[Novalug] RedHat Desktop Subscription Model

[David A. Cafaro]

On Mar 14, 2008, at 10:47 AM, ethan at 757.org wrote:
>
> Solaris would be another fine choice as well.

Well, it would, if we didn't need/prefer to use Linux in our  
particular case.

>
> I don't hate Redhat, and I've come to start using CentOS 5 *a lot*  
> as well as RHEL ... but it's always been kid of odd to me that the  
> company itself made so much money, and these non-tech people got so  
> filthy rich on the backs of the open source community. It's always  
> been this delimma in my mind with regards to Redhat. I know they  
> employ tech people and this and that.

I would have a problem with Red Hat if it wasn't for the fact that  
they release all their OS code back to the community to use (That's  
why CentOS exists).  Shoot, they even make it easy and release src  
rpms.  Though they are required to release source code, they aren't  
required to package it up nice a pretty.  They also provide a lot of  
support in bug fixes for Linux in general and hire a lot of the  
people who make that code we all love an use.  They also support  
programs like legal defense for opensource developers, opensource  
users, and other things that help the broader community.  Overall,  
though not perfect, they've been good community members in my view.   
Oh and many of the first employees for Red Hat were very much tech  
people, and did pretty well money wise.

>
> I also know that when I worked for a research lab, when it was time  
> to renew the Redhat desktop liceses (I'd say we had 800+), the  
> inital quote from Redhat was higher than our Microsoft desktop  
> licenses. And one of my coworkers said, "That's kind of ironic,  
> because Microsoft actually wrote the software they sell."

Doesn't really surprise me about the cost thing.  Again, it's usually  
not an apples to apples comparison.  Did the MS desktop license  
include free upgrades to later software?  Did it include support and  
licenses for MS Office?  It's hard to just take things kinds of thing  
and say they do or don't equal.  With out details, it's hard to say.   
Maybe the MS deal was better?  But then did you need linux desktops?   
And are they happy enough with Windows stability for their work?   
Shoot was Linux stable for their work?  One size doesn't fit all etc..

As for the MS code writing stuff, well, there are many things that  
could be said about that ;-)...

Cheers,
David


David A. Cafaro <dac at cafaro.net>
Cafaro's Ramblings:  www.cafaro.net