Linux or not. Looks like if it were to happen the web would be a more friendly place for the non-MS browser user, with browser dependant sites having to make themselves readable with (insert your browser of choice here). The worrying thing is that RedHat would, just as someone stated on NewsForge "just wither on the vine". It's an interseting prospect though the possibility of all those AOL cds having a distro on them now that would be a promotion and a half for Linux.
Cheers, BJ
On 20-Jan-02 John Woodard wrote:
I just read this on NewsForge http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/01/19/1848219&mode=thread and I can't see if it's good for the Open Source community and Linux or not. Looks like if it were to happen the web would be a more friendly place for the non-MS browser user, with browser dependant sites having to make themselves readable with (insert your browser of choice here). The worrying thing is that RedHat would, just as someone stated on NewsForge "just wither on the vine". It's an interseting prospect though the possibility of all those AOL cds having a distro on them now that would be a promotion and a half for Linux.
Thanks for this pointer, BJ. Interesting article (and discussion pro & con); though one wonders if it's based on more that media rumour. Linux folk may be saying "Yummie!" with their noses twitching, but is there meat behind the aroma?
Re: RedHat withering on the vine (from a comment): The thing is, AOL can create their own live CD Linux without buying anyone. There are even GPLd tools and distros for this. So there is no need to buy Red Hat to create AOL/Linux CDs. So what really is the point of AOL buying Red Hat? So, if there's substance in the buyout rumour, what _is_ the real point?
Even supposing it will happen, what impact is it likely to have?
The premiss of the article is that a massive switch to non-IE would force Web providers to come round to proper standards, allowing non-IE users better access. And this is unlikely to happen before the massive switch to non-IE occurs.
On Sun, Jan 20, 2002 at 12:09:43PM -0000, Ted Harding wrote:
On 20-Jan-02 John Woodard wrote:
I just read this on NewsForge http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/01/19/1848219&mode=thread and I can't see if it's good for the Open Source community and Linux or not. Looks like if it were to happen the web would be a more friendly place for the non-MS browser user, with browser dependant sites having to make themselves readable with (insert your browser of choice here). The worrying thing is that RedHat would, just as someone stated on NewsForge "just wither on the vine". It's an interseting prospect though the possibility of all those AOL cds having a distro on them now that would be a promotion and a half for Linux.
Thanks for this pointer, BJ. Interesting article (and discussion pro & con); though one wonders if it's based on more that media rumour. Linux folk may be saying "Yummie!" with their noses twitching, but is there meat behind the aroma?
Re: RedHat withering on the vine (from a comment): The thing is, AOL can create their own live CD Linux without buying anyone. There are even GPLd tools and distros for this. So there is no need to buy Red Hat to create AOL/Linux CDs. So what really is the point of AOL buying Red Hat? So, if there's substance in the buyout rumour, what _is_ the real point?
Cough, well, you see, Red Hat is probably one of the better selling distros, and is probably making a touch of profit... AOL buy them out, they have a ready made distro with developers, they have an already marketed product, and they can fuck that product up (scuse language, I'm subtle like that).
That and AOL seem to want to take over the world...
Cheers,
Brett
Hi Brett
I'm inclined to agree with you - Whilst linux is a viable and potentially atractive OS for a corporate user who would have inhouse IT support. Linux is ill suited to the moronic mass market unlike Windows. IF AOL is making moves to buy RH, I doubt very much if it is for the desktop expertise, more likely it would be for web services and hosting. I would predict that AOL would pull the plug on most of the distro development along with allowing free downloads for all - Probably pushing it in to a fee based area in order to generate some revenue.
Regards, Paul.
On Sunday 20 January 2002 4:02 pm, Brett Parker wrote:
Cough, well, you see, Red Hat is probably one of the better selling distros, and is probably making a touch of profit... AOL buy them out, they have a ready made distro with developers, they have an already marketed product, and they can fuck that product up (scuse language, I'm subtle like that).
That and AOL seem to want to take over the world...
Cheers,
Brett
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Brett Parker -
John Woodard -
Paul -
Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk