Let sum it all up to this,Anyone with the knowledge, skill, and time could build there own OS based on a flavor of linux & web gui for administration just like the ones on the Cobalt's. Then combined with machinery could be their own cobalt. Now if you were them, making money of what you knew and did. Would you give it away for free to others. No way. To begin with its not the software or the hard ware that is being sold, its an integrated all in one solution. Further more both the hardware and software are for the most part freely available. Now on one hand since it is an integrated solution it should work out of the box. But unfortunately a human must take it out the box and plug it in. Humans are the biggest most unpredictable variable out there. So most problems that are experienced when using Cobalt appliances come from the user. I am sure if it was a problem that Cobalt was aware of across the board, it would be fixed prior to shipment or ASAP via a software update. Now some freak things can happen on more of an individual bases, and maybe Cobalt is not as sympathetic as they need to be, but its hard to say where the problem cam from. I have yet to see a fresh , or freshly restored Cobalt server with problems. If that was the case, make sure you bought in on a VISA and return it for one that works. :)
For the most part they work as should which brings me to the bottom line. Now since everything is freely available, hardware/software, and some one took the time to turn them into an integrated solution of their own. You have to give them credit for at least giving out info on what they did and how. So what if they want to charge a pretty penny for it, in reality you are paying them for their time and knowledge. No different then school/college. Its still better than what some do, take free stuff, turn it into proprietary and then hold onto the how with their life. Sound like anyone we know, MS, Apple, ?
Cobalt is following the open source movement, they are just charging for their source, which comes with instructions. As for me, I have no problem with that, as long as I am give the opportunity to learn about it an fix it myself. Like anything in life, it comes at an
expense. baltimoremd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Thu, 21 Jun 2001, O-S Inc. Support wrote:My two cents,I think the books are worth every penny. Find out in minutes, what you can discover in hours. Fix your own problems, or integrate your own solution in half the time.Your argument has merit. I suppose I'd be more open if I didn't feel I was being charged a LOT of money to be able to learn how to fix what obviously is a broken, outdated and ignored system. If I worked for Sun/Cobalt, I'd be ashamed that my product creates default pages that are patently wrong...and I don't think I'd feel at all comfortable charging my customers to correct my own errors....to say nothing of the fact that if the customer corrects my errors, he looses his warranty. Even my dentist, who charges on a par with Cobalt, will re-do work at no charge when it's obvious that he's screwed up. Thombaltimoremd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thom LaCosta K3HRN Webmaster_______________________________________________ cobalt-developers mailing list cobalt-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.cobalt.com/mailman/listinfo/cobalt-developers
-- Sincerely, William L. Thomson Jr. Obsidian-Studios Inc. 439 Amber Way Petaluma, Ca. 94952 Phone/fax 707.766.9509 http://www.obsidian-studios.com