In article <1992Aug11.152247.5160@cs.wisc.edu> djansa@aphrodite.cs.wisc.edu (Dean Jansa) writes:

   I have to agree 100% with you.  The main reason I am so excited about
   Linux is thats is free, and the best damn OS I have ever used on a PC!!
   Linus and Co. worked hard to get this project going, and it has lit
   a fire under me!!  I tell everyone about it, and help them get it if
   needed.

I agree with everything but the first sentence (which refers to a post
complaining about a service to distribute Linux on diskettes for a fee).

   Being a student, I know money is not that easy to come up with.  I would
   hate to see a student not be able to get linux because they can't come
   up with 60 bucks.  19 disks??  What on earth are you giving them?  I got
   the mcc release on 4!  5 more for X!!  I _know_ that doesn't cost
   $60 bucks.  Any student would be willing to pay for the disks, but 60 
   bucks??

Uh, reality check here.  Why would a student "not be able to get linux"?
Because they don't have $60?  Perhaps, but _also_ because they don't have
high-speed Internet access.

Now, do you really believe it is up to you (and others) to do everything in
your power to _prevent_ people without Internet access but who _can_ afford
$60 from getting Linux?

   Let's keep Linux alive and well, and FREE!!

Sheesh, not THIS ranting and raving again.

Non-profit organizations like Syntropy distributing diskettes (is no basis
for a system of government, ... whoops wrong speech :-) has no more effect
on the "FREE" status of Linux than does the Free Software Foundation's
distribution of tapes of GNU software.  Both organizations charge for
distribution; and what they distribute is available for "free" via Internet.
Both organizations provide a service to those unable or unwilling to get
the software over the net.

If anything, the actions of Syntropy will _improve_ Linux (while still
keeping it "free").

Please, read the GNU Public License (which protects around 90% or more of
the canonical Linux utilities and 100% of Linux itself, apparently) before
you spout off regarding what _other_ people are doing with _other_ people's
software.  And, if you don't want people distributing _your_ software for
a fee, come up with your own license agreemnt -- neither the GPL nor
public domain will do it for you.
--

James Craig Burley, Software Craftsperson    burley@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Member of the League for Programming Freedom (LPF)