A GNU/Linux Distro Needing Windows To Install?

dgun writes "I recently put together a new PC. When I purchased the motherboard, I noticed that it came with an instant-on OS, a small GNU/Linux distro called Splashtop. I assumed that the OS was on a ROM chip on the motherboard. To my great annoyance, when I tried to boot to this OS, a message said that it was not installed. It turns out that motherboard comes with an install disk for this GNU/Linux OS — that you can only run from Windows, to install Splashtop on the hard drive. First of all, doesn't installing it on the hard drive defeat the point of having an instant-on OS? If I wanted to dual-boot a small GNU/Linux OS, there are plenty that I could choose from. Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?"

Comments

give me a break

[Sir_Lewk]

Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?

No. Stop being absurd. There are plenty examples of GPLd programs meant only for windows. While this might be a little silly in this case there is nothing "wrong" with it and you need to stop getting so upset about it.

Re:give me a break

[ModernGeek]

I was thinking not to give them any ideas for GPLv4.

Re:give me a break

[PhunkySchtuff]

No, this is a program that is *distributed* on CD- (or DVD-) ROM.
You can only install it using Windows, but as has been mentioned above, there's nothing in the GPL, and there never should be, anything about having software that only runs under Windows.

Re:give me a break

[noidentity]

Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?

How does it being for a particular OS take away a user's freedom to use it or modify it to work standalone? Or do you think that all GPL software shouldn't require any OS, or any hardware at all? Sounds like you think the GPL is a "make whatever I don't like a violation" license.

Re:give me a break

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you're wrong: You can distribute this program very well without Windows. In fact, I can go and download it off the site right now using any OS I like, and then redistribute the program from there.

The fact that you can't install the program because you don't meet the minimum requirements (having Windows) is not covered by the GPL.If it did, we'd have to stop distributing GPLed software on CDs as well, because it requires that you have a CD-ROM drive, which usually includes closed-source firmware.

Re:give me a break

[dgun]

So I overreacted. But still, this is a little different than just downloading and installing some FOSS software on Windows. Part of the software is on the BIOS, or rather there must be some instructions in the BIOS to look for Splashtop, which ASUS calls Express Gate. And what of the setup program? Does the source for the setup program have to be provided? True the setup is probably just copying files, but it would be nice to know exactly where and what the BIOS is looking for to determine whether or not Express Gate is installed.

Anyway, I was just pissed off because the way the thing was distributed, and I find it a little more than ironic that Asus is marketing an instant-on Linux distro as a feature to sell their motherboards, yet requires Windows to run it.

byw, I have read on Ubuntu forums that Express Gate source is available on ASUS' website, but as yet have been unable to find it.

Re:give me a break

[selven]

Won't adding a provision to the GPL specifically about Windows violate the non-discrimination requirement?

Re:give me a break

[UncleTogie]

byw, I have read on Ubuntu forums that Express Gate source is available on ASUS' website, but as yet have been unable to find it.

That's 'cause these folks make Splashtop, not ASUS. You can find the sourcecode at their page here...

Gimmic; but not sinister

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Splashtop is available in ROM(well, almost certainly flash, not actual ROM) on certain motherboards; but that involves actual components, and raises the cost. Presumably, the maker of the motherboards has some sort of bulk licence with the Splashtop guys, so providing the HDD version is virtually free, and adds a bullet point. Pretty useless; but you can see why that happens.

Port the code then

[eggman9713]

I'm sure quickly enough someone will port it to be installable without Windows. I'm sure it was meant to be for the typical user who has windows installed first, and just wants the instant on one for when they just need the browser quickly and the computer is not on. Someone, anti-MS or not, will port it, I'm sure. Isn't open source great?

Re:Port the code then

[JackieBrown]

kano from kanotix has made some nice scripts for customizing it.

http://techgage.com/news/splashtop_hacked_functions_on_non-asus_motherboards/

Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[LurkerXXX]

The poster of the story didn't even bother to read the link he provided... You can install it from a USB drive from the source. Asus simply doesn't provide that installer on their install CD.

This is a non-story. The distro doesn't need windows to install. The distributor was just being cheap.

I don't really think so

[Tenebrousedge]

Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?

