Re: [cobalt-users] Support, Warranty and Hype

[Bruce Timberlake <bruce.timberlake@xxxxxxx>]

David Thurman wrote:
> 
> Why would it be "Illegal" to place RaQ4 OS on a Cobalt box of any
> type. I would like to see the paragraph from Sun/Cobalt that states
> you are in violation.

Here are relevant snippets from 3 paragraphs in the License Agreement:

1. "This Agreement also imposes certain restrictions on your use of the
Software and Hardware."

You cannot choose to use the Software outside of its intended purpose as
described by Sun.

2. "You may not make a copy of any of the Software... The software on
the OS Restore CD is intended to be used only to restore the Cobalt
product to its initial factory functionality."

"From the factory" means the way we ship it.  Since we don't ship a RaQ
3 from the factory with a RaQ 4 OS, you are _not_ restoring it to
initial factory functionality by using a RaQ 4 OSRCD on a RaQ 3...

3. "You may not transfer or assign your rights to use the Software
except upon a transfer of any Hardware with which or for which it was
supplied."

You can't separate the Software from the Hardware. They are designed to
be used together. That is why you cannot get a CD with the Sun Cobalt UI
to install on your own generic Linux PCs. 

> why then do people like Apple and dell and the others allow you
> to place OS's of your choice on machines??

They are selling "general purpose" hardware and/or standalone operating
systems, not an integrated hardware/software stack ("appliance") like
Sun Cobalt is.

-- 
Bruce Timberlake
Technology Engineer
Sun Cobalt Server Appliances
Sun Microsystems, Inc.

E: bruce.timberlake@xxxxxxx
U: http://www.sun.com/cobalt/