Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 21:29:43 -0800
From: Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>
To: Coywolf Qi Hunt <coywolf@gmail.com>
Cc: Tim Bird <tim.bird@am.sony.com>, Dave Airlie <airlied@gmail.com>,
       David Woodhouse <dwmw2@infradead.org>, arjan@infradead.org,
       andrew@walrond.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, rms@gnu.org
Subject: Re: Linux in a binary world... a doomsday scenario
Message-ID: <20051207052943.GB21229@kroah.com>
References: <21d7e9970512051610n1244467am12adc8373c1a4473@mail.gmail.com> <4394DA1D.3090007@am.sony.com> <20051206040820.GB26602@kroah.com> <2cd57c900512052358m5b631204i@mail.gmail.com> <20051206161131.GB2088@kroah.com> <2cd57c900512061738l2f19aa54x@mail.gmail.com> <20051207024000.GB19746@kroah.com> <2cd57c900512061923u1ce526c8p@mail.gmail.com>
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On Wed, Dec 07, 2005 at 11:23:37AM +0800, Coywolf Qi Hunt wrote:
> 2005/12/7, Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>:
> > On Wed, Dec 07, 2005 at 09:38:30AM +0800, Coywolf Qi Hunt wrote:
> > > 2005/12/7, Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>:
> > > > And no kernel developers are forcing anyone to use Linux.  If they don't
> > > > like it for whatever reasons, there are other alternatives...
> > >
> > > AFAIK, no proprietary software vendors are forcing any1 to buy their
> > > proprietary software. Still you are speaking in a monopoly tone!
> >
> > How is the statement, "If you don't trust the intelligence of the Linux
> > kernel developers, then don't use the Linux kernel." a monopolistic
> > tone?
> 
> The fact is Linux supports more hardware now. Some *BSD users turn to
> Linux in order to drive their hardware for the _same_ reason as users
> turn to windows. That is really a monopolistic position.

No, not at all:
	mo·nop·o·ly
	Function: noun
	1 : exclusive control of a particular market that is marked by
	    the power to control prices and exclude competition and that
	    esp. is developed willfully rather than as the result of
	    superior products or skill.
	2 : one that has a monopoly

	Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

I think our "superior product and skill" is what makes us not a
monopoly :)

Besides, the *BSD developers routinely use our code to write their own
drivers (looking at how things are done) so in the end, having Linux
support a device helps them out too.  So the "exclude competition"
portion of the above definition is also false...

thanks,

greg k-h
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