[SATLUG] Why Ubuntu is the best distribution for wifi-enabled computers

[Thomas Cameron]

On Mon, 2007-09-10 at 08:27 -0500, Sean Carolan wrote:
> > The reason that Red Hat does not include binary only drivers is that it
> > is a violation of the license to do so.  Red Hat, having morals and a
> > respect for the law (not to mention deep pockets - ripe for a law suit)
> > will not package binary only drivers in clear violation of the law.
> 
> Which U.S. law is being broken by including the madwifi drivers and
> kernel modules on the installation disc?

The license agreements to many binary only components prohibit
redistribution.  In this case I am talking about the drivers themselves,
not the supporting code.

> > Canonical is a company based in South Africa.  Hard for the binary only
> > driver vendors to sue them, and very little chance of success.
> 
> I'm still not clear.  Atheros appears to actively support the
> madwifi.org project.  Who is going to file a lawsuit?  Exactly what
> law is being broken by including the Atheros madwifi drivers?

Again, it is not legal under the terms of most binary driver licenses to
redistribute those drivers.

> > Additionally, Fedora includes *only* Free/Open Source Software.  There
> > is no IP encumbered software in Fedora.  Ubuntu only embraces free
> > software when it is convenient, then they flout the law when it is not.
> > Easy for you as the end user, but morally and ethically wrong.  I am
> > proud to be part of the Fedora community and I am proud that I do not
> > espouse the attitude "free software except when it's inconvenient."
> 
> Aren't you using proprietary nVidia drivers to run your Beryl installation?

Yup - and I hate to do so.  BUT - I do it the way that NVidia wants me
to, which is to download the driver from their web site and use it on my
machine.  I don't redistribute it since that's against the terms of
their license.

> > Ubuntu the best distro?  I think not.  Canonical the best Linux company?
> 
> It is the best distribution for newcomers to Linux who need to get
> their wireless cards working, especially if they have an Atheros
> chipset.

No argument that it is easy.  But at what price?

> Don't get me wrong, I like Red Hat too.  We use it at work, but I'm
> using CentOS 5 at home because I don't feel like I need to pay for Red
> Hat support for my home box.

Cool.

TC