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  3. Rumor: AOL in talks to buy Red Hat

Rumor: AOL in talks to buy Red Hat

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  • P Paul Watson

    Michael P Butler wrote: Unless they want to buy Red Hat's developers. Sounds like about the only logical explanation. Bit of a weird way to get them though. Frankly AOL and RedHat could not be more different. RedHat has a totally different approach to business than AOL, what will happen when/if they meet? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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    Simon Walton
    wrote on last edited by
    #4

    Paul Watson wrote: RedHat has a totally different approach to business than AOL, what will happen when/if they meet? I suppose RedHat would have to employ lots of hologrammatic ginger women to advertise their products. Simon Nobody does chicken like MFC Sonork ID 100.10024

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    • P Paul Watson

      Michael P Butler wrote: Unless they want to buy Red Hat's developers. Sounds like about the only logical explanation. Bit of a weird way to get them though. Frankly AOL and RedHat could not be more different. RedHat has a totally different approach to business than AOL, what will happen when/if they meet? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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      Michael P Butler
      wrote on last edited by
      #5

      What if AOL/Time Warner are about to get into the set-top box market? Red Hat is supposed to be the most user-friendly version of Linux. Chuck a version of Red Hat Linux on the OS with a modifed version of the AOL browser (Netscape) with easy access to AOL plus all Time Warners media content. Internet access for the masses but with built in digital rights management to prevent piracy of the content. Microsoft are rumored to be going down this road with the XBox sequels - what if AOL want to get there first. RedHat is probably the most mature version that can get them a headstart. Michael :-)

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      • M Michael P Butler

        What if AOL/Time Warner are about to get into the set-top box market? Red Hat is supposed to be the most user-friendly version of Linux. Chuck a version of Red Hat Linux on the OS with a modifed version of the AOL browser (Netscape) with easy access to AOL plus all Time Warners media content. Internet access for the masses but with built in digital rights management to prevent piracy of the content. Microsoft are rumored to be going down this road with the XBox sequels - what if AOL want to get there first. RedHat is probably the most mature version that can get them a headstart. Michael :-)

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        Paul Watson
        wrote on last edited by
        #6

        Michael P Butler wrote: What if AOL/Time Warner are about to get into the set-top box market? Very good point Michael, well thought :) I guess in that case Linux is a logical choice. BUT what is going to happen to poor old RedHat then? Somehow I don't see the RedHat developers shifting from their current "cause and way" to producing commercial tv set top boxes without a big fuss. In fact most would probably quit and start up another RedHat independantly. Michael P Butler wrote: with built in digital rights management to prevent piracy of the content I do not believe there will ever be such a thing :) The hackers will always be just a few inches behind hacking the latest anti-piracy stuff. The poor content-rights management people will be continually updating and releasing new tech. A real vicious cycle. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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        • P Paul Watson

          Michael P Butler wrote: What if AOL/Time Warner are about to get into the set-top box market? Very good point Michael, well thought :) I guess in that case Linux is a logical choice. BUT what is going to happen to poor old RedHat then? Somehow I don't see the RedHat developers shifting from their current "cause and way" to producing commercial tv set top boxes without a big fuss. In fact most would probably quit and start up another RedHat independantly. Michael P Butler wrote: with built in digital rights management to prevent piracy of the content I do not believe there will ever be such a thing :) The hackers will always be just a few inches behind hacking the latest anti-piracy stuff. The poor content-rights management people will be continually updating and releasing new tech. A real vicious cycle. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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          Michael P Butler
          wrote on last edited by
          #7

          Just looking at the Red Hat web-site. It looks like they have a lot of experience of embedded Linux so that set-top box is viable. They also have Linux working on quiet a few different processors. Maybe we will also see the AOL Handheld device - with a little bit of Bluetooth it could be "You have Mail" no matter where you are. AOL Instant messenging whilst on the loo or in the bath etc. Maybe they are looking into setting up a .NET web services competitor. .AOL or some such. There are a lot of possibilties if you have a lot of smart experienced developers working for you. It's an old Microsoft tactic to buy smart people and companies, maybe AOL are taking a leaf out of Bill's book. I hope AOL get Redhat because it'll mean Microsoft will work even harder to keep Windows number one - which has to be a good thing for all us Windows developers. Michael :-)

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          • S Simon Walton

            Paul Watson wrote: RedHat has a totally different approach to business than AOL, what will happen when/if they meet? I suppose RedHat would have to employ lots of hologrammatic ginger women to advertise their products. Simon Nobody does chicken like MFC Sonork ID 100.10024

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            David Wulff
            wrote on last edited by
            #8

