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UnitedLinux Ready for Official Launch

Anonymous Coward writes " PCWORLD has the word that UnitedLinux has completed beta testing of the first release of its open source Linux operating system and is ready to launch the product as planned next month, said company manager Paula Hunter Tuesday at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in Frankfurt, Germany."

176 comments

  1. Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I wonder what benefits it will actually give users...

    1. Re:Cool by Mantorp · · Score: 1

      insightful indeed

    2. Re:Cool by anshil · · Score: 1

      As far I understood it rpm's beeing compatible under all united linux systems?

      --

      --
      Karma 50, and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt.
    3. Re:Cool by HiThere · · Score: 2

      I believe that rpm is required by the LSB, so they pretty much *MUST* support it.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    4. Re:Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It'll benefit everyone when Red Hat, who is getting somewhat Microsoft-like with the way they've hacked KDE and try to dominate the Linux landscape, has some competition. Competition = choices = users win.

  2. How to make sure this really succeeds..... by CSG_SurferDude · · Score: 1, Funny

    Let's get Ellen and Natalie to do commercials for it.

    NOT using my +1 bonus...THIS TIME ;-)

    1. Re:How to make sure this really succeeds..... by buswolley · · Score: 1

      I know this is off topic. But how do you use your +1 bonus? At which karma level do you get your +1 bonus?

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

  3. open source linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    as opposed to what? closed source linux

    1. Re:open source linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or closed beta Linux?

    2. Re:open source linux by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      **Or closed beta Linux?**

      better yet, sold at k-mart closed source closed beta linux.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  4. Next! by Ed+Avis · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    Why is Slashdot wasting time with pre-hype about some vaguely defined 'product' that may or may not be released soon when there are so many much more interesting free software projects which are releasing code _now_?

    What is this, marketspeak press release of the month competition?

    --
    -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    1. Re:Next! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I kinda agree here. Why put news up about something about to be released?

      There isn't even a release canidate or anything.

      I'll wait until I see the news when it IS out.

    2. Re:Next! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      I love how when people speak their mind it's flaimbait.

    3. Re:Next! by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "So many much more interesting free software projects?" Like what? The window manager of the week? More KDE or Gnome silliness? Yet another incomplete and not-worth-my-time OpenOffice build? Mozilla, that isn't finished yet?

      I have to say that United Linux is just as interesting as all the other unfinished hobby projects-- er, I mean "free software projects"-- out there.

      (Mod away.)

      --

      I write in my journal
    4. Re:Next! by hayden · · Score: 2
      Mozilla, that isn't finished yet?
      When was the last time you actually used mozilla? You appear to have trouble with the concept of constant development and improvement.
      I have to say that United Linux is just as interesting as all the other unfinished hobby projects-- er, I mean "free software projects"-- out there.
      Yeah, like Apache. Who would seriously be using that? And the linux kernel. That's still not finished and it's been over 10 years now! What a load of crap.

      Screw shaking hands with people. I want a machine that lets me slap people over the internet.

      --
      Nerd: Derogatory term typically directed at anybody with a lower Slashdot ID than you.
    5. Re:Next! by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 2

      You appear to have trouble with the concept of constant development and improvement.

      I have trouble with the concept of spending time on features when there are basic usability issues and bugs that remain unresolved.

      You know what makes Apache great? They fix bugs before implementing new features. The result is a rock-solid web server. Look at projects like Gnome or KDE or, yeah, Mozilla. Do they fix bugs or fundamental flaws before implementing new features? No. The result? Really, REALLY shitty software.

      And don't even talk to me about Linux. I stopped using that piece of shit when some genius-- I neither know nor care who; it could have been the Pope for all the difference it would make to me-- decided to make critical changes to the virtual memory system in a point-release on what is officially designated the "stable" branch. That's a load of amateur-hour crap. No more Linux for me, thanks.

      Don't make the false assumption of associated open source software with good software. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the opposite is true. The fact that there are a few notable exceptions-- like Apache-- doesn't change the basic fact.

      Again, I say, "Mod away."

      --

      I write in my journal
    6. Re:Next! by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 2

      Your comparison of Apache and Mozilla is flawed.
      Mozilla development has to put up with pressure from the AOL marketroids.
      Kinda dependent upon who is the client and who is the server, eh?

      --
      You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  5. No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by azaroth42 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    UnitedLinux.com has no information about this release however?

    From the article:

    Apart from price, UnitedLinux is introducing new features, such as larger memory support, to differentiate itself from the competition, Hunter said.

    Uhh, large memory support is standard in the kernel? Any idea what this /really/ means?

    -- Azaroth

    1. Re:No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by bsharitt · · Score: 2, Funny

      UnitedLinux.com has no information about this release however?

      The developers should be getting a memo about hte release tommorow or Friday.

    2. Re:No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by Alarion · · Score: 4, Informative

      Apart from price, UnitedLinux is introducing new features, such as larger memory support, to differentiate itself from the competition, Hunter said.

      Uhh, large memory support is standard in the kernel? Any idea what this /really/ means?


      note, that's larger memory support.

      According to this whitepaper they are increasing the supported memory size from 1gb to 64gb. Here is a quote from it:
      Large memory support
      The Linux kernel is ordinarily limited to 1 GB of physical memory on the x86 32-
      bit platform, with 4 GB of virtual addressing space. With large memory support,
      Linux can take advantage of the Intel Physical Address Extension to support up to

      64 GB of physical RAM and the full 4 GB of virtual addressing space per process.
      In addition, with AMD x86-64, Linux can enable highly efficient flat 64-bit memory
      addressibility for enterprise systems.

    3. Re:No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
      So say's the 2.4.19 that shipped with Mandrake 9.0:

      CONFIG_NOHIGHMEM:

      Linux can use up to 64 Gigabytes of physical memory on x86 systems.
      However, the address space of 32-bit x86 processors is only 4
      Gigabytes large. That means that, if you have a large amount of
      physical memory, not all of it can be "permanently mapped" by the
      kernel. The physical memory that's not permanently mapped is called
      "high memory".

      If you are compiling a kernel which will never run on a machine with
      more than 960 megabytes of total physical RAM, answer "off" here (default
      choice and suitable for most users). This will result in a "3GB/1GB"
      split: 3GB are mapped so that each process sees a 3GB virtual memory
      space and the remaining part of the 4GB virtual memory space is used
      by the kernel to permanently map as much physical memory as
      possible.

      If the machine has between 1 and 4 Gigabytes physical RAM, then
      answer "4GB" here.

      If more than 4 Gigabytes is used then answer "64GB" here. This
      selection turns Intel PAE (Physical Address Extension) mode on.
      PAE implements 3-level paging on IA32 processors. PAE is fully
      supported by Linux, PAE mode is implemented on all recent Intel
      processors (Pentium Pro and better)...
    4. Re:No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by Alarion · · Score: 1

      I don't claim to be a guru on memory architecture.. actually, I know next to nothing about it

      but from the wording of the blurb I quoted (combined with what you quoted) it makes it sound like the "new" large memory ability allows it to use the entire 4GB address space (per process) instead of using part of that 4gb to simulate virtual memory?

      I am probably waaaay off base, anyone have a little more info or can clear it up?

    5. Re:No Info on UnitedLinux.com? by techno-at-nni.com · · Score: 1

      Reread what you just posted.. We tried to use 2.4.19 with memory intensive processes and can only get the typical 2.8gigs of memory per process... 2.4.7 (with older memory manager) there are some minor changes you can make to get 3.5 gigs per process..

      This might not seem like a big deal to average users, but when running simulations every bit of memory PER process helps, NOT just how much the kernel "sees"... Try it.. We have several machines with 4 gigs of physical memory and it's a pain to get it to use all 4 gigs (plus whatever swap we enable) PER process (again, not just what the kernel sees)...

  6. Nostradomus Like Prediction by ksplatter · · Score: 4, Funny

    I predict that United Linux is going to become the Most Popular OS ever!!!

    -Everyone is going to use it.
    -Windows Will become Obsolete
    -It will revolutionize the computing industry as we know it

    Then we will find out that the Secret Owner of the Company is Bill Gates

    1. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, since you mentioned Bill Gates...

      He sorta kinda does have a connection to it if you stretch your imagination a little. Six degrees of seperation between Bill and UL.

      1. Gates obviously has ties to Microsoft.
      2. Microsoft once (still does?) own a stake of SCO. I remember seeing a copyright Microsoft somewhere either in the OS or in the documentation once.
      3. SCO was purchased by Caldera.
      4. Caldera was once ruled by Ransom Love (gotta love the name) before he drove SCO almost into the ground.
      5. Ransom briefly tried to lead United Linux when it was first staring.
      6. There is no sixth degree.

