Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Corel Beta now GPL-compliant

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the coming-clean dept.

SilentReproach writes "According to Bruce Perens at Technocrat.net, the latest version of the Corel beta license is up to par - victory declared for the GPL!"

5 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. you're question is misguided by brokeninside · · Score: 4

    Nowhere does the GPL state that a GPL product has to be freely distributed to every one. An entity can be entirely selective about who it distributes the product to, but retstrictions are not allowed to be place on further distribution.

    Maybe one or more of the beta testers will upload the distribution somewhere. But they will more than likely have to first remove the non-GPL portions such as WordPerfect.

  2. Re:What improvements has Corel made? by orangecat · · Score: 4
    Yes, definetly targeted at the home user who hasn't used Linux before. I saw the demo at LinuxWorld back in August, and its been very much Windowsified.

    The desktop is KDE, which looks rather windowsish to begin with. They seem to have configured it so that by default it appears as much like Windows as possible :) The configuration looks like windows, as well. All crucial configuration can be done graphically, as far as I know (though the files are still there, so you can do them manually). The install is also streamlined - likely overly so for people already familiar with linux, but if it actually works even semi-reliably it really will make Linux significantly easier to install than windows (which isn't saying much...when I set up my computer at work, the linux setup took approx. half an hour, and the windows closer to 3). They've also created a nice graphical front-end for apt.

    My first instinct was to hate it - I like Linux because it isn't windows (amongst other reasons). I'd still be happier if they'd made Linux easier to install/use without making it a Windows look-alike. However, it makes sense considering that a good portion of their market is people who are used to Windows and aren't as likely to switch to something that looks entirely unfamiliar.

    I'm also glad its based on Debian and not RedHat. Perhaps this will lead to a more widespread availability of Debian packages and acceptance of Debian in general (since the initial learning curve of dselect seems to be what turns a lot of new Debian users off of it).

    I still wouldn't use it, personally. But if the real world results are anything near what I saw in the demo, I may attempt to talk my parents into letting me install it on their computer :)

  3. Re:But is it... by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5
    Let's save trial-by-fire for the really bad guys. You should never make an enemy if you can avoid it!

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  4. How it happened by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5
    I called the Corel switchboard when I first found out about this issue, and was put through to the Linux marketing person, who answered on the first ring and took charge of the problem right away. I subsequently spoke with the Linux product manager and with one of the engineers, who is also prominent in their local LUG. All of the Corel staff I spoke with were extremely polite and cooperative. Besides talking with me, they also corresponded with Debian and KDE folks, and they read your opinions on Slashdot.

    Corel is a huge company, they claim to be right behind Microsoft in size in the market sector they address, and they are the largest software company in Canada. For a company of that size to act on an issue like this in 4 days is excellent. That's how long it took from when they first became aware of the problem to when they made a policy-change announcement. I got the impression that they sincerely cared about what the Free Software community wanted.

    I'm also pleased that they based their system on Debian. It's nice to see that Debian is finally being appreciated for the fine system it is, by Corel, by SGI/VA/O'Reilly, by Storm Linux, etc.

    Thanks

    Bruce Perens

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  5. Source? by Money__ · · Score: 5
    What's interesting is the link in the article points to another discusion group at technocrat.net. Is this a valid source of information? It would be analogus to quoting another usenet post and claiming it to be both news worthy and factual.

    4) I'm from the government and here to help.

    3) I won't ____ in your mouth.

    2) Micros~1 products are stable.

    1) I read it on the internet, so it must be true.

    I would feel more comfortable actually reading the GPL in this story.