NetGrease - 1:12 pm on Jan 21, 2002 (gmt 0)

Brett_Tabke wrote: ...they can have it for free and custom tailored to their hardware. They can preinstall it with all the custom icons and logo's they want.

I agree, this merger has the potential to be the single-most important decision AOL could ever make - and I think they know it;

littleman wrote: AOL doesn't always ruin what it touches, winamp and the ODP still have quality.

They certainly don't; I'm just as pleased as everyone else that AOL have left WinAmp and ODP virtually untouched, and more importantly still free. I don't think AOL would be so stupid as to rebrand the entire RedHat franchise lock, stock and barrel for their own purposes. I think they'd build on the strong foundation; still sell the more powerful distributions untouched, but give away an AOL-enhanced version of a super-quick home user workstation/Internet browser OS;

John316 wrote: And (Joes) would never "download the most recent distro and compile the neccesary binaries"..they like to use *installers* i.e. click here to make this thing work.

Exactly my thinking with the above dedicated workstation/Internet distro; two install options 1)idiot proof, and 2)experienced user. And I don't think the "MS Bundled Browser" monster would raise its ugly head for AOL - the whole damned lot is FREE, and you could always bundle RedHat/AOL with a selection of other browsers on the CD (plus a tonne of other top free apps). I'd definately be interested if AOL gave me an OS on one of their coasters, instead of just a browser. ;)

Brett_Tabke wrote: Who is to say that Windows 2005 won't REQUIRE you to be an MSN subscriber?

This frightens me to be honest. I've actually severed all my ties to MS now (bar OS), since they decided to create a monster out of the Passport system.

NFFC wrote: If you can cut MS, Intel and Dell out of the deal you could almost give the hardware away for free.

If they could create a decent system bundle for e.g. under £300, they'd make a killing.

I'm for the merger, but only if AOL respect the RedHat brand, and leave it largely untouched (except for a dedicated Harry Homeowner AOL/RedHat distribution). If they were to do this, they'd certainly get my support as a web developer/technophile.