hello again,

I'm confusing heard about they said "open source.."
Is Linux is really free? I have thinking that you offer a download for every user..and they said that's for free...I'm worry about using Mandrake..because when i'm installing i see the "General Public License" What does it mean? Does it mean that I have already a Lisence? compare to Microsoft that if you buy a registered computer you to pay an expensive XP and MSOFFICE?

pLS. help me to clear this stuff to me..

Thanks again,

if you read the gpl license its says they it must be free and you cannot charge for the code and source must be available, distros like mandrake and red hat add some services and programs that do not fall under that license, but in both cases you can still get the stripped down version for free as the license of the other software forces them to do so (even mac OS X has a free stripped down version for free, it removes things like the GUI and all of apples nice apps, but it still has the exact same core)

and the GPL is here if you want to read

Search
Read the stickies
Read the FAQs

See, it really is that easy!

But yes, Linux can be had for free. The GPL license restriction is basically this: if you include GPL code in your product and distribute said product, you must also distribute the source with it. That's it in a nutshell.

Open Source mean the source is open. It doesn't mean it has to be free (but most of time it is), but that the source has to be open, i.e., you have to be able to get the full source code somehow.

The general public licence ( formely know as GPL ) is the GNU/Linux licence. The big lines are that "you have to release under the GPL any change you made to their code" and that "there are no warranty about this code". Using Mandrake mean you agree to these (plus some other) terms. It's not that bad and, yes, it is free and you can download/distribute this for free

In simple words I would say this
Most GNU/Linux is licensed under GPL.

This license states that the the software licensed under this is free to share and distribute. The word free here means that you need not ask for permission from the person/developer you took it from for the above two actions (share and distribute).
Also, it states that the software can be modified and redistributed for a "fee" but all the rights of the software that you have should be given to others whom you share your software with.

GNU/Linux software are free and you may distribute it to any number of people you wish to.

Not only GNU/Linux but there are many other softwares which are free to redistribute.

I will present this GPL copy to anyone who will say that my software is not license..i'snt it?

Thanks...to you guys..

If anyone says that the software is not licensed, just and them a copy of the GPL - that is the license.

That's the right definition. I believe Linspire didn't offer anything free except the source code (for those who knew to ask, as it was not displayed). They may have changed their tactics on that point since then.

Exactly. So far, the GPL have been "tried" some time in law court and it suceed all the time. This kind of licence is legal, whatever Micro$oft says.

You might say that the open-source software movement takes advantage of the idea that "a rising tide lifts all boats." Previously, anyone who worked with a particular brand of computer was limited by the preferences and predelictions (and the financial stability) of that particular vendor, who was basically the only one that could or did produce an operating-environment for that particular machine.

The first step away from that was the "third-party operating system supplier," and of course I am speaking of Microsoft. But even then, only Microsoft managed to survive, and they only produced systems for the x86, and they have to constantly supply their customers with paid updates and they find themselves being drawn inexorably away from the "personal" computer that spawned them to the "corporate mini-mainframe." It's the only way to make money, and profits at Microsoft are nowhere what they used to be.

The Linux and GNU efforts are based on the idea that cooperative development of a common, cross-platform operatingenvironment ... (a) can be done, and (b) might be the only way to make money. If you spread-out the very enormous costs of development by contributed effort, and by charging much less than what would otherwise be 'market rate' for the work, then you find yourself with a much more complete environment than you or any single vendor could afford to build from scratch, and you can all build on top of that. It seems to be working.

Companies need, and expect, services. And they expect to pay for them. This is where you make money. Linux hands you this very complete OS... customers hand you requirements. You make them work.

There's one specific thing. Quality comes at a price. But here quality comes with a reasonable price and with liability, certifcate of valid product.

Lets not say GNU/Linux is free and hence use it...Instead say GNU/Linux is Open Source and can be redistributed and is the BEST. Above, its available for free download from the internet.