[wellylug] Microsoft At WellyLUG last night.

Jethro Carr jethro.carr at jedolinux.com
Wed Jul 13 19:55:16 NZST 2005


On Wed, 2005-07-13 at 19:42, Cliff Pratt wrote:
> Grant McLean wrote:
> > On Wed, 2005-07-13 at 09:39 +1200, Cliff Pratt wrote:
> > 
> >>David Murray wrote:
> >>
> >>>As for the LUGs, we know that Linux comfortably occupies
> >>
> >> > the high moral ground. We know that the GPL will keep our
> >> > OS free. We have confidence that the future of Linux is
> >> > bright and confident.
> >>
> >>Linux may, though that is debatable. DeadRat, Sooky, 
> >>MadDriver and all the others that charge for "service" while 
> >>providing none, do not.
> > 
> > So a company that pays developers, testers etc to work on
>  > Open Source software is not providing a service?
> >
> > One part of the service is providing a steady stream of 
>  > updated packages including bug fixes and security
>  > fixes.  You might argue that much of this work just
>  > involves integrating updates from the upstream package,
> > but in many cases, those updates originated from paid Red
>  > Hat employees.
> > 
> > I don't personally think that what Red Hat charges for
>  > their Enterprise Linux product represents good value for
>  > money but I certainly wouldn't claim that they 'provide
>  > no service'.
> > 
> There are plenty of companies that pay developers and 
> testers to work on OSS without feeling the need to gouge 
> their users. True, this sometimes mean only that they just 
> allow the software writers a little time and resources to 
> support the writers software, but often companies provide 
> other support, such as web site for software support.
> 
> Nothing justifies RedHat's actions of a few years ago of 
> raising their prices to approximately ten times the price 
> that it was before. RHES is a rip-off whichever way you look 
> at it.
> 
> Debian provides a full-bloodied distribution, without the 
> need for charging an arm and a leg for the privilege, AND 
> the network of developers provide excellent support for 
> their programs.

but if a company's system 'breaks down' or screws up, who do you demand
to fix it?

If a company uses Debian, noone can be made accountable. If the company
uses Redhat, they get Redhat to fix it, or they sue them. This is why
some companys stay away from distros like debian - if it goes wrong
there is 'ABSOLUTLY NO WARRANTY'.

Redhat gets paid to be able to take the blame. Company lawyers always
like someone to be able to blame and to make fix the problem. Redhat
charges for this risk.

Also, if you think it's a ripoff - don't buy it. But many companies
think it's a good price to pay for legal piece-of-mind and corporate
GARRANTEED SUPPORT. Debain support (whilst good) does not have to be
given to users. A developer doesn't have to spend the next 24 hours
fixing a problem. Redhat MUST give support to it's users, MUST fix
problems, etc.


see where I'm comming from?


-- 
-- Jethro Carr

jethro.carr at jedolinux.com

http://jethrocarr.jedolinux.com
http://jethrocarr.jedolinux.com/index.php?page=cv/cv.php

http://www.jedolinux.com
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
Url : http://lists.wellylug.org.nz/pipermail/wellylug/attachments/20050713/19c3d660/attachment.pgp 


More information about the wellylug mailing list