A point that should be brought up here, i think, is what the user stands to gain from a MS-ish distribution of Linux. A MS-Linux distro would be (1) overpriced, (2) underpowered, (3) buggy, and (4) popular. RH, from my explorations, fits this definition.
So RH gets to "become the definition of Linux," so what? unlike the current state of affairs with Windows, Linux is open, meaning, (and here's where Debian comes in) it can be improved. If RH becomes the definition of Linux, it will be Linux-lite. If Debian can somehow position themselves as "we're RH compatible, but our stuff works" it would be a Very Good Thing. The Very Best Thing, imhbio, is that this scenario never occur. I can't help but think that if GeoWorks had continued with their remarkable Ensemble product several years ago, we'd have a fine Windows competitor today. But what was missing in that world (and what we have in ours) is the guaranteed openness of the core software. I'm not suggesting Debian and SuSE and the others merely bow to the RH gods, but i think there is a fine place for Debian and the other distros in a RH-led world, especially if RH becomes MS. As we are seeing, there is a place for competition on the MS-led world. Why would this be any different? -- eric Farris [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.bigfoot.com/~eafarris Microcomputer Support Specialist Academic Computing Frostburg State University www.frostburg.edu Wealth is not acquired by taking the most from others, but by giving the most away.
