Re: Free software, proprietary software and Stalin

[Raj Mathur <raju@xxxxxxx>]

>>>>> "Suresh" == Suresh Ramasubramanian <r.suresh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

    Suresh> [snip]
    Suresh> On this topic - the Cobalt RAQ and Qube boxen use a rather
    Suresh> old version of linux (equivalent to redhat 5.1 and 5.2),
    Suresh> customized with a kewl web based admin panel but otherwise
    Suresh> full of holes as a swiss cheese.

    Suresh> However, Cobalt (IIRC) says that you must download ONLY
    Suresh> their patches (sendmail, bind etc etc), and are prohibited
    Suresh> from upgrading your firmware.  You do something on your
    Suresh> own (say compiling a new version of sendmail / kernel) and
    Suresh> your warranty is voided.

    Suresh> ~How~ do they take GPL'd stuff and lock it into
    Suresh> restrictions like this?  Besides, their versions are so
    Suresh> antiquated, they still ship boxen with 2.0.x kernels and
    Suresh> 8.8.8 sendmail (that being their latest set of "patches").

Sure.  The GPL doesn't prohibit you from giving any sort of warranty
under your own terms and conditions.  Note that Cobalt doesn't
prohibit you from changing the firmware on your own, it just says that
you're on your own if you do it.  Any computer manufacturer will tell
you the same if you install your own hardware into his computer too.

Regards,

-- Raju