Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : red hat : strange new rules, towards a new m....sof


panther
02-27-2003, 10:16 AM
My apologises for the title but I feel a bit strange after this e-mail

but I would like to darw your attention to this e-mail that I received




Dear Red Hat Network User,




Earlier this year, Red Hat Network reached a user base of 1 million registered
systems. We thought that this would be the right time to update you about Red
Hat Network's recent progress.


BETTER PERFORMANCE

Our customers continue to request improvements in the functionality and
performance of Red Hat Network. We have responded by providing the following
improvements for paid subscribers:

- INSTANT ACCESS to Red Hat ISOs as soon as they become available. This
means no more long downloads from ftp sites, driving to the store, or
waiting for your friends to finish with their copy.

- Priority bandwidth during heavy traffic periods. Paid subscribers have
immediate access to errata and ISOs, ensuring that their systems are
kept up to date and always secure.

- 24 Hour Access. Demo Accounts are subject to blackouts during periods of
high usage. Paid subscribers receive uninterrupted service all year.

- The ability to manage multiple systems from a single user login and
password, and a single email account.

- Immediate access to new Red Hat Network functionality as Red Hat expands
the Red Hat Network platform.

If you are not currently a paying subscriber to Red Hat Network and these
features sound interesting to you, subscriptions are available for as little
as $5 per month. Learn more by visiting the following link:

https://rhn.redhat.com/preview/index.pxt

RULES FOR DEMO SUBSCRIPTIONS

We will continue to provide free service to users who can get by with the
demo functionality. We will, however, introduce some new rules that will make
it easier for us to provide service to these accounts.

First, all demo accounts without a confirmed email address will be disabled.
In addition, all demo accounts that use non-unique email addesses will be
disabled, in accordance with our terms and conditions. This maintenance cycle
will occur during the spring of 2003. Your current account name and email
address are listed at the bottom of this email.

Second, we will be asking people who want to continue using their demo accounts
at the end of their contract period to complete a short survey. Once completed,
the demo service will be extended for two months.

The data we collect will enable us to deliver more and better products and
services, including those of our partners. We will never make your personal
data available to outside parties.

Thank you again for your continued support of Red Hat and the Linux community.
We look forward to providing you with new features and functionality in the
months ahead.

bwkaz
02-27-2003, 11:24 AM
Yeah, OK, ...

What don't you like about it? That they give priority to people that pay them?

panther
02-27-2003, 11:42 AM
well in the future the will give priority only to people that they pay them.. and only to those people.........i thought that linux started as an idea of sharing community...........and i would like to see that stays like that, i hope that i am wrong, but give two years and believe me.........

Icarus
02-27-2003, 11:56 AM
As if they gave good support for demo members in the past :rolleyes:

There is nothing wrong with refusing to support someone that has not paid for support...that's what we're here for! :D

They are not stopping anyone from downloading their ISOs and using their software for free...they are still offering the source free also, so what's the problem? A company that is exercising their only source of income? I myself like my job, but there is no way I'd do it for free ;)

This practice will not change unless Red Hat goes to a BSD license, then it wouldn't be Red Hat Linux, but Red Hat BSD :p

mdwatts
02-27-2003, 01:38 PM
Originally posted by panther
I thought that linux started as an idea of sharing community...........and i would like to see that stays like that, i hope that i am wrong, but give two years and believe me.........

The majority of the software is opensource, BUT who do you expect to pay for Redhat's employee salaries, office space, equipment, the developers who put the distro together etc. etc.

For a 'distro' to be truly free, you need to download all of the opensource software individually yourself and build your own distro.

mychl
02-27-2003, 02:02 PM
I've never had a problem with the demo version of RHN. I think it's great, to be able to update with up2date, it even does kernel upgrades.

One of the ways that RH makes money is by selling it's support services. I think RH is great for doing this, for coming up with a way to make money while providing the bulk of their product for free...

I don't pay for their service, they give it to me for free, why, because they are a linux distributor and try to follow in the path of sharing.

So please, no more of this RedHat's going to be the next MS crap! They need to survive financially, and are doing so, but all the while they are providing services to EVERYONE, you just get more if you pay them.