AOL to buy Redhat

[heini]

AOL is negotiating an acquisition of Redhat, reports the Washington Post today [washingtonpost.com].

This could be the breakthrough for Linux fighting the hegemony of Windows on PCs.

the AOL software could be configured to override Windows and
launch a version of Red Hat's Linux operating system, sources said.

[nosanity]

NOOOO!!!!! As a loyalist, I DETEST! Anything but this!!! That's it, I'm going home to nuke my systems and install OpenBSD. !!!!! [*pout*]

(edited by: NFFC at 5:59 pm (utc) on Jan. 21, 2002)

[john316]

As near as I can tell, the philosophy of open source is just that; *open* and free, it was never conceived to be a "closed to all except the technically elite". I kinda like the idea of grandma running Linux with rainbow buttons to check her email.

[fsf.org...]

As far as the netscape gripe, keep in mind that it was the netscape decision to release its code that germinated the whole concept of open source.

[opensource.org...]

[satanclaus]

nosanity calm down bud. There is more than one distribution of linux out there.

[Macguru]

Analyst: AOL Merger Would Destroy Red Hat Linux [dailynews.yahoo.com]

[NetGrease]

Before I get branded as AOL's new best friend, I personally was trying to illustrate the idea that an independant company, with the right attitude and respect for the potential of it's new purchases (i.e. RedHat) and the inherited user base that would come with it, they could (notice the emphasis on could) become a serious rival to the all-encompassing MS powerhouse.

The reason AOL could (there's a pattern forming here) potentially clean up, is because they (AOL) already have a disgraceful amount of exposure, positive or negative; and yes, I'd warm to the idea of my granny surfing away on a custom version of Linux - whether it's an idiot-proof distro or not is utterly irrelevant - it is still the kind of mass market exposure Open source development needs, especially Linux.

Let's just keep our collective (red)hat's on straight here; it's still an interesting prospect, whether you consider yourself a dabbler or a "true blood". Personally, I think it's the most interesting/amusing/controversial bit of tech news I've read since WinXP's "feature set" was announced - need I say any more?

Well, yes actually; I'm up for guessing the name of the new OS; RedHell anyone? (As in "Ay?! Oh hell!!")

;)

[littleman]

[news.com.com...]

that's that...

[Hunter]

Yeah, was thinking that Littleman (believe it or not), an all out buy-out or merger seemed unlikely, but they may make a deal, only time will tell.

[Brett_Tabke]

Someone sure leaked something though. I wonder which aspect of the story they were field testing? How it would play on WallStreet?

[john316]

I wouldn't count the deal dead, maybe just sleeping. AOL has two choices;

1.) Get pushed off the desktop ala netscape.

2.) Become the desktop.

There really is no middle ground for them.

[gethan]

> 2.) Become the desktop.

Can't think of a better way to do this than offer a complete OS with AOL branded browsers, free word processors, etc etc.

But you've got to ween the average PC user off of windows - if this does go anywhere I imagine it will be with a CD that sets up your PC to boot up in either AOLnix mode or Windows mode. AOLnix mode would gradually become the defacto mode for all surfing, document writing, and windows would be left for the games (for a while). I think a little bit of history will repeat itself - remember the 386/486 days, dos bootup menu's one for Games the other for windows and word? (Franticly removing TSR's to get Doom to actually run!)

Dos really only dissappeared from peoples conciousness once games ran under windows.

So the RH/AOL seems to be mostly hot air - but AOL don't need RH to do this type of thing, they do need the Linux expertise but not the company.

If this did happen I'm still not decided whether it would be a good thing? AOL/TW would probably fix things to give users even less control of software and content than Microsoft do now. But on the other hand - it might be a catalyst for the separation of OS, applications, and content that is so desperately needed - "Microsoft Word2009 for AOLnix".

[edit] disclaimer: its speculation and opinion - I think it probably won't happen[/edit]

[nosanity]

Whew! [*whipes sweat off forehead*] I already had my alter (coffee machine) taken away this week, taking away my OS would just hurt. heh... well, I know there are other distros, and I would probably use one of them, but I guess I just havent got to those distros yet. Just been sittin on RH because it is the easiest to manage (from my personal experience). I would like some input on what you all think for managability.

noSanity

[prowsej]

How do I stop receiving notifications of replies to this thread?

[littleman]

By not enticing people to post to it?

That would be a nice option to be able to deactivate.