Re: Linux

----- Original Message -----
From: Walter Kesting <kesting(at)mindspring.com>
To: 'Satya' <satyap(at)satya.virtualave.net>; <hwg-servers(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 6:19 PM
Subject: RE: Linux


> On Sep 19, 2000 at 10:00, Walter Kesting wrote:
>
> >Go get the current version of Red hat.  They are profitable and not going
to
> >go out of business tomorrow morning.
http://www.redhat.com/apps/download/
>
> That is not even an issue here. Linuxers don't care if a company goes out
> of business; Linux isn't run by a company. Redhat falling down would be
> bad for morale, but not too bad.
>
> ***OF COURSE it IS an issue.  If he needs help that he can not get from
> someplace else he can BUY it from his vendor.  I am a LINUXER and I CARE.
> When you have a problem and you can afford the best answer you BUY it just
> like you hire Dr. Christian Barnard when you have a heart problem.

I believe that what Satya meant was that Linux has been around for some nine
years, *before* Red Hat came into the forefront and made efforts to make it
more commercial.  Actually, some core developers would say that Linux has
been around *in spite of* Red Hat.  Linux is NOT "Red Hat", any more than it
is Mandrake or Slackware, or Debian, or SUSE.  It will be around long after
any or all of them disappear.  In fact, Red Hat doesn't make money from
their distribution, but from their support.  And who buys support?
Companies, mostly, because that's the way companies operate:  have somebody
on the other end of their panic button.

For companies, that's fine, but for an individual, buying Red Hat's support
is a big, fat *waste* of money you could put into hardware.  There is a
WEALTH of talent, experience, and knowledge out there that will help you
out.

> ***BAH yourself Ebeneeeeezer.  If that is ALL he has then that is ALL he
> has!  The answer was based upon his question!  Not on a 60 minute psych
> evaluation by Freud with a healthy guess at his anticipated question.

It sounds to me like a lot more is being read into Satya's comments than was
intended.  No need to get hostile.

> >other city. there are also linux magazines and on line sites that provide
> >discussion and tutorials
>
> Yeah, Linux tech support is everywhere, because Linux is supported by
> users. I believe Redhat has a free support thing. I think it's free. Have
> to register, though. IIRC registration is also free. Ah, I just
> checked. Apparently they also have 'commercial' support. You don't need
> that.
>
> ****Oh, yeah?  It Linux Tech Support is EVERYWHERE?

Pretty much.  If you look in the *right place*.  Not among fictitious
characters...

>Well certainly Mr. Ed
> cannot give it to us and neither can Mr. Greenjeans.

Um.... why would you ask Mr. Greenjeans in the first place?  I think a
reasonably intelligent person would seek answers in an appropriate forum, so
I'm going to assume that if someone had a Linux question, they'd ask some
place like the kernel developer's list or a LUG somewhere, not Mr.
Greenjeans.  That being the case, that last comment isn't a valid argument.

Go ahead, <sigh> bash away (I won't bash back).  I'm only speaking from
experience.

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