Is that a trick question? The GPL says nothing about Windows, it just says that if they're distributing GPL'd binaries, you should be able to get the source code from them. Just because you don't like something does not mean it should be illegal.

I don't see the point about GPL

[iamacat]

As long as you provide the source code on demand, it doesn't matter if the binary only works for Windows or even if you are charged $1000 to get a copy. Splashtop is designed as a secondary system for Windows. Other installers are probably not their priority.

I got a motherboard for this "feature" as well

[JackieBrown]

Fortunately, I read the customer reviews at newegg so I was expecting it.

I installed windows then splashtop. Splashtop is pretty but was not worth the time for the installation of windows.

I was hoping I would at least be able to update my bios through it.

It can't update the bios and cannot read any of my partitions.

I changed my bios setting pretty quick to skip it from asking me to load splashtop.

Re:Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[Ryvar]

Yeah, the original post is terrible. If he was *really* trying to get people to needlessly hyperventilate he should have titled it "A GNU/Linux distro needing BSD to install?!?!"

The GPL Angle

[Bob9113]

Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?

I don't think so. GPL is mostly about granting access and rights to the source, under certain conditions, so you can modify the code to work on your system, not about requiring the author to make it work on your system. If it only runs on Windows, so be it, as long as the source code is Freely available so it can be fixed.

Now, if they're not making the source available through reasonable means, well, that's another problem, and is a violation of the GPL. But the "requires Windows as distributed" thing is the same as lots of GPL software.

it's kdawson special

[timmarhy]

dawson take this stupid bullshit off the frontpage - it's crappy even for slashdot.

Re:it's kdawson special

[Sir_Lewk]

Yeah, I'm with this guy. This article is just plain terrible.

If you take it down now and we all just agree to pretend this never happened then the world will be a better place.

Re:it's kdawson special

[RoboRay]

kdawson is single-handedly bringing /. to the point that I don't even bother checking it every day anymore.

GNU/Linux absurdity

[Simon80]

Don't get me wrong, I respect Richard Stallman's ideals and achievements, but there comes a point when Linux should simply be called Linux and not GNU/Linux. Chances are that a system like Splashtop is past that point, since it would probably have few, if any GNU packages included, given that it's based on busybox.

Re:Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[ssintercept]

not only terrible...

Second, if distributing GPL'ed software by means that completely preclude it from being used without Windows is not a violation of the GPL, should it not be?

but pretentious shit.

even Stallman's beard would choke that tool out...

Re:Bad Article. Poster didn't bother to RTFA.

[finity]

I dream of the day that we see the article titled: "A Windows distro needing Linux to install?!?!"

Re:Not to mention

[Miseph]

Here in the future, we have CD-RWs that can be erased and rewritten. We also have DVD+/-RWs that do the same. Enjoy your stay, I'm pretty sure you'll find that things now are... um... rad?

Yep.. nothing new.

[cyberjock1980]

I love these motherboard manufacturers. I used to buy ASUS for their new "power saving" feature called EPU. You guessed it, requires Windows. I even went so far as to install Windows just to enable the feature, then reboot into Linux. Didn't work. It doesn't even work with some versions of Windows (Server 2003 x64 I believe).

So, I switched to Gigabyte motherboards. They have the same feature, but they call it DES. Of course, again, it only works in Windows. And again, rebooting into Linux after booting into Windows doesn't fix it.

This might be a nuisance, but I actually BOUGHT both of those motherboards with the intention of using those power saving features... in Linux! I couldn't take them back for a refund, the manufacturer told me too bad, so I'm stuck with them. Nowhere in any documentation from the manufacturers does it state it requires a particular OS. They should be completely honest with their consumer and tell us what features will require a particular OS. Otherwise, I'm going to expect it to work based on hardware/BIOS options.

I feel your pain, but I regret to inform you that if you consider yourself "had", you were "had" when you took it home.

I understand the argument with drivers not being available for Linux. But geez, this is out of control.

Re:Yep.. nothing new.

[countach]

Back in my pre-Mac days when I could be bothered with all this stuff, I always assumed as my starting point that nothing works with Linux, until proven otherwise with sufficient research on the internet. Like it or not, the computer parts industry is still basically a Windows world. Nothing works outside Windows unless proven otherwise.