[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

ISDN wars



On Sat, 18 Apr 1998, Nir Soffer wrote:

> > The help I need is simple. If you can - please email me the isdn scripts
> > you have (don't forget to remove your username and password), and if you
> > have - PAP or CHAP file structures..
> 
> Correct me if I'm wrong, since this blatantly looks like you're requesting
> free work from some people who, usually, would charge quite a hefty some
> for their services. Nice trick, I'd guess.

GUYS!

I tryed to stay out of this so far, this list is not moderated because
Marc is busy (or got bored with it eons ago), but I have to stick a small
remark here:

this list is not about ISPs, Internet or pricing schemes. ISDN.net are a
new ISP in the arena, and like all new businesses, the marketing
department decides on the main market slice they will market to. Linux
users are still too few to be counted in the market, and thus can not be
counted as a meaningful market slice. the huge costs of training the
techsup people to handle the complexities of ISDN connections is very
high, that's why ISDN.net starts by giving the mass marketing effort to
people with win95 machines who use their own issued modems. second are
possibly people who already had other ISDN devices and finally weird OSs
like ours. it is not discrimination, it is not MS loving, it is simple
marketting rules as they work all around the world.

THEREFORE, like in many areas, people using OS/2, macs and Linux systems
like so many times before, are left to improvise on their own I guess. to
call this discrimination is like telling Sugat they discriminate diabetic
people because they have no sugar substitute product next to their sugar
bags!

FINALLY, Linux is based on open source licensing, as well as the drivers
and utilities that orbit its kernel. Open source does not mean only that
the source code is free in electronic usable form, it means the ideas and
concepts are also free for distribution and reimplementation. it means
Intelectual Property (IP) that is copylefted and spread around to improve
the product. if it wasn't for people giving away knowledge, there would be
no people taking it and using it to implement drivers and software! 

Hetz is not asking you to give him expensive commercial IP so he can use
it for free, he's asking you to help him help you, and improve the
service. Yet all I see in reply is utter resentment, ear-plugging and
attempting to fight him like he was representing the devil himself, or
worse - Bill Gates. This goes against the spirit of GNU and Linux if you
ask me. So Nir, and anyone out there who doesn't want to share knowledge
with Hetz or any of the others, think again if Linux-il is the right place
for you. 'nuff said.

Ira