Re: [gNewSense-users] Request for information for my review of gNewSense

[Karl Goetz]

address@hidden wrote:
> Hello bbrazil and ompaul (and anyone else who would like to help me)

Hi mate.
I'm not bbrazil or ompaul, but heres my understanding. they can clarify 
after i hope :)

> I do reviews for various Linux distros on my website knolinux.com and
> would like to ask a few questions of everyone so that I can put out
> what the real goal of your distro is, since it mainly has the same
> attributes/functions as many other Ubuntu based Linux systems. 
>
> 1) What is your end goal with gNewSense? 
A 100% FSF Free distribution.

> 2) I noticed you have FireFox included, does that mean you do not stand
> behind the IceWeasel project and their issues with the FireFox Icon? 

The codebase that is gns 1.0 is Ubuntu Dapper. this ships with Firefox. 
We are currently thrashing a bit on the list and on IRC over the topic 
of iceweasel. people want it in, but the maintainance overhead means 
that theres no mad rush to get it in.

> 3) What are the plans to support PCI (imbedded) Wireless cards for
> laptop users? 
If they run on Free software, they get support. If they run non-free 
software, they get no support. (non-free software includes non-free 
firmware)

> 4) With the recent announcement of Novell and several people indicating
> that their new policy of "licensing" to MicroSoft is actually a
> violation of GPL, what will gNewSense do in regards to supporting
> Evolution, Gnome, and and other Novell based software packages not
> mentioned? 

"supporting" meaning 'shipping in the distribution'?
as far as i know, it will continue.

> 5) How do you feel about people adding proprietary or non-open source
> packages to your distro in the future and is there any restriction in
> your license restricted said practice? 

We cant restrict the practice in licences - that's the beauty of the 
gpl. The offical line is (again afaik) we do not support people 
installing non-free, and will not assist them in this task.
We wont however stop people setting up 3rd party repositories, because 
we cant. Personally, it seems odd to install a system for its freeness, 
then install non-free on it.

> If you don't want to respond that is understandable, but it would really
> help get your message out. 

spreading the message aside, your questions are perfectly reasonable.

> Thanks in advance and best wishes on your new project. Oh, anyway I can
> get the graphics that you use on your gdm splash in on my desktop. I
> love that pic. 

One of the people in the know will have to tell you about the GDM image 
(its probably in an artwork package though).
kk

> Cheers!!!!
>
> KnoLinuxGuy (Kevin)
> knolinux.com
> address@hidden


--
Karl Goetz
The buck stops there -> $
Australian Ubuntu users team - http://wiki.ubuntu.com/AustralianTeam