On 11/14/06, Jonathon Conte <thesicktwist@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >From: steve szmidt <steve@szmidt.org>
> >Reply-To: slug@nks.net
> >To: slug@nks.net
> >Subject: Re: [SLUG] Cheap'n good laptops for Linux
> >Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 07:13:20 -0500
> >
> ><snip>
> >
> >Whereas it's totally true that a laptop is harder to work on and make
> >upgrades
> >on, there are no laws (incl. the GPL lic.) that forbid anyone from
> >installing
> >binary drivers. Some people have strong feelings about it, but it's
> limited
> >to being personal choices, not any law.
> >
> >Not to be confused with using copyrighted technology like GIF and MPEG
> >where a
> >distro face the possibility be charged a lic. fee and other legal
> expenses.
> >Thus choosing not to use it.
> >
> ><snip>
>
> The GPL is not a EULA. The GPL is a set of rules for distributors, not
> users. Therefore, users are free to ignore the GPL as it does not have any
> bearing on those who use but do _not_ distribute the code. Once one wants
> to
> distribute GPL-licensed code, that is when the obligations must be met.
>
> I did not say that people are forbidden from installing binary drivers. I
> said that no legal distribution will install then automatically as that
> would place the distributor in violation of the kernel's license. My point
> is that dealing with binary drivers complicates the installation process
> as
> it requires additional effort on the part of the user and that this
> additional workload can be avoided if one decides to use hardware that has
> good free (libre) software support. The decision of whether or not to use
> NVIDIA is left as an exercise to the reader :)
And you are just propelling this thread hijacking. By turning it from
someone looking for a place to get a linux friendly laptop into the old Free
Beer vs Free speech debate.
Jonathon
>
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