Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 08:36:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Donald Burr <dburr@pobox.com> To: Support <support@omnicasino.com> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: RE: freeBSD Message-ID: <XFMail.980718083630.dburr@pobox.com> In-Reply-To: <005701bdb25b$d93d8e60$59842acf@boss.internetcasino.ag>
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My secret spy satellite informs me that on 18-Jul-98, Support wrote: > Jordan, > Hi, I recently inquired about purchasing a server from a company and > they provided me with an itemized break-down of the costs involved. One > of the items was the server software "FreeBSD server software > Installation, configuration and setup on server Price: $1100.00". This > prompted to do a little investigating, which lead me to your site, where > I see your software is free. What gives? Is it the same software? Any > idea why they would try to charge me if the software is free? I'm not Jordan, but I think this bit of explanation will help you. Yes, it is the same software. (sort of -- see below.) FreeBSD is "Free", not only because it costs nothing (You can download it off the net), but also because you are "free" to do with it as you please. You can make modifications to it, re-distribute it (even without source code), charge for it, what have you. You can even charge for it. All you have to do, basically, is put "This software is based on code written by the UC Berkeley" (or something to that effect) somewhere on the product -- either as a message printed to the screen, somewhere on your CD-ROM or manuals, etc. In the case of this company, they are probably charging for the act of installation and custom configuration of the FreeBSD system (i.e. tuning it for optimum performance, installing and configuring all the softwares that you may want [e.g. Web server, NFS, what have you]), and for support. They may have also developed their own custom bits for it (made their own improvements to kernel drivers/source, wrote drivers for some custom or obscure hardware that their machines contain, wrote custom installation/configuration software, etc.). In any case, this is completely legal and does not violate the spirit of the FreeBSD license. > My funds are limited, but I think my business would benefit by > running on its own server. > > While you are here, if it would not be to much trouble, could you see if > the rest of their price quote is in line with the going prices? Sorry > for all the questions, but I have know idea and would appreciate any > help you could give me. > > Pentium II 266Mhz > 512K cache > 128Mb Ram > ATX mini tower case > 3.5" 1.44MB floppy drive > Dual 4.3GB SCSI drives > Magitronic 4MB accelerator > Adaptec PCI Ultra Host kit > 3Com Fast Etherlink III network card > Conner 8GB DAT SCSI backup > Price: $3275.00 You probably *could* do better on the net, of course. Just take a look at some of the "price finder" web sites out there, like www.pricewatch.com. But if you do this, you are taking risks. You are taking the risk that the outfit in question is a "fly by night" operation, and will be gone the next day. You're taking risks that they may not sell top-quality stuff (i.e. I"ve heard of cases where, for example, they advertise a *new* CPU, they charge for a *new* CPU, but they give you a 'returned' or 'pulled' CPU -- i.e. one which has been removed from someone's system because they got an upgrade.) You'll usually have to do some of the assembly yourself, so you're taking risks that ou will damage your parts, o they will be damaged in the mail. You are taking the risk that, even if the company seems stable enough, something bad will happen and they will either dry up, come under new management, etc. and will not honor their warranty/returns. You're also taking the risk that the company may not take FreeBSD seriously -- you have a problem, go to the company and ask them for support/return/exchange, and they say "Sorry, we don't support FreeBSD." Assuming this is an (my impression is that they are, and they'll be there for you), then I would probably pay the extra, just for the security of knowing that the system is a well-matched one and they are willing to stand behind it. Plus, if something breaks, you only have to deal with one company, not 50. Plus, since this company offers FreeBSD as one of its options, it can be assumed that they do indeed support it. Basically, it's up to you. You'll have to weigh the balance between saving cash and being secure in mind. --- Donald Burr <dburr@pobox.com> - Ask me for my PGP key | PGP: Your WWW HomePage: http://DonaldBurr.base.org/ ICQ #1347455 | right to Address: P.O. Box 91212, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-1212 | 'Net privacy. Phone: (805) 957-9666 FAX: (800) 492-5954 | USE IT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FreeBSD - Turning PCs into Workstations - http://www.freebsd.org/ !!! NEW EMAIL ADDRESS !!! This is a commercial service and works MUCH better than the (free, but buggy) POBoxes.com that I used to use. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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