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FSF-Sponsored gNewSense 2.1 Released

Posted by timothy on from the when-you-want-to-say-gnu-slash-linux dept.

An anonymous reader writes "gNewSense, the fully-free GNU/Linux distribution sponsored by the FSF, has released a 2.1 live CD (torrent). Since the last release, more non-free binary blobs have been removed, new artwork has been added and lots of other improvements have been made. It's also two years since the first edition of gNewSense, and in that time an impressive ten live CDs have been released! gNewSense 2.1 DeltaH is based on Ubuntu Hardy, and removes non-free software that other distributions don't." I wonder if gNewSense can be easily installed on an OLPC XO the way several other distros can.

14 of 413 comments (clear)

  1. OK, I'm assuming the play on words is intentional. by hey! · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who is this supposed to be a nuisance to?

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  2. Re:OK, I'm assuming the play on words is intention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Probably to all the users who have to deal with G or GNU prepended to every program name.

  3. good start by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Funny

    gNewSense is a good start towards giving the users FREEdom with an entirely FREE operating system. Binary blobs are bad. Those that are willing to sacrifice source code for working drivers deserve neither.

    But I'm concerned it doesn't go far enough. Even if the distro doesn't include non-FREE software in the repositories, users can still download and use it. Perhaps the OS should include a whitelist of hashes for all FREE software and only allow it to be run -- non-FREE software would terminate (SIGNOTFREE?). Or maybe a better approach would be to only execute binaries which have been encrypted/signed by the FSF, so we know it's FREE software.

    I think that would ensure FREEdom.

    --
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    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    1. Re:good start by Azure.Rise · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've been coming to Slashdot for a while and never made an account, but I had to create an account just to respond to you. What you just described is the complete opposite. Only being allowed to run the software they allow you to? That's less freedom than any other OS, including Windows. Users should be allowed to install whatever they want, it's their CHOICE they should have the FREEDOM to do what they want with their system, and that's what it's really about. Many Linux users use proprietary software. I have a couple proprietary games installed on my computer, including Doom 3, Quake 4, and Unreal Tournament 2004.

    2. Re:good start by ovideon · · Score: 3, Funny

      I tried to mod your post, but unfortunately there's no -1 Wooooosh.

  4. It's just ubuntu for douchebags by malevolentjelly · · Score: 1, Funny

    So linux is not free enough for you?

    I don't know what kind of person would use this distribution, but I would not want to sit next to them on a cross country bus trip.

    I read somewhere that they even removed GLX- which basically represents linux's only sane graphical development. That is just sad.

    Don't get me wrong- I love opensource technologies, but let's face it... part of what makes linux awesome is the fact that it's generally supported by some important commercial things like adobe flash and nvidia (for its drivers) and such- and how about mplayer? I am more in the "screw licenses" boat than the "boycott anything without gnu written on it" raft.

  5. Re:Technological Idiology is the New Religion by LWATCDR · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unbeliever! Your karma shall be burned at the stake and ACs shall tear at your words with biting remarks!
    You shall be forced to endure shame of working but impure hardware acceleration and working WiFi adapters for all eternity.
    May RMS have mercy on your poor soul.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  6. Misspelling: deliberate or no? by mad.frog · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't know if you meant to misspell "ideology", but somehow "idiology" seems like a more appropriate spelling in this context anyway...

  7. Re:OK, I'm assuming the play on words is intention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or humor - it could be humor.

    Your thing was good too.

  8. Does it run on Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have to ask.

  9. Re:OK, I'm assuming the play on words is intention by kestasjk · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not everything is meant for the "OMG!1 lolz it sounds lik nuisance so it must be bad! lol" crowd.

    Oh please, your "lolz I r can ev4luate software based on itz meritz!!11" crowd is so immature, because I put immature words in your mouth.

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    // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  10. Re:OK, I'm assuming the play on words is intention by binarylarry · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's GNU/Program Name, you insensitive clod!

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    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  11. Re:It's not made for people who would care. by binarylarry · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is it your unfamiliarity with it then?

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    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  12. Attractive nuisance. by argent · · Score: 2, Funny

    If it can suck all the hardcore purists into a place where they can quit annoying the rest of us, that'll be great.