why Live Mepis offers Skype :) and not Knoppix ?

frenchn00b · 05-21-2009, 11:02 AM

http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Skype
why Live Mepis offers Skype

and not Knoppix ?

MoonMind · 05-22-2009, 05:50 AM

Short answer: Because the Knoppix decided against adding it.

Long answer: Skype may be freeware, but it's not Free Software - it's closed source, you may not adapt/alter/enhance it, and you may not distribute it freely in any way you choose. In short, while you may use it free of charge, you don't get any rights whatsoever. Knoppix is distributed using only Free Software. This makes it legally bullet-proof (well, they do distribute some non-free/non-open firmware... hard to avoid).

MEPIS has different approach - they include everything to provide a complete user experience. Thus they include non-free software (Flash, Skype, codecs). Technically, they may not be allowed to do that. But that's for them to decide.

M.

frenchn00b · 05-22-2009, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonMind

Short answer: Because the Knoppix decided against adding it.

Long answer: Skype may be freeware, but it's not Free Software - it's closed source, you may not adapt/alter/enhance it, and you may not distribute it freely in any way you choose. In short, while you may use it free of charge, you don't get any rights whatsoever. Knoppix is distributed using only Free Software. This makes it legally bullet-proof (well, they do distribute some non-free/non-open firmware... hard to avoid).

MEPIS has different approach - they include everything to provide a complete user experience. Thus they include non-free software (Flash, Skype, codecs). Technically, they may not be allowed to do that. But that's for them to decide.

M.

ahhh

Code:

MEPIS has different approach - they include everything to provide a complete user experience. Thus they include non-free software (Flash, Skype, codecs). Technically, they may not be allowed to do that. But that's for them to decide.

I never understood how they could manage all drivers and copyright stuffs ... indeed but it works actually mepis.

MoonMind · 05-23-2009, 09:14 AM

frenchn00b: You're into it more than I am - shouldn't have swallowed the bait

M.

arifsaha · 06-25-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchn00b

http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Skype
why Live Mepis offers Skype

and not Knoppix ?

Are you sure Mepis came with Skype? I cannot find Skype in SimpleMEPIS 8. And the manual actually mentions about installing Skype: http://www.mepislovers.org/forums/us...#section05-2-4

pierre2 · 06-26-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Technically, they may not be allowed to do that.

Only in the good 'old usa ...

it's fine in the RoTW.