I don't understand the idea of distributions costing money. Now if Linux is GNU open source that means it is free. Then exactly what is a person buying when he buys a distro ? Are they allowed to add proprietary software inside the distro (without any source code), or do they bundle other proprietary applications with no source code along with the linux kernel which remains open with its source code ?

If not then is a person paying just the packaging or the fact that the distro contains just the right combination of programs already all figured out for you in one package ? (instead of having to find and download and compile all the bits and pieces through the internet).

What exactly is the business model of the Distributions and paying for them ?


Thanks for any explanations this is really quite confusing...

If you really love the distribution you are using, then you are paying to support the good works of that distro. It takes money to support a family and alot of these people who work on these distributions are people who have families and devote alot of there time to the linux community. By paying for the OS you are saying thank you and keep up the good work.

IMHO

There must be some other reason.

Exactly what is a person buying when he buys a distro ? Are they allowed to add proprietary software inside the distro (without any source code), or do they bundle other proprietary applications with no source code along with the linux kernel which remains open with its source code ?

If not then is a person paying just the packaging or the fact that the distro contains just the right combination of programs already all figured out for you in one package ? (instead of having to find and download and compile all the bits and pieces through the internet).

I think that the fact that they put it all together in one box may be an answer, it is still confusing...

Then you do not understand the often written free as in freedom not as in free beer.

A purchased distribution may contain some propriety software. This software can't be included in the download version. You may also be purchasing support. Also, the company selling the distro will track exploits and provide security updates for you.

There is some classical music that isn't covered by copyright. But you still might want to purchase some copyrighted classical music because you like the Boston Tops.

What do most distributions have ? Do they ALWAYS have some proprietary software bundled in that is only binary with no source code ? (maybe drivers?)

If I buy Linspire and create a full blown complex application in ADA or Java that I intend to sell as proprietary software (I only leave the binaries, no source), but want to give a client the application along with the Linux OS so he doesn't have to find all the bits and pieces and ask for say 5,000 dollars, is that OK, is it illegal ?

The GPL may answer your questions.

If you use certain libraries or base your program on an open source project then you would be in violation of the GPL. You need to grep for all the licenses in any source and see if you are compliant. You might want to read the license.

If you are asking if supplying a copy of Linspire would be OK, then no. They could purchase there own version, or you could arrange to be a reseller. Linspire being based on opensource is required to supply the source code to programs covered by the GPL license. They couldn't do the same to any non-gpl content in the distro unless whatever license it is covered by allows it.

this in the strictest scence would be legal as long as your client diddnt link directly to any GNUed software, (by link i mean as in libarys, not hyperlinks)
or contain any GNUed code.

you would still have to provide the source for the rest of the GNUed stuff in the distrobution


$5000 is a large amount and would probabbly mean that nobody would buy it, but it woudl still be legal to sell it....


with most payed for distrobutions what you are actually paying for is support with there allways being someone on the end of a phone to help you out.

example.
White box linux is an exact clone of RHEL except for the red hat branding being removed.
and the one or 2 propirarty codecs and driveres removed,

the big differeacnce is that you dont get any support form Red Hat Inc

WOW! Truly incredible! Now I know why there are so few commercial applications for the Linux environment. I remember that the REAL UNIXes like SunOS Ultrix, Solaris or whatever even up to 10 years ago had many very high class commercial applications available for them in many areas like CASE tools, CAD, Scientific etc.

Now they used to cost alot, but if you create really good software by using very good programmers, it should cost alot.

My impression is that aside from servers, Linux has mostly cheap, hack job programs, not targetting professional (where companies are willing to pay big money for good stuff). Or it seems like a SIN to pay for software. I don't know, but from what I read and hear I don't like Linux.

If I said it seems like Linspire is nice and their model (but incredibly they too have very few serious commercial applications) seems good and the way to go, everyone here says they suck, oh they are asking for money or some other idiotic ideological opinion.

A long as Linspire configures regular users to run as root, then I'll regard it as defective. Otherwise, I don't care if they have a subscription model or not.

If you want to run a $5000 dollar unix program, you could see if it runs on Linux. There are some expensive programs you can purchase that have been ported from Unix. For example, animation and compositing software. Many customers would like to run the same programs on Linux instead of an expensive Silicon Graphics machine, and it was easier to port to Linux than Windows. Especially since Windows didn't allow them the needed access to the source code when they requested it.

There is commercial software available for Linux, but they tend to be specialty software products, and not what you would find at Best Buy.

old6598, nobody really cares what YOU think about Linux distros or its available apps.
Just go back to Windows already if you don't like Linux and quit bitching about it!

Nobody here is going to pack up and leave Linux because of what you think.

Seems to me that you are confusing the distro (ie the OS plus some applications) with commercial applications that sit on top of the OS.

This is so very very near being a troll it's unreal. But I am a merciful god an shall leave this thread alone for now. The fun part is we haven't had one of these threads for a few years.

Old6598 - read the GPL it explains all. And as far as Linux = hobbyist hack programs .... well, good luck following that argument.

Well old6598 has another trollish thread with more or less the same sentiments he/she is expressing in this thread.