Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.

From: Doug Dingus (doug_at_opengeek.org)
Date: 07/27/03 

Date: 27 Jul 2003 01:13:15 -0700

"Dr. David Kirkby" <drkirkby@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:<3F233C74.4F4C3BAB@ntlworld.com>...
> As someone who works in a University, I am amazed UNIX vendors don't
> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home
> users.

They all have licensed bits that they must pay for. Giveaways would
be at a loss to them.

>If HP gave away HP-UX, whereas Sun, SGI, IBM etc. did not give
> their OS releases, home users would be more likely to buy cheap used
> HP kit. When those home users go in to industry, they are more likely
> to buy **EXPENSIVE** new HP kit. So it's to HP's advantage to give
> away HP-UX to students and home users.

Agreed here. Though it is easy enough to get an OS if you network
around a little.

(snip)

> One can't expect Microsoft to give Windoze away for free, as Microsoft
> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. But SGI, HP,
> IBM, Sun etc. will gain extra sales of hardware, by allowing home
> users to learn their operating systems, rather than that of their
> competitors.

Agree here, but you forget Linux.

(snip)
> But I don't think any home
> user or student would care less whether or not SCO was given away now.

Their legal stunts lately will likely create this attitude everywhere
no matter the product quality.

Your best free UNIX is Linux. Students that learn to use Open Source
code will be able to do much of their computing for free on just about
any hardware they can find. If said students also realize the
implications of Open Standards, they will own what they create as
well.

I understand your position regarding educational licenses, but do not
expect to see things change much in the future.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.
    ... >> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home ... "If the students become consultants, they surely will prefer something they ... >> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. ... >> home users to learn their operating systems, ...
    (comp.sys.sgi.admin)
  • Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.
    ... >> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home ... "If the students become consultants, they surely will prefer something they ... >> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. ... >> home users to learn their operating systems, ...
    (comp.unix.solaris)
  • Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.
    ... >> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home ... "If the students become consultants, they surely will prefer something they ... >> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. ... >> home users to learn their operating systems, ...
    (comp.sys.hp.hpux)
  • Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.
    ... >> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home ... "If the students become consultants, they surely will prefer something they ... >> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. ... >> home users to learn their operating systems, ...
    (comp.unix.tru64)
  • Re: Free UNIX for non-commerical use.
    ... >> give away free copies of their operating systems to students and home ... "If the students become consultants, they surely will prefer something they ... >> will never gain any extra revenue from hardware sales. ... >> home users to learn their operating systems, ...
    (comp.unix.aix)