      I always found it amusing that Microsoft, in all it's *nix hating glory owned a portion of a *nix company.

    2. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      microsoft didn't own a stake in sco, the openserver copyrights are due to sco purchasing xenix from microsoft (why would MS buy a stake in a company that is interested in a product it wanted to offload?)

    3. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft can't give a flying fuck about
      Unix - its Unix people who hate Microsoft.

    4. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by Annoyed+Coward · · Score: 1

      Ya right. google for halloween documents :-D

      --
      Hmmm... Ok.. Chivas on the rocks.
    5. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by MrFredBloggs · · Score: 1

      Surely to be really like Nostradamus you`d have to write in code, in a vague manner that is only of interest to new-age nerds and - most importantly - you`d have to get everything wrong.

    6. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by dubstop · · Score: 1

      2. Microsoft once (still does?) own a stake of SCO. I remember seeing a copyright Microsoft somewhere either in the OS or in the documentation once.

      I don't know about MS having a stake in SCO, but years ago, when I did C programming on SCO, the compiler was written by Microsoft.

      I think that MS had Xenix, which seemed to have some ties with SCO Unix.

    7. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by sql*kitten · · Score: 2

      Microsoft once (still does?) own a stake of SCO. I remember seeing a copyright Microsoft somewhere either in the OS or in the documentation once.

      IIRC, Microsoft sold Xenix to SCO. Xenix was Microsoft Unix running on the 286. Microsoft agreed with AT&T (or someone) not to develop their own Unix.

      Microsoft, in all it's *nix hating glory owned a portion of a *nix company

      Microsoft don't hate Unix per se; a lot of early MS development (again IIRC) was done on Unix-running DECs cross-compiling to 8086. It's just not their own product, and therefore they have a pathological urge to compete with it.

    8. Re:Nostradomus Like Prediction by civilizedINTENSITY · · Score: 2

      "In the late 1970's Microsoft licensed UNIX source code from AT&T which at the time was not licensing the name UNIX. Therefore Microsoft created the name Xenix. Microsoft did not sell Xenix to end-users but instead licensed the software to software OEMs such as Intel, Tandy, Altos and SCO who then provided a finished version of their own Xenix to the end-users or other customers." http://www.computerhope.com/unix/xenix.htm

      I would suggest Microsoft reliscensed Xenix (which was sourcecode liscensed from ATT) rather than "sold" it. Its not like it was developed at MS so much as brokered.

  7. Why open source is cool... by sterno · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How many months ago did they announce this happening? Now they are already set to release a real product. If this was a collaboration of a bunch of proprietary software companies, they'd still be hashing out legal agreeements. United Linux itself doesn't interest me that much, but the fact that such things are possible does.

    --
    This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
    1. Re:Why open source is cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      United Linux itself doesn't interest me that much,

      It was prudent that you plugged that in. After all, this is Slashdot. You are not _supposed_ to say anything positive about UnitedLinux.

    2. Re:Why open source is cool... by Annoyed+Coward · · Score: 1

      Efforts like UL are not going to be harmful for any of the open source projects, as long as they encash the requirements of polished GUI, Office products, support etc.

      --
      Hmmm... Ok.. Chivas on the rocks.
  8. IMHO by Znonymous+Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have beta tested SCOs version of UnitedLinux. UnitedLinux is basically Caldera mixed with SuSE. It's not hat great unless you really like SuSE stuff (YASTA, etc).

    --

    Karma: The shiznight, mostly because I am the Drizzle.

    1. Re:IMHO by haggar · · Score: 5, Informative

      Me too (betatested, that is). I was dismayed they didn't integrate COAS into it. I liked COAS.

      On the other hand, I have to admit they packed a LOT of server and network management-related utilities in it.

      All in all, it felt rather solid and professional. yast was a bit buggy and some features were missing, apparently. I am totally curious how the configuration is in the final product.

      --
      Sigged!
    2. Re:IMHO by Znonymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The real question is, given the 1.0 release is less buggy, would you be willing to pay for it?

      --

      Karma: The shiznight, mostly because I am the Drizzle.

    3. Re:IMHO by NeonSpirit · · Score: 2, Informative

      As SCO/Caldera and SuSE are the two big development companies in the consortium such a mix is what I would expect. Presonaly I found it to be mainly SuSE. From some of the presentations I have been to, the two other members of the consrtium Turbolinux and Conectiva have mainly contributed language support and will be actively marketing thier distribution in thier individual regions as they have branding.

      --
      I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
    4. Re:IMHO by Palshife · · Score: 2, Funny

      hat great

      Coincidence or slip? You decide :)

      --
      Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
    5. Re:IMHO by Ed+Avis · · Score: 2
      UnitedLinux is basically Caldera mixed with SuSE

      At last, my dream distribution!

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    6. Re:IMHO by fitten · · Score: 1

      but... will it be the best of both worlds or the worst of both worlds??? =)

    7. Re:IMHO by haggar · · Score: 2

      It's a good question, but not particularly insightful: I ask this question myself about almost any software product, at any new release. Do I want ot buy the new MakingWaves? Do I want to buy the new Finale?

      Honestly, if 1.0 will be considerably cleaner than the beta I tried, I think I'll buy it. The reason is, I already found the beta very useful, because it contained various tools to assess the security of my network and to manage the network traffic. And the UnitedLinux bodx itself was "hardened". I couldn't find a single known vulnerability of this server. A great proposition for companies paranoid about security (ideally, all the companies).

      In fact, I could start selling the service of installing secure linux servers. The UnitedLinux distro would help me a lot in this regard. Hmmm... the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.

      --
      Sigged!
  9. United by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is it uniting? Or is it an airline?

  10. Done Beta testing? by CaptainAx · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Who beta tested this? I never once heard of anyone running this and they are ready to launch a production version of it? Maybe I should take my blinders off if I somehow missed this but I never heard of any beta versions.

  11. Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 5, Informative

    UnitedLinux has completed beta testing of the first release of its open source Linux operating system
    (emphasis mine)

    Given that United Linux uses YaST as it's installer, the operating system is dependant up on that non-free (and hence non Open Source) program, which renders the whole thing non-free.

    United Linux, like SuSE, is not Free Softwae, so it is not Open Source.

    --

    Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    1. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since when does free software == open source?

    2. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Informative
      From section 3 of the YaST license...

      It is forbidden to reproduce or distribute data carriers which have been reproduced without authorisation for payment without the prior written consent of SuSE Linux AG or SuSE Linux. Distribution of the YaST programme, its sources, whether amended or unamended in full or in part thereof, and the works derived thereof for a charge require the prior written consent of SuSE Linux AG.
      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    3. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by NeonSpirit · · Score: 2, Informative
      UnitedLinux have commited that the base distribution CD will be freely downloadable for "Non commercial use" in thier FAQ.

      Will users be able to download free versions of UnitedLinux for non-commercial uses, similar to how Linux is freely available today?

      Yes, UnitedLinux sources will be made available for free download as soon as version 1 is released.


      UnitedLinux is intended for commercal use, rumours have it that the original name was going to be United Business Linux, until 9-11 made the UBL TLA unviable.

      Therefor it will be free but not,as you say, open source.

      --
      I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
    4. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't say that you retard. Free software has to be OSS (but not necessarily vice-versa, as per the GNU definition).

    5. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 4, Informative

      Since when does free software == open source?

      since the Open Source Initative was initially set up to market Free Software to corporate types that don't like the F word, but do like the software.

      Alternatively, since the Open Source Initiative based their Open Source Definition on the Debian Free Software Guidelines.

      In other words, Open Source was always supposed to refer to the same thing as Free Software.

      Of course, the Apple license went and screwed things up slightly, because the OSI decided to accept that as Open Source, whereas Debian, and the Free Software Foundation don't like the 12-month pulication upon deployment clause for various reasons. If you ignore that slight wrinkle, FS == OS

      Either way, YaST isn't either of those things.

      --

      Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    6. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by anshil · · Score: 1

      It's a shame that -YOU- don't know what "Open Source" means.

      Especially since that "Open Source" means by far not free software, however don't be aggrieved mismatching FreeSoftware and Open Source is a common failure.

      In example windows CE is Open Source, since you can get the source for it. But is it free software? Definitly not!

      However OpenSource is a true key attribute of free software, but not all.

      --

      --
      Karma 50, and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt.
    7. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      Windows CE is 'closed source'. You can get the source, but it's not open.

      Linux is 'open source'. You can get the source code and redistribute it freely, with changes.

      Windows XP is 'no source at all, open, closed or otherwise'.

