The Onebase Linux Project is proud to announce the releases of

* Onebase Linux 2005x1

* OnebaseGo 3.0

* GamesGo 1.0

Check their details at www.onebaselinux.com

Announcement

Since there are so many Linux distributions that offer free downloads of their ISO image, why would I want to pay $14.00 to download this one?

What advantange would it have over my present operating system, Slackware Linux, that would entice me to use Onebase?

Please be aware that I do not play games with my computer at all.

they have a link to download the iso for free

http://www.ibiblio.org/onebase/oneba...ts/isodown.php

i found this on the Download page

http://www.ibiblio.org/onebase/oneba...s/download.php

According to the link above, they also don't allow you to redistribute it. I tried it before when it was free to download and it wasn't a very good distro then. I wonder who would want to pay to download it and then not be able to redistribute it. It kind of sounds contradictory to the GPL.

That free download is a net install image, not the full distro, or even a LiveCD. In this age of hundreds of distros, it would take something more than the work of a net install for me to try a new one.

I've also read their FAQs and some of it seems contradictory to me.

• - What is Onebase Linux Project?
  
  This is a community effort where users and developers form an association to create and maintain a free operating system based on the linux kernel.
  
  - Is it all Free?
  
  This Project provides Free services like Software gallery, Onebase software, Community forums to all users without any hidden or recurring costs. Besides this the Onebase Linux Net-Installer is GPLed and offered a Free download.
  
  However inorder to maintain the project, all the OnebaseGo range of products are available for download by paying a single small fee.

Since he's made the post in this community, it seems fair for us to ask what we get for the $14. Is there any support offered? I don't really think a distro that offers no support, and has no established community, is going to be able to convince people to pay for their bandwidth. I would like to say that these are just my opinions.

It also states the Onebase Linux (ISO and Boxed version) is licensed under the GPL, but the other products are licensed under the Onebase Group Licensing. The two licenses are different, and do allow some redistribution if you read it thoroughly. I don't have any problem with people licensing their products. If I don't agree with the license, I'll just not use it. And I don't have any problem with someone making a distro and selling it for a profit, it they choose to do so. However, I'd have to see something tangible, and try that product, before I'd pay for it. What I've read on their web site basically seems to be "buzzwords" that they've coined, and not something I could even investigate through another distro.

well, from what i get out of it, you can donwload a net-installer iso for free and it does not say you cant redistribute that one. the 14 bucks is for the livecd OnebaseGo (which includes an installer for the hard drive) and you get 30 days access to download any released onebase product iso.

i havent checked but it looks like you pay 14 bucks once and then you can also get the GamesGo cd which has some cool games on it.

there are plenty of sites that charge you for cd's. you can make copies for your friends, they just dont want you putting iso's up on an ftp server (but from what i see on their site, this only applies to the full iso they charge you for, not the smaller net-installer iso, but i could be wrong).

bottom line for me is, i would not mind paying 14 bucks for this. linspire is much more for what seems like a similar distribution. plus if you made a product and wanted people to buy it from you, wouldn't you restrict who could sell it or even say no one else can sell but you?

i dont claim to understand everything about the GPL so im just speaking my opinion and we all know about those right

I just found out that a company has a copy of a GPL'ed program, and it costs money to get it. Aren't they violating the GPL by not making it available on the Internet?

No. The GPL does not require anyone to use the Internet for distribution. It also does not require anyone in particular to redistribute the program. And (outside of one special case), even if someone does decide to redistribute the program sometimes, the GPL doesn't say he has to distribute a copy to you in particular, or any other person in particular.

What the GPL requires is that he must have the freedom to distribute a copy to you if he wishes to. Once the copyright holder does distribute a copy program to someone, that someone can then redistribute the program to you, or to anyone else, as he sees fit.