On 08 Mar 2004 13:49:57 -0800, Thomas Bushnell, BSG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Sven Luther <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> On Mon, Mar 08, 2004 at 11:46:42AM -0800, Thomas Bushnell, BSG >> wrote: >> > Sven Luther <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> > >> > > If i am stopped from maintaining the driver for the ADSL modem >> > > that provides me access to the internet, and thus enables me to >> > > do my debian work, will you step in and pay me (and others who >> > > use the same modem) a new adsl modem that is supported by >> > > non-free software. >> > >> > How could the removal of non-free stop you from maintaining the >> > driver? >> >> No more BTS ? no more download area. > You could still maintain it; since your purpose is to have access to > the internet through this modem, you would still be able to do that > whether you were distributing the work to other people or not. But then everyone else who is saving their time by using Sven's driver would have to duplicate it, and that may be a significant amount of time lost that culd have gone towards something more useful (anyone who can generate a new driver has a modicum of technical competence). Even worse, someone transitioning to Debian, helped by that driver, shall no longer have access, and not yet being able to compile their own drivers, leave -- and we have lost a future contributor. > And since there are plenty of good free bug-tracking systems out > there (including the BTS), you will have the option of using those > if they are important to you. Ah. More vapourware solutions. I think that the people using non-free software in a mostly free OS, who may be trying to transition fully to a free system, would find their task of moving to a free operating system significantly hindered. manoj -- There's a little picture of ED MCMAHON doing BAD THINGS to JOAN RIVERS in a $200,000 MALIBU BEACH HOUSE!! Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/> 1024R/C7261095 print CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E 1024D/BF24424C print 4966 F272 D093 B493 410B 924B 21BA DABB BF24 424C