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Date:      Sat, 7 Jul 2001 15:51:51 -0700 (PDT)
From:      Richard Hodges <rh@matriplex.com>
To:        Brian Somers <brian@Awfulhak.org>
Cc:        freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG, wes@softweyr.com
Subject:   Re: FreeBSD Mall now BSDCentral 
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.4.10.10107071542110.13080-100000@mail.matriplex.com>
In-Reply-To: <200107072212.f67MCEn37752@hak.lan.Awfulhak.org>

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On Sat, 7 Jul 2001, Brian Somers wrote:

> Richard Hodges <rh@matriplex.com> wrote:
> > And as far as distribution goes, if my vote counts, I would suggest
> > that anyone should have the right to sell (or give away) copies for
> > whatever price they want.  The more copies, the better!  I fail to
> > see why FreeBSD distribution should be "guided" to certain entities
> > based on their political contributions.
 
> FSL have thought quite a bit about this -- what's acceptable as a 
> FreeBSD release.  We need some sort of balance.  On one hand, we (the 
> FreeBSD project) want to encourage distributors to produce copies of 
> FreeBSD with added-value.  On the other hand, we don't want to end up 
> with the linux-effect.

Really?  I was hoping to see a new disto with the FreeBSD userland
wrapped around a Linux kernel :-)  Or was it the other way around...

But as far as "added-value" goes, why wouldn't minimum cost be an 
added value to a potential customer?  I think that the companies
like Cheapbytes serve a social purpose in this regard.

> So I think the idea of an ``official'' distribution is good, but only 
> insofar as that implies that the distribution contains a specific 
> base system.  Anyone who mucks about with that official base system 
> in a way that's not controlled by the user should not be allowed to 
> call their distribution ``official''.

Sure, no argument there.  Taking Wes' suggestion, maybe there is an
opportunity in the "official" distribution distinction.  How about a
"certificate of authenticity" which costs the vendors $1 or $2 (or
whatever), and shows the customer that their choice of vendors helped
FreeBSD financially.  Incidentally, this certificate might also be a
selling point for those twisted individuals that just don't understand
free software :-)

Thanks for the info,

-Richard

-------------------------------------------
   Richard Hodges   | Matriplex, inc.
   Product Manager  | 769 Basque Way
  rh@matriplex.com  | Carson City, NV 89706
    775-886-6477    | www.matriplex.com 


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