      At least that is how I think about it. But it's best to avoid the politically motivated term 'open source' altogether and just say free software. Then it is clear what you mean, subject to some initial confusion about 'free as in price' from those unfamiliar with the idea.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    8. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows CE, Open Source?? Baaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh

      You are a troll right? Man, I can't believe I fell for this. Just in case you are honestly stupid ...

      Open Source refers to a specific definition/licensing that governs how software source code is redistributed. Windows CE does not fit this definition. Now go play with your friends in Redmond you troll.

    9. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by micromoog · · Score: 3, Insightful
      But it's best to avoid the politically motivated term 'open source' altogether and just say free software.

      "Free software" is a much more "political" term than "open source". "Open source" is a technical term; "free software" brings in ideology and other crap.

    10. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      Maybe, but 'free software' is kinda grandfathered in, I feel. RMS was using the phrase back in 1985 and it became established as the normal English phrase for what it means. Besides, all different ideologies refer to being 'free' and to freedom, so I don't think the word is that objectionable.

      'Open Source' however was coined much later and for purely marketing reasons. There was no need for the term and it was just invented by ESR and pals to sound more appealing to PHBs.

      If history had been the other way round - Open Source being the established term, and 'free software' being suddenly invented by RMS for weird political reasons - then I would agree with you.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    11. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by A+Malc+Yates · · Score: 1

      I would point out that SuSE delivers both open source and free code. YaST is both open source and free.

      The charge made for products is to provide support and maitenance for users.

      YaST is not, at this point, GPL'd and does indeed have the restrictions noted in another append here.

      Can we move on from this misrepresentation of YaST as being closed and proprietary

    12. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by anshil · · Score: 1

      No I'm not a troll, and I normally don't play with the guys in Redmond.

      I took CE as example to show how few "open" "source" actually can mean. There are many degrees on freedom, having the source available is one degree of freedom, but by far this does not qualify as free software, if you're not allowed to re-distribute changes, or the source itself.

      --

      --
      Karma 50, and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt.
    13. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Planesdragon · · Score: 2

      United Linux, like SuSE, is not Free Softwae, so it is not Open Source.

      You've got it backwards.

      Open Source is not a subset of Free Software; Free Software is a subset of Open Source.

      Free Software: Software that follows GNU's "software freedoms," including source code and redistribution rights, and sticky copyleft.

      Open Source: Software that gives you the source code for the system. Mac OS's Darwin kernel is "Open Source", even though Aqua (and thus the OS as a whole) and most Mac apps aren't.

      Unless YaST doesn't include code, it's OSS. If YaST doesn't include code, but doesn't do anything more than setup the software, it (the OS) might still be OSS.

    14. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 2
      Try looking at the Open Source Definition, the Debian Free Software Guidelines, and the Free Software Foundation's definition of Free Software.

      The all require that a license allow people to redistribute the licensed software for profit, without reference to the original copyright holder.

      For example, here is clause 1 of the DFSG:


      1. Free Redistribution

      The license of a Debian component may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license may not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.


      The YaST License on the other hand specifically prohibits distribution for profit without prior agreement, in clause 3.

      YaST is not Free Software. Q.E.D

      The Open Source Definition requires the exact same thing in its first clause, so:

      YaST is not Open Source. Q.E.D.
      --

      Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    15. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 2

      Wrong.

      Open Source is defined by the Open Source Definition, which is a very slight modification to the Debian Free Software Guidelines, so they were always intended to be equivalent terms.

      Unfortunately the Open Source Initiative, in their wisdom accepted that Apple License that both Debian and the Free Software Foundation rejected, but that is a tiny thing.

      Getting the source is nowhere near sufficient to qualify for "Open Source" status.

      You are also wrong about Free Software only being applicable to copyleft software. The list of licenses that the FSF accepts is extensive, and certainly not limited to copyleft licenses.

      OK, so if you're being pedantic, you can say that I got it wrong, because the Apple difference does mean that Open Source is a superset of Free Software, but that was an intentional move on my part, because it was bound to catch the attention of people like you who have totally failed to understand that the two terms refer to the same thing (pretty much).

      --

      Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    16. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by A+Malc+Yates · · Score: 1

      OK, to continue ..... you are correct that permission is required.

      The YaST licence does not forbid resale : it merely requires written permission from SuSE in order to sell it.

      quote ( from http://www.suse.de/en/private/support/licenses/yas t.html ) :

      " It is forbidden to reproduce or distribute data carriers which have been reproduced without authorisation for payment without the prior written consent of SuSE Linux AG or SuSE Linux. "

      This says to me that, by the documented terms of the licence, if you ask, you can sell YaST licenced code.

      The FSF's interpretation of this is ( at http://www.fsf.org/licenses/license-list.html ):-

      " The YaST License
      This is not a free software license. The license prohibits distribution for a fee, and that makes it impossible for the software to be included in the many CD-ROM free software collections that are sold by companies and by organizations such as the FSF. "

      hmmmmm.

      I do not see how the first para form the YaST licencecan be interpreted as the second para : the interpretation of the FSF seems to be inaccurate, and thus this causes undue alarm.

      YaST does not fulfill the full definition of FSF free software ( by dint of the requirement of written permission to redistribute ), but is not represented correctly either : the YaST licence is not as draconian as many would believe it to be.

    17. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it is. Quit pulling the wool over your eyes.

      "The YaST licence does not forbid resale : it merely requires written permission from SuSE in order to sell it."

      This is a bullshit argument. In the absence of explicit permission from SuSE you can not redistribute YaST. This is the exact same condition as all other proprietary software. Copyright prevents redistribution without express permission by default. This makes it closed software. Proprietary software.

      FS/OS on the other hand grants explicit permission to redistribute. Saying that YaST isn't really proprietary because it doesn't explicitly say that redistribution is prohibited under any circumnstances is a straw man's argument.

      YaST licensing is every bit as draconian as many know it to be.

    18. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by afidel · · Score: 2

      That is one definition of open source, my personal definition might include, "is the source available for me to see and modify for my personal use?". In this way Povray is open source but does not fit the open source initiatives definition.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    19. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by HiThere · · Score: 2

      Umnh... What they said indicated that it would be gratis, not libre. But it's the libre that's the more important.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    20. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by HiThere · · Score: 2

      When you capitalize Open Source it has a slightly different meaning than "If I jump through hoops, I can look at the source." There is a more extensive openness implied, which among other things implies that you can change it and use the changes. It is less extensively open than Free Software (notice the capitals). And please understand that Free Software is not necessarily gratis, but rather libre.

      For a more extensive list of the normal usage of the capitalized terms you could check the Open Source Foundation and the Free Software Foundation, respectively. Most people don't use the terms with the nice distinction that they have defined, but that is basically sloppiness. (And, yes, I'm guilty too.)

      P.S.: These are the groups that originally defined the capitalized terms, and they have not greatly shifted their definitions since the original time. So they have the right to claim primacy.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    21. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Planesdragon · · Score: 1

      OK, so if you're being pedantic, you can say that I got it wrong, because the Apple difference does mean that Open Source is a superset of Free Software, but that was an intentional move on my part, because it was bound to catch the attention of people like you who have totally failed to understand that the two terms refer to the same thing (pretty much).

      Two terms that mean the same thing are worthless terms for a discussion--and not the sort of thing that people have flame wars over.

      See the FSF's page on the issue for a better take on it. Especially, see Neal Stephenson's informal definition.

      (On a side note, am I the only one who's irritated that both the FSF and the OSS people try to define by declaration and not exploration? Language evolves on its own--it does not do what special intrests want it to.)

      Anyway, with all of that said--no, I'm not wrong. Let's look at my statements again:

      Open Source is not a subset of Free Software; Free Software is a subset of Open Source.

      It is possible to have OSS that is not Free Software. On the other hand, is it possible to have Free Software where you don't get the source code? (See freedom 1 from the FSF)

      Free Software: Software that follows GNU's "software freedoms," including source code and redistribution rights, and sticky copyleft.

      Let's see, "including source code" is freedom 1, and "redistribution rights" is freedom 2. I'll admit to being partially incorrect on the "sticky copyleft" line...

      Open Source: Software that gives you the source code for the system. Mac OS's Darwin kernel is "Open Source", even though Aqua (and thus the OS as a whole) and most Mac apps aren't.

      Why, that's Neil's exact wording.... and since by your own admission Darwin is OSS, the whole statement's correct, if possibly incorrect.

      Unless YaST doesn't include code, it's OSS. If YaST doesn't include code, but doesn't do anything more than setup the software, it (the OS) might still be OSS.

      This statement can get tricky depending on what literal definition of OSS you mean... but, again, that's hardly enough for me to be uneqivocabbly "wrong."

    22. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by geekoid · · Score: 2

      That statement is correct, Linux is open source. Of course Linux is the kernel, not the sum of all the stuff packaged with it.

      I could write my own Closed app for linux, and distribute it with a linux distro, and Linux would still be open source.

      The operating system is not dependant on YAST, the intallation of the Kernel does.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    23. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Planesdragon · · Score: 2

      Not to me.

      I've been wrestling with Linux the entire week so far--and what it gains in "libre" it loses in simplicity.

      Windows XP hasn't even hiccuped throughout the entire process--and the only problem that came up (Lycoris stealing the MBR) was fixed so easily I laughed when I discovered it.

      [Open Disk Manager, right-click windows partiion, select "make active" or equivalent.]

      For OSS, the only part that matters to me is gratis. I'm libre enough by the law the extant software licenses, thank you very much.

    24. Re:Shame they don't know what "Open Source" means by Otter · · Score: 2
      (On a side note, am I the only one who's irritated that both the FSF and the OSS people try to define by declaration and not exploration? Language evolves on its own--it does not do what special intrests want it to.)

      That's what I find so aggravating about the FSF's "GNU/Linux" argument. It would be one thing if they said, "We believe it should be called GNU/Linux." But this business of "the operating system often incorrectly called Linux, which is properly known as GNU/Linux" is menacing and creepy.

      The OSI people are less guilty in this case, I'd argue, because they invented their own terminology, instead of latching on to existing words like "free" and "Linux" and "piracy" and proclaiming their own definitions to the exclusion of any existing ones.

  12. *yawn* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'll stick with RedHat myself. And let me tell you, corporations will do the same. Why? RedHat's proven. UnitedLinux (I thought it was just supposed to be a body of standards? Eh?) isn't. They'd best hope they have the venture capital to stick it out.

    That said, what ever happened to Random Love or whatnot?

    1. Re:*yawn* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this modded up so much?
      How does he think new products ever take off?

    2. Re:*yawn* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      On average, not bloody quickly. Microsoft Windows, for example, that wonderful operating system that supposedly has a monopoly, didn't take off over night, now, did it?

      The fact is, most for-profit Linux companies are known to have certain problems when it comes to the ability to throw large sums of money about with wild abandon.

      Unless UnitedLinux can afford to wage an aggressive campaign of marketing, tech support, and general 'Hey guys! Look at us! See what we can do!'.. By the time anyone considers it for a business deployment large enough to matter, the good folks at UL will already be ripping copper out of the walls to recycle so they can gas up their SUV's.

    3. Re:*yawn* by glwtta · · Score: 2

      I'll stick with NT myself. And let me tell you, corporations will do the same. Why? NT's proven. Linux isn't.

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
  13. Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    PCWORLD has the word that UnitedLinux has completed beta testing of the first release of its open source Linux operating system

    I've heard things about this upcoming open source Linux operating system, but it seems that bazaars are less functional than cathedrals. After all, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

  14. 2nd wife = Beta tester by Illuminati+Member · · Score: 5, Funny

    My second wife was a beta tester for the latest version (release candidate).

    She told me all about it to stuff it in my face. One of the differences for us that caused the divorce was that I was a big Windows user (although I did run Linux on one of my machines, which she took through the divorce), and she was a big Linux and BSD user. I can honestly say that I am strictly a windows user because she took all the boxes with Linux on them.

    Anyway, she said it has some features that will 'blow windows AND linux users away.' I'd say more, but don't know if I'm allowed to tell the info legally (trust me, she's already taken me to the cleaners, once).

    --
    Yeah, I'm a Republican AND a geek. It is possible.
    1. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by rovingeyes · · Score: 2, Funny
      Anyway, she said it has some features that will 'blow windows AND linux users away

      Well, with Windows and Linux users out of the picture, Apple will have the last laugh.

    2. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by 13Echo · · Score: 0, Troll
      "One of the differences for us that caused the divorce was that I was a big Windows user"


      You sir, are an idiot. Congraduation!
    3. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by rimcrazy · · Score: 1

      Love is grand......

      Divorce is 100 grand....

      --
      "TV, a medium as it is neither rare nor well done." Ernie Kovacs
    4. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Annoyed+Coward · · Score: 1

      Hmmmm... perfect candidate for LinuxChix.com hey, I was kidding.

      --
      Hmmm... Ok.. Chivas on the rocks.
    5. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by pubjames · · Score: 2

      One of the differences for us that caused the divorce was that I was a big Windows user

      Is this a joke? If not, man you really need to get your life sorted out. Disagreement over choice of operating systems is not a sensible reason for divorce...

    6. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by lovebyte · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It was most probably a joke, but if you thing choice of operating systems is not a sensible reason for divorce, you've never been through a divorce yourself. Relative to most other reasons, it is a perfectly reasonable one.

      --

      I'll do it for cheesy poofs.

    7. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by duck+'o+death · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's ok, Taco.

      Really.

      --
      Don't put salt in your eyes.
    8. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      My sister-in-law's second cousin was also beta testing UnitedLinux and he met this woman from the beta-tester's mailing list who he is dating now.

      She told him she got divorced from after a fierce argument about operating systems. I always thought that was a fishy story, but now I know it actually was true...

    9. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This guy has a point, you know.

    10. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      Have you considered making that story into a press release? It sounds suitably Onionesque.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    11. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by claude_juan · · Score: 1

      2 things.
      - i cant believe lovebyte's post got modded "insightful"

      - i hope to god you are kidding about os choice being at all relative to divorce. honestly, if there is even a flicker of valid concern there, you need to wake up. life IS more than computers believe it or not.

    12. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by lovebyte · · Score: 1

      Damn you! Computers are serious business! I'd kill my wife if she even went too close to my computer!

      Obviously all this was a big joke. Claude_Juan, you should get a sense of humour.

      --

      I'll do it for cheesy poofs.

    13. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by littleRedFriend · · Score: 1

      I fight with my wife every night. We have one box. I want to run Linux and play with cool os stuff.

      She wants to watch stupid TV series in some proprietary windows media format. When I told her to put another box in the living room, she wanted a Mac. Now come on, is that reason to break up or what?

      --
      IANAL, but imagine a beowulf cluster of in Soviet Russia all your belong are base to us welcoming the new SCO overlords.
    14. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      You sir, are an idiot. Congraduation!
      It's Congradulations idiot.
    15. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      His comment was a reference to 80's games, goofball. Translations got botched up and became "congraduation" instead of congratulations.

    16. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by claude_juan · · Score: 1

      you are right! and the things they do nowadays with internet porn, i wonder why i leave my house!

    17. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester by Hanno · · Score: 2

      When I told her to put another box in the living room, she wanted a Mac. Now come on, is that reason to break up or what?

      http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20010402.html
      http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20010403.html
      http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20010404.html
      http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20010405.html

      And then continue reading at
      http://www.gpf-comics.com/d/20010611.html

      --

      ------------------
      You may like my a cappella music
  15. Licensing by Annoyed+Coward · · Score: 1

    Reminds me of the uproar about licensing. Without undermining the need of cash for OSS projects, can we suggest them to provide differnt packages? Do not wish to start a flame war, but does anybody think that Apache license provides leverage here if somebody wishes to go commercial? View please.

    --
    Hmmm... Ok.. Chivas on the rocks.
  16. Who's ultimately in charge? by GeckoFood · · Score: 2, Insightful

    With Caldera and SuSE each having a stake in UnitedLinux, which one actually does the "steering" (for lack of a better expression)? It seems that even when companies cooperate, someone ultimately emerges at the leader.

    I get this feeling that, like a lot of other cooperative efforts, there will be a split between the involved parties down the line (different business models, philosophies, goals, etc) and there will be separate paths taken by the different companies, and the end result will be that no one has really gained too much in the way of progress. Am I alone in this line of thinking?

    --
    Be excellent to each other. And... PARTY ON, DUDES!
    1. Re:Who's ultimately in charge? by NeonSpirit · · Score: 1

      UnitedLinux is actualy a seperate company. Each of the four consortium members have places on the board, I dont know what the proportions are but the UnitedLinux board is in charge, not any particular consortium member.

      --
      I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
  17. Benefits? by GreatDave · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The main benefit of UL is that it will present a united spec to compete against Red Hat. From the ISV and hardware vendor perspective, this is good, because there will be only two Linux distro specs being used in the business world where they will hawk their goods. Debian ought to count as a third but it doesn't have the marketshare or mindshare (except among diehard admins, of course).

    Only good can come of this, though I really don't see UL being able to overcome Red Hat.

    --
    "I am root. Bow before me." To this I say, "You are root, and you bear the sins of the world upon your shoulders."
    1. Re:Benefits? by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      If Red Hat are removing the Republic of China's flag from their distribution to appease the PRC, does this mean that United Linux will ship with the Taiwanese flag but no communist flag?

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    2. Re:Benefits? by glwtta · · Score: 2
      except among diehard admins, of course

      Pesky admins! Business would so much easier without them!

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
  18. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by siemce · · Score: 0

    free=!Open Source

  19. They are still around?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought they'd be long gone seeing how they don't know what the GPL or the community is all about... And no, I don't accept there mea culpa NDA after the fact. They spit in the face of the community with there closed beta and they now deserve the fruits of this behavior. I'll be suprised and dissapointed if the community takes these jackals seriously.

  20. I've lost track by Matey-O · · Score: 2

    So four companies merged to create United linux. I'm still confused as there's still Lycoris, Lindows, Mandrake, Redhat, etc.

    In my PERSONAL experience in futzing with Lycoris, I went out and BOUGHT Redhat.

    Redhat seems to suffer from Microsoftitis, that is, if it's a Un*x app, it's running on Redhat first.

    --
    "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
    1. Re:I've lost track by chez69 · · Score: 0

      What's so bad about that?

      why not support the distro with the largest marketshare?

      --
      PHP is the solution of choice for relaying mysql errors to web users.
  21. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 2

    So which part of the Open Source Definition allows software that is barred by the Debian Free Software Guidelines, or vice versa?

    (Hint: they're practiaclly word for word the same document, with a little editing done by the OSI since they based their definition on Debian's)

    --

    Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
  22. Here's the real Quatrain by Dutchmaan · · Score: 4, Funny

    A subarctic creature, through a window slides,
    A fractured system is united,
    The Gates of hell opened,
    A dot is slashed with the multitudes in great debate.

  23. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is neither Free Software nor is it Open Source. Notice the caps! These are well defined terms and UL does not meet either one. This is closed proprietary software. Move along.

  24. If I wanted to be a good karma whore... by sterno · · Score: 1

    I would have said, "United Linux itself doesn't interest me that much, but at least it's better than using any Microsoft product" :)

    --
    This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
  25. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

    The trouble is not the Open Source Definition but the very lax way in which the self-appointed guardians of Open Source interpret it. For example they passed Apple's APSL despite it allowing Apple to revoke your rights to the software at any time.

    RMS and the FSF take a much more worst-case approach to evaluating licences: 'assuming the nastiest possible lawyers, would I still have the right to use, share and change the software?'. Irrespective of RMS's political views, I find this approach to classifying licences much more reassuring than the press-release-driven OSI.

    --
    -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
  26. Redhat? why not compete against Microsoft? by MrDingDong · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why is that everytime we read about Linux - people mention how Linux is going to get users to convert from Solaris, HP-UX etc. and here the thing is that this distro is designed to get users from RedHat.

    Shouldn't it be that the goal is to get users to switch from Windows? Who cares if they migrate to RedHat or Solaris or SuSE or United Linux? As long as its away from Windows. This is great that there's yet another distro (I guess), but I think they ought to target Windows users rather than existing Linux/Unix users.

    A house divided...

    1. Re:Redhat? why not compete against Microsoft? by mntgomery · · Score: 1
      I agree. My reaction to this was, "Just what the Linux world needs. . . another distro to dillute the Linux community." Unless it offers something completely revolutionary, it seems to me it will do nothing but drawing users away from existing Linux distros.

      One of the biggest problems facing users considering a change from Microsoft to Linux is "which distro should I pick? There are just too many!" In my extremely humble opinion, Linux needs fewer distros, not more.

      --

      This comment was generated by a squadron of trained super elite albino ninja chickens for you.
  27. Re:Red Hat Competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Well United Linux has gotten quite a bit of hype, a friend of mine has been keeping track of some of their add campaigns at his homepage (he is a big fan of the idea, and like me detests Red Hat). I have a question though, if SuSE is involved (I think they are), will United Linux have the SuSE installer Yast? If so I think it will blow Red Hat out of the water, considering how much the Red Hat installer sucks (especially for inexperienced users).

  28. easy one by mirko · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, will next year be : United GNU/Linux Year ? :-)

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  29. Oh great... by jav1231 · · Score: 1

    Cool! Caldera v.4! or is it RansomLovix v.1? "In keeping with the Ransom Love tradition, your ISP will automatically bill you for each attempted and completed ISO download." >

  30. Re:Red Hat Competition by mirko · · Score: 1

    Well, if SuSe definitely is a part of this, then why will they offer their own distro, otherwise ?

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  31. I'm not sure I'm happy about this.... by SwedishChef · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Our company has been using (and buying) SuSE distributions for years now and we were pretty happy with it until they got to 8.0 when so many things were broken/changed that we couldn't use it any longer as a server OS. The big changes were the loss of the ability to edit the configuration files; especially in regards to selecting which services start during boot. It proved almost impossible, for instance, to keep portmap from starting without mucking about in the bowels of the boot sequence. It seemed to us that 8.0 was aimed squarely at the desktop market and its functionality as a server was reduced.

    Since most of our installs are servers, we stopped buying the 5 or 6 copies of the distribution we normally buy and instead went back to using the single copy of 7.3 we had laying around the lab.

    What I'm afraid of with United Linux is that SuSE will have moved their own distribution (which I liked to call "The Lego Set of Operating Systems") from an all-purpose distro (at a great price: $79) to a desktop-only solution. The UL distro will be moved in (at a significantly higher price point) to fill the server niche. Thus we will have to buy two distributions from SuSE (a la RedHat) whereas before one did everything. (And yes, I know they had a $39.95 "personal" edition but that always looked to me to be the loss-leader for ads that brought people into the store to turn them for the higher value product.)

    This makes me nervous. Our comapany's future depends on the solidity of the distribution we choose. Our competitiveness rests on our ability to buy the OS at prices that put our MS rivals out of the bidding. I am not comfortable with distributions that tinker with what I thought was a winning recipe.

    Our move to SuSE was away from RH during the glibc debacle (version 4 or 5 of RH, I forget now). Our move away from SuSE (to Debian, perhaps) might be imminent. It will all depend on how they price this new United Linux offering and what it offers our customers.

    --
    No one ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke!
    1. Re:I'm not sure I'm happy about this.... by HiThere · · Score: 2

      Every distribution that I'm aware of has had it's bad periods. FWIW (I dont' really run a server) Red Hat 7.3 was quite stable.

      OTOH, Debian has both it's good and bad points. The stable branch hasn't always been quite as stable as it should be, so be a bit careful if apt-get tells you it's having trouble with an upgrade. But it's generally quite nice. Particularly if you can install it once, and copy it to several machines. (The original set up does take a bit of work ... more than I'm usually willing to put in.)
      As a third option, consider LibraNet. It's basically a fancy installer on the front of a Debian system. In fact, once you have it installed, you can just shift apt-get to point to debian-testing (sorry, I don't think stable will work here) and upgrade from that. And at the next change you can switch to debian-stable, and it will be just as if you had originally installed debian (at least if you tune the screen).

      But do be a bit careful if apt-get warns you that there may be a problem. (Sometimes it's just that you need to replace one package with another that has a different name, but if you don't figure it out before proceeding, you can cause yourself a reasonable amount of trouble.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    2. Re:I'm not sure I'm happy about this.... by haggar · · Score: 2

      The big changes were the loss of the ability to edit the configuration files; especially in regards to selecting which services start during boot. It proved almost impossible, for instance, to keep portmap from starting without mucking about in the bowels of the boot sequence. It seemed to us that 8.0 was aimed squarely at the desktop market and its functionality as a server was reduced.

      Then you should be actually happy about UnitedLinux: it's a hardened Linux with only SSH running after installation, and applications and kenrel tuned for server work. By all means, try the beta, it's now the most secure box in my network, I coulnd't find a single vulnerability.

      --
      Sigged!
    3. Re:I'm not sure I'm happy about this.... by sjbcfh · · Score: 1

      The big changes were the loss of the ability to edit the configuration files; especially in regards to selecting which services start during boot. It proved almost impossible, for instance, to keep portmap from starting without mucking about in the bowels of the boot sequence.

      So, does typing insserv -r portmap or using the YaST2 Runlevel editor count as "mucking about in the bowels of the boot sequence"?

  32. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Phil+Hands · · Score: 2

    Yeah, it's a real shame that they passed the APSL, because otherwise you'd be able to say the two terms were exactly equivalent, rather than having to get into complicated caveats.

    I imagine that OSI will comit the same sin, and pass the Real license recently mentioned in TheRegister, since that license seems to have been inspired by the APSL, and has the nasty 12-month forced publication drivel.

    --

    Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
  33. UL vs RedHat by Diabolical · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why do people try to put UL and RH against each other? UL is een open initiative in which Linux distro's can participate. This includes RH. So i don't understand the fuss.. what i do know is that people are still thinking that RH is big in the entire world. IT'S NOT!!!. Here in Europe SuSE is one of the biggest distro's and RedHat is, although known to most, over here what SuSE is to u in the US.

    Furthermore, the fact that this UL distro looks like a mix of SuSE and SCO's linux distro is because they put the most effort in this for the moment.

    It remains to be seen if this initiative attracts ISV though. And that is not because of lack of support but more an economical reason. Since it is not easy in this economical climate most ISV would rather stay on the beaten path then try to find new roads..

    1. Re:UL vs RedHat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > RedHat is, although known to most, over here what SuSE is to u in the US...

      sorry for the a/c post but I just had to fire off a quick reply to this one...

      What planet are you on? SuSE is no way the leading distro in the EU. It's big in Scandinavia, Germany, France and a few other places but it's not the leading distro of choice for commercial use... No way...

      Like it or not, that prize goes to RedHat pretty much wherever you are, with the exception of much of asia, where other distros flourish thanks to better support for asian languages.

      As always, horses for courses, but in my world RedHat is still the undisputed leader for commercial use for many reasons, and I don't see UL getting anywhere near for some serious time to come.

      Like a previous poster said, hope they got enough VC to fight a _long_ fight...

    2. Re:UL vs RedHat by Vox+Humana · · Score: 1

      Because UL is perceived, accurately or not, as an attempt by the participating distros to join forces and collectively gain market share on RedHat.

    3. Re:UL vs RedHat by krisguy · · Score: 1

      Different people think differently.

      Sounds lame, but it's true.

      Different distrobutions bring different ways for people to handle their system, meaning, some people react better to different software, i.e. console/GUI.

      This post is sounding vague, but I can tell you why I like different distros:

      I am a person that reacts better to a visual (GUI-oriented) software. The easiest distro for me to use has been Mandrake for the reason that they have a LOT of GUI tools I can use. It's nice to see RedHat and SuSE doing that now as well.

      It's better to have many choices than Microsoft.

      --
      I'm a hamker. Hams, hackers, same ethos, different medium. == 73 de KB0STG
  34. No kidding! by Luminair · · Score: 1

    Because, after all, developing a new Linux distro really is the same thing as developing some private software from scratch.

    Because, after all, it's not like those private companies would have to start from scratch, while the Linux distro has half the work done for them already.

    Because, after all, the private company would have to release a fully feature complete and bug tested piece of software, while all United Linux has to do is release something that boots.

    Nice analogy there. Apples and oranges, very nice.

    1. Re:No kidding! by sterno · · Score: 1

      1) United Linux will have to release some feature complete and bug tested because otherwise they won't be able to compete against RedHat.

      2) I didn't say "develop from scratch"

      --
      This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
    2. Re:No kidding! by Luminair · · Score: 1

      Sure it will have some features.

      And if you didn't mean by scratch, what did you mean? Are you comparing a Linux OS to a simple private piece of software such as, say, part of the MS Office suite? Or are you comparing it to another OS such as Windows XP?

      Either way you're comparing apples to oranges. Not to mention the fact that not many companies provide code for you to use for free in the development in your private software.

      Developing a Linux OS means much of the work is done for you already. Developing another OS means you start practically from scratch.

      And in the case of developing a piece of software from the ground up, the work of which is of comparative complexity with that of the work put into a new Linux distro, you're still going to be starting pretty much from scratch.

      Apples. Oranges.

    3. Re:No kidding! by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This parent is a troll.

      Because, after all, developing a new Linux distro really is the same thing as developing some private software from scratch.

      Read the developer's mailing lists for any given distribution that has one. It's not easy--in fact, its really quite hard. Private software has it tough too, but getting all these new software packages that often break binary compatibility to interpolate properly is exceedingly difficult--often times packages fail silently and it takes time to even detect a symptom, and after that finding the source can take weeks! The private software authors have this problem to some extent, but not like distros.

      Because, after all, it's not like those private companies would have to start from scratch, while the Linux distro has half the work done for them already.

      Actually, I'd venture to say private companies re-use as much code as OSS developers. As for the individual packages, many of the core utilities in Win2k have been around with few or no updates since '95! These issues just aren't as prevalent or detectable without sites like distrowatch which tabulate the various packages and version numbers that make up a distro.

      Because, after all, the private company would have to release a fully feature complete and bug tested piece of software, while all United Linux has to do is release something that boots.

      UnitedLinux is a joint commercial venture by respected Linux distributors. Their product must be good--plenty of venture capital has been invested in them, and the individual members have burnt a lot of funds on UL. Just because they draw mostly from tools developed via a different software development model doesn't mean that they aren't trying to compete in the business world via the same means as "private software companies." In fact, you contrasted a hypothetical "private company" to UL, even though UL is, more or less, a "private company!"

      Nice analogy there. Apples and oranges, very nice.

      Nice rebuttal there. Unfortunately, UL is a private company, developing distros is as difficult as private ventures, and you sir are a troll.

      --
      Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
    4. Re:No kidding! by Luminair · · Score: 1

      Calling someone who you disagree with a Troll doesn't put you in a better position to argue. This is why I, unlike yourself, don't call people with differing opinions "trolls".

      Please note that when I say "private company" I am referring to a private company which is developing private non-open source software, ie the "proprietary software company" mentioned in the original parent. Arguing semantics is also not a way to better your position in an argument.

      There is no doubt that creating a Linux distro from scratch is "difficult". What is in question here is the comparison. Is it valid to say

      Difficult compared to the creation of Windows 2000 server? Since it was developed over the years using parts of code that go back even more years, this isn't a valid comparison.

      My thought is that "If this was a collaboration of a bunch of proprietary software companies, they'd still be hashing out legal agreeements." isn't a very accurate statement when referring to why open source is "cool".

      Difficult compared to the creation of BeOS? Difficult compared to the creation of Mozilla?

      When I say "apples to oranges" I'm referring to the invalidity of a comparison. You can't make a general comparison between a new Linux distro and new software developed by a proprietary software company and deduce that the Linux distro was available so soon for any given reason.

      The original author seems to contend that UL is ready so quickly because it's an open source project. I believe the only effect open source has on the quickness is that because of the GPL, UL can start off the distro development with a great head start. This is in contrast to the original author's assertion that this quickness is due to the fact that UL is not a collection of "proprietary software companies".

    5. Re:No kidding! by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 2
      I came off strong in an effort to challenge your argument--being called a troll imo is a call to defend yourself, not simple mudslinging. At least when I do it.

      I still don't accept your argument. Win2k had thousands of developers in separate departments, sort of like OSS development. Therefore, a correct comparison would be the team that would "glue" the system together vs a distro (if there were such a team; there might be). In this case, the Win2k "glue" team (again, I'm not asserting it exists) has a much easier job than the distro team, and I think the reasons are obvious and tied to the (albeit loose) centralization of Win2k.

      I think we have come to the point where we both agree that the parent was Wrong (TM), since we both agree the comparison was moot, and the original parent's evident assumption that UL itself is an Open Source project is completely untrue. That being said, I believe you are still not thinking of UL as what it really is--a corporate entity.

      Anyways, I did not accuse you of trolling because of your views, but because you made rather bold statements that in my original reply I showed to be huge jumps. By calling you on them in the harsh manner I did, you were forced to represent yourself in a more sensible light.

      Cheers,
      The Grey One

      --
      Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
    6. Re:No kidding! by Luminair · · Score: 1

      That's just what I wanted to hear.

      Good enough for me. Nice talking to you, and good day to you :)

  35. Re:2nd wife = Beta tester??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't you mean the 1st wife was the Beta test?

    The new version should be at least 1.0 !!

  36. Migrate by Synn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seriously, migrate to Debian. It's rock solid stable, you can choose exactly how it runs and it won't cost you a dime.

    You could download it over the net and start playing with it on a beta machine today if you wanted.

    1. Re:Migrate by runderwo · · Score: 0, Flamebait
      Seriously, migrate to Debian.
      ZEALOT!
    2. Re:Migrate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and start playing with it

      exactly.. it's great if you find enjoyment from hours of screwing around just to get a working OS, otherwise.. forget it!

  37. Hate to burst your bubble... by Luminair · · Score: 1

    ...but the Linux distro companies have the exact same goal as, say, Microsoft: to bring in the profits, whatever it takes.

    Just because it took up until now for one of them to figure out a new profit scheme doesn't mean the desire for it hasn't always been there.

    Maybe you've noticed the price variants on different Microsoft OS's... who is to say multiple distros won't follow that route? One desktop OS, one server OS, one database OS, etc? It worked for Microsoft, why not for Linux?

    They can still be cheaper and better than Microsoft, but that's not to say the tiered system isn't financially viable.

  38. Why does divorce cost so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Because it's worth it.

  39. Camels and Rich men by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would like to clear up this common misconception regarding Christian dogma. THe above saying is in fact incorrect due to poor translation and time. The eye of the needle was in fact a gate to the city of Jerusulm. The reason it was difficult for the rich to pass through it was because they oten rode camels and the height of the gate was not such to acomadae a camel with a man riding on it. Jesus had nothing agaist the wealthy. Just wanted to let you know. sorry about the poor spelling as well.

  40. United Linux Licence fee by NeonSpirit · · Score: 1
    I remeber sometime ago seeing the price point of UnitedLinux server with support to be in the $1800 region, this is comparable to Redhat Advanced Server Premium at $2499. It is however much more than SuSE SLES 7 for IA-32 at $599.95 which compares to Redhat Advanced server (base) at $799. I know from experiance that SLES for other platforms is significantly more expensive.

    It looks to me that there will be three broad catagories of Linux distribution:

    Home use - Low cost / Freely Dowloadable e.g. Debian, Gentoo - Comminity Support

    Desktop - Medium cost e.g. Xandros, SuSE - Commercial Support

    Commercial Server - e.g. RH Advanced, UnitedLinux - Commercial Support

    The Commercial Server versions will be competing against Solaris/HP-UX/AIX Propriatory Unix operating systems. Intersting to sree how it will all shake out

    --
    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
  41. Confusion by Cheese+Cracker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It will be harder to get Windows people to migrate to Linux if the trend of adding more flavors
    continues. To me it's like they're making coffee from the same set of coffee beans, and then add
    their own special flavor to it, like milk, sugar etc. All these different versions makes a beginner
    rather confused. I bet a lot of people ask themselves "Which Linux shall I choose???"... Well,
    at least I do. :) I've only tried out Red Hat, but I won't migrate away from Windows until I've
    figured out why there's so many different flavors of Linux. I don't think I'm alone in this quest for
    knowledge
    . Anyway, I'm not in a rush... I'll waste the time to STFW. :)

    1. Re:Confusion by glwtta · · Score: 2
      To me it's like they're making coffee from the same set of coffee beans, and then add their own special flavor to it, like milk, sugar etc.

      I am fairly sure there is more than one company making coffee out of the same coffee beans. What are you suggesting? That there be one GNU/Linux - the one you like? While we are at it, let's make one car, one type of house and get rid of that ridiculous amount of choice people have in buying clothes - poor consumers shouldn't have to decide what they want, after all.

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
    2. Re:Confusion by Binarybrain · · Score: 1

      Everytime I go grocery shopping Im like "Which cereal shall I chose." For heavens sake theres an entire isle devoted to cearel. I think this confuses the consumer. Instead there should be only one cereal called "United Cereal."

      Just Kidding. Your right there are to many Linux distros. However, I think we like varity. The best way to go for a newcommer is to use a well supported distro like Redhat. Don't worry about all the distros out there. Many of them are to fill a nitch and don't concearn newbies.

    3. Re:Confusion by Cheese+Cracker · · Score: 2

      That there be one GNU/Linux - the one you like?

      You're missing the whole point with my post. I'm just trying to point out that having so many
      flavors might confuse some people. (like me) If Linux is going to be popular outside of the
      geek community, then it would be better if there were fewer choices with a clear distinction
      between them.

    4. Re:Confusion by Penguinoflight · · Score: 2

      Just dive in dude... Redhat isn't bad to start with because you can understand what's wrong with it when you actually learn stuff later. OTOH, Slackware is the best I've tried, but if I had more bandwidth, I'd try A source based distro. (Gentoo... sourceror..)

      --
      "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World"
      1 John 4:14
    5. Re:Confusion by Cheese+Cracker · · Score: 2

      Everytime I go grocery shopping Im like "Which cereal shall I chose." For heavens sake theres an entire isle devoted to cearel. I think this confuses the consumer. Instead there should be only one cereal called "United Cereal."

      When you go to the store, you don't have to read every written line to see if you like it. ;) With
      all the Linux flavors, you better read AND understand what the differences are. Most people
      don't like to read a bunch of hard-to-understand technical mumbo jumbo (I've been around
      long enough to do it, but it's time consuming for a beginner) to find out if the specific Linux
      flavor is what they want/need or not... so they stick with Windows... after all, it have served
      their purpose in the past.

      The best way to go for a newcommer is to use a well supported distro like Redhat.

      I found it easy to install it when I tried it out in the past. I'll give it another try. Thanks. :)

    6. Re:Confusion by Cheese+Cracker · · Score: 2

      Redhat isn't bad to start with because you can understand what's wrong with it when you actually learn stuff later.

      This is the type of info newbies to Linux should hear on day one. :) As you wrote... you can always
      move over to the other flavors later on, but it would be cool if they knew where to start. Thanks!

    7. Re:Confusion by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 2
      Well, when I decided that I too wanted a l33t desktop I did some research. It only took a few weeks to get up to speed on what was going on, but if you don't want to do that then fair enough, so here's a rundown.

      Why are there so many distros? Because Linux is a free market, and people have wildly varying tastes in operating systems it turns out. The domination of Windows kind of disguised that fact for a while, but like any other market you care to name, there is competition for customers, and competition is good. It keeps the distros (at least the commercial ones) on their toes.

      So which is right for you? When I first looked around, there were basically two types of distro, one of the Big 3 (redhat, suse, mandrake) and then all the rest (debian/slackware/etc).

      I looked at RedHat, went eurgh GNOME1.4 and looked at SuSE, which was shipping KDE2.2 - so I went for SuSE. I did look at Mandrake, but SuSE had a much stronger european presence plus their website sold me much better than the Mandrake site did.

      The big 3 are all very strong distros, you should definately start with them. I went for SuSE back then, but today I spent the day installing Linux on my work machine (corporate desktop invasion is starting already, i'm by no means the first in our dept :) and it was RedHat 8, because I'm now a GNOME user, and Psyche does kick ass. SuSE is still very good however, as is Mandrake.

      Since then there are of course a couple more types of distros on the scene: source based (ie gentoo) and the "XP Clones", like Xandros, Lycoris, Lindows. The last type might be of interest if you're looking for the gentlest learning curve possible, but be warned, they aren't really targetted at Slashdot readers as such. You'll find that they feel less like Linux. If you like Windows but dislike Microsoft they might be worth looking at though....

    8. Re:Confusion by MyHair · · Score: 2

      if the trend of adding more [Linux] flavors continues

      Um, I thought UnitedLinux was a specification for the member distros to adhere to, not a new distro itself. Suse, VA and the others are going to release distros that conform to the UnitedLinux spec but are still individualized.

      That's the point of it being UnitedLinux: to reduce the worry of choosing.

  42. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Graspee_Leemoor · · Score: 1

    I think you meant:

    free!=Open Source.

    Because if free=!OpenSource then !OpenSource=free, so Windows must be free...

    graspee

  43. PHB? by krez · · Score: 1

    Am I missing something? Seems like the PHB's at Suse are spreading themselves thin. Just a few /. articles down Suse says they're introducing a desktop version. Is this desktop version going to be Suse? is it going to be United Linux? Is it going to be a bit of both? or will it be Desktop Suse, built to UL specs? Seems silly to me to be doing much the same thing in two different places.

    --
    =U= "Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you"
  44. This is just silly... by Wee · · Score: 2
    Who (besides RMS) ever said that costless, non-open software was bad? I was a Linux/Solaris Netscape user for years and got along pretty well. I use Opera now and love it. Sure, having source is definitely a good thing but it's certainly not a hard and fast requirement most rational people would put on use of software.

    If what you need to use is closed-source, then use it. If you can find an open/free alternative that works just as well, then use it. If you find something which costs nothing but doesn't offer source, then use that if you need to. Saying "use the right tool for the job" doesn't necessarily have to involve any discussions about openness or freedom if you have an open mind to begin with.

    I've never understood why some people consider having a choice to be a bad thing. I suppose I've always valued liberty over equality, I guess.

    -B

    --

    Ash and Hickory, straight-grained and true, make excellent bludgeons, dandy for the cudgeling of vegetarians.

    1. Re:This is just silly... by Phil+Hands · · Score: 2

      Who (besides RMS) ever said that costless, non-open software was bad?

      If you read what I wrote, you'll see that I certainly didn't in the post you're replying to. All I was doing was pointing out that UL is not Open Source, and that the story has that wrong.

      I suppose I've always valued liberty over equality,

      Well, I tend to favour Free Software, because I'm rather protective of my liberty, and can do without being tied into a supplier in a way that stops me doing what I want to the software on my computers --- You want the freedom to discard you freedom, I want to make sure that people are aware that they are discarding their freedom when they do so. I think we're on the same side here.

      --

      Debian: GNU/Linux done the Linux way
    2. Re:This is just silly... by glwtta · · Score: 2
      Sure, having source is definitely a good thing but it's certainly not a hard and fast requirement most rational people would put on use of software.

      I think you are missing the point here - the idea is that being free is good for the software istself, not necessarily for people using it (well, apart from using better quality software).

      Costless propriatary software just saves you 50 bucks, I don't see that as a great advantage.

      I suppose I've always valued liberty over equality, I guess. What does this have to do with anything?

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
    3. Re:This is just silly... by HiThere · · Score: 2

      Well, I, for one, consider it sufficiently bad that I won't buy SuSE. And although they have a very good technical reputation, I still won't recommend them.

      It's not terrible, but it's a whole lot worse than many alternatives, and I don't really understand why anyone would choose them. But if you want to, it's up to you. If you aren't distributing any code, it's not an immediate problem. And as long as there are a multitude of distributions, they aren't a real threat.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  45. Re:Red Hat Competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Why the blatant dislike for RedHat? It's the distro that most newbies cut their teeth on and gets them ready to move onto more complex stuff. SuSE is OK, but it's not really that much better than RH. Especially where standard hardware support is concerned.

    A freind of mine has tried Linux on and off the past few years. SuSE is the closest he said that he came to feeling that it was made for him. But his major gripe (well placed) was that it didn't have out of the box support for his PCMCIA WLAN card (Linksys), his CD-R/RW/DVD drive, or the ability to play back DVDs. These are pretty standard features on most laptops these days. When he tried RedHat, the installer wasn't as easy to use as SuSE, but at least his hardware worked. So that's where it falls apart... RedHat is "six of one" and Suse is "half a dozen of the other". All the blatant in-fighting and competition is doing nothing to further the cause. The only way this is ever going to work is if everyone cooperates. SuSE should open up YAST and RedHat should use it. RedHat should let other distros have access to their kernels, and SuSE should use them. That would go a long way to getting Linux out there. To hell with the businesses, it's the software and the users stupid.

  46. Dude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A mac is a great compromise, 'cause she gets pretty eye candy, iTunes, iMovie and lots of neat stuff while you get a unix OS to play with. It comes with gcc and a great ide. Plus when she needs help with her computer your unix knowledge will be of great help.

    Buy her the mac, it will save your marriage.

    1. Re:Dude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or he can save some money and just buy another PC and load Linux on it--wife gets what she wants (Windows with the proprietary whatever) and he gets what he wants (Linux).

  47. Dam Skippy! by bogie · · Score: 2

    Time to dig in and stand against companies who are treating the spirit of Linux like an afterthought.

    There is plently of BSD code out their so I wish these companies would just stick to that instead of using mostly GPL code and then throwing in their "special sauce" thus polluting the distro.

    --
    If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
  48. Re:Red Hat Competition by chez69 · · Score: 0

    They do allow access to all the code for their distro.

    All the code is there on ftp.redhat.com.

    --
    PHP is the solution of choice for relaying mysql errors to web users.
  49. installing by zogger · · Score: 1

    ---umm, as a this-year newcompletely 1005 inexperienced linux user, and starting with redhat, how exactly is it "hard" to slap in a CD and boot up and follow the bouncing mouse clicks to install? You can pick a canned default desktop or server or developer, etc, or hit custom and pick and choose, and a short while later you reboot and you are "installed". I found it no different from any windows or mac install from cd I ever did. I ran sndconfig to really get the sound going and deleted and re-ran the modem finder thingee to dial out with and it worked. That's the biggest problems I have had. Up2date seems to work fine for me as well. Now 8.0 I am not fond of, I just switched back to using 7.2, but that's preferences on my part I liked the layout-"feel", etc, much better, and the modem detecting/configuring worked better (worked at all really) on 7.2 over 8.0. Perhaps I was doing something wrong but after putzing with it I just stuck the 7.2 disks back in, got back online just swell and all the packages work. I mean it's rather easy to do and I am really a mac classic extreme ease of use person by background, this ain't that hard. Now learning in's and out's of command line, sure, big learning curve but that's any of the distros.

    Anyway, back to "installing", umm, how much easier is this suse to install over that? Stick in cd disk click install whatever. Does it insert the cd for you with a robot arm or what?;, I don't know, really, never tried it. Explain how it's easier and redhat's sucks, I am interested, not so far into linux that I am extremely loyal to whomever's release. thanks in advance.

    1. Re:installing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Installing Red Hat 7.3 was easy for me too. However, I like SuSE much better, and they didn't hack KDE. I hate Gnome and don't like Red Hat pushing me toward using it. Plus, BlueCurve sucks big time! Red Hat is barking up the wrong tree with 8.0!

      SuSE is easier to install just slightly. It did so much by itself, though you had the choice to change the default settings, and every piece of hardware I had worked when it rebooted. SuSE is also easier to maintain. YOU updates are a breeze...

  50. Dont be dependant on anyone. by nurb432 · · Score: 2

    Use the power that opensource provides and create your own distro and maintain that.

    If you are mainly interested in server installs, then you wont have much maintenance to do once its stable and running.. You dont want bleeding edge stuff in the first place.

    Or just switch to FreeBSD and forget the distro wars once and for all ( its part of what drove me away ).

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  51. Re:wife beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ugh, This dude should be locked up

    >wife beta

  52. Re:Red Hat Competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The guy above is a fucking troll. And a stupid one at that. Mod him down while I shit in his mouth.

  53. Re:Red Hat Competition by Chicane-UK · · Score: 2

    considering how much the Red Hat installer sucks (especially for inexperienced users).

    Eh? You are kidding me right? I started off with Red Hat back when it was at version 5.0 - and even then I could work out the installer having come fresh from Windows.

    The Red Hat installer is now easier than ever.. in fact I would probably consider it easier to use than the Windows installer! Whats so tough about it?

    Pick your keyboard + mouse, pick a place to install to, pick your timezone + location, pick the type of install you want (server, workstation, etc) and off you go! It ain't exactly rocket science!

    --
    "Hey! Unless this is a nude love-in, get the hell off my property!!"
  54. Re:Shame YOU don't know what "Open Source" means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Also always had problems with arithmetixs

  55. Re:Red Hat Competition by ruel24 · · Score: 1

    According to Linux Planet:

    "UnitedLinux 1.0 is not a completely new Linux distribution. Instead, it's based on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server."

    Other members contributions:

    "While SuSE developers are taking the lead in developing UnitedLinux, they're not doing it on their own. Even before UnitedLinux was announced on May 30, SCO, then Caldera, according to Ransom Love, former Caldera CEO, was transferring its Linux development team to SuSE to start work on UnitedLinux. Today, SCO's main contribution to UnitedLinux development is financial support.

    That is also the case with Turbolinux and Conectiva. Turbolinux did contribute technology from its Turbolinux Cluster Server product. And, Turbolinux, as it moves away from the American market and focuses almost all its attention on the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese markets continues to contribute language support. Conectiva's main technical contribution has been to the Spanish and Portuguese versions of UnitedLinux."

    You can bet, YaST is in there! SuSE ROCKS!

  56. Contrary to popular belief... by vga_init · · Score: 1
    The world doesn't revolve around Microsoft.

    One of the intended of GNU/Linux was to great a good replacement unix system, and so it is not surprising was the focus on making linux easier to migrate to from unix.

    Though I can't say for certain, I'd like to think that Linux was not originally intended for widespread Desktop use like operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and MacOS, and it is kind of a fluke that linux has won as much of a share of this market as it has, however small.

    Linux, like any other unix clone, was designed to be used for the same purposes as (you guessed it) unix, not windows! ^^; Linux does compete *more* with operating systems like, HP-UX, Solaris, and BSD than windows. This is true simply because of the fact that, in the standard biology definition, that these organisms (ie operating systems ;) are competing for the same niche.

    Let's face it, the bulk of the windows user base consists of bitter hating people who spit on linux (because microsoft told them to) and Apple computers (because...well things went downhill after Apple ][, didn't they?). I don't think they are interested in switching, so lets focus on converting the people who are actually open to the idea..