            Simon Walton wrote: I suppose RedHat would have to employ lots of hologrammatic ginger women to advertise their products. There's hope for me finding a propper career yet! ;P ________________ David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk "My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group, there was less competition there" - Gandhi

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            • P Paul Watson

              Michael P Butler wrote: Unless they want to buy Red Hat's developers. Sounds like about the only logical explanation. Bit of a weird way to get them though. Frankly AOL and RedHat could not be more different. RedHat has a totally different approach to business than AOL, what will happen when/if they meet? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

              realJSOPR Offline
              realJSOPR Offline
              realJSOP
              wrote on last edited by
              #9

              I think when open-source software comes into direct contact with a microsoft operating system, the user's hard drive will explode. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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              • D David Wulff

                Simon Walton wrote: I suppose RedHat would have to employ lots of hologrammatic ginger women to advertise their products. There's hope for me finding a propper career yet! ;P ________________ David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk "My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group, there was less competition there" - Gandhi

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                Paul Watson
                wrote on last edited by
                #10

                David Wulff wrote: Simon Walton wrote: I suppose RedHat would have to employ lots of hologrammatic ginger women to advertise their products. There's hope for me finding a propper career yet You are a ginger women who submits herself to hologram encoding? Well, well, no wonder the rest of the town avoids you... ;P regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                • F Frank Liao

                  Heh, I can't really believe that AOL is trying to be like Microsoft again. Let's see, first AOL bought Netscape so that they can have a browser and access to the Netcenter portal (the way that MS has IE to lead everyone to MSN). We know how that story unfolded. Now, AOL wants to buy Red Hat so that they can provide their own OS? I could see it now. Millions of free AOL Linux disks that would ask you if you want to install Linux in order to use AOL. It'll ask you, do you wish to have Linux as your default OS? :laugh: Link Frank

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                  Todd Smith
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #11

                  A new computer with AOL/Linux could be cheaper than a computer with XP.

                  Todd Smith

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                  • T Todd Smith

                    A new computer with AOL/Linux could be cheaper than a computer with XP.

                    Todd Smith

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                    Tim Smith
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #12

                    Not when you include the cost of tech support. Tim Smith Descartes Systems Sciences, Inc.

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                    • T Tim Smith

                      Not when you include the cost of tech support. Tim Smith Descartes Systems Sciences, Inc.

                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOP
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #13

                      You don't get tech support with Linux (unless you consider a bunch of linux snobs telling you to read the HOW-TO as "support"). Of course, even that kind of attention is better than paying Microsoft $95 per "incident". "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                      • T Tim Smith

                        Not when you include the cost of tech support. Tim Smith Descartes Systems Sciences, Inc.

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                        Chris Losinger
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #14

                        i haven't checked in a while... but windows support isn't free, is it? -c


                        Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                        • M Michael P Butler

                          Just looking at the Red Hat web-site. It looks like they have a lot of experience of embedded Linux so that set-top box is viable. They also have Linux working on quiet a few different processors. Maybe we will also see the AOL Handheld device - with a little bit of Bluetooth it could be "You have Mail" no matter where you are. AOL Instant messenging whilst on the loo or in the bath etc. Maybe they are looking into setting up a .NET web services competitor. .AOL or some such. There are a lot of possibilties if you have a lot of smart experienced developers working for you. It's an old Microsoft tactic to buy smart people and companies, maybe AOL are taking a leaf out of Bill's book. I hope AOL get Redhat because it'll mean Microsoft will work even harder to keep Windows number one - which has to be a good thing for all us Windows developers. Michael :-)

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                          Daniel Ferguson
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #15

                          Michael P Butler wrote: it'll mean Microsoft will work even harder to keep Windows number one That's why I'm in favour of alternative operating systems -- the competition will force them all to improve. "Not to mention that security in Outlook is like having Homer Simpson guard a Dunkin' Donuts factory." - Gary Rogers

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                          • T Todd Smith

                            A new computer with AOL/Linux could be cheaper than a computer with XP.

                            Todd Smith

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                            Ed Dixon
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #16

                            Yes, and a new computer with no parts (monitor, memory, hard drive, etc) would be much cheaper and just as useful to most people. Most folks buy PCs to run apps. Unless their apps run on the system they purchase, they have limited value. For varous reasons most software apps sold today will not run on Linux. Ed

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                            • E Ed Dixon

                              Yes, and a new computer with no parts (monitor, memory, hard drive, etc) would be much cheaper and just as useful to most people. Most folks buy PCs to run apps. Unless their apps run on the system they purchase, they have limited value. For varous reasons most software apps sold today will not run on Linux. Ed

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                              Andrew Peace
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #17

                              Ed Dixon wrote: Most folks buy PCs to run apps What else are they gonna do :-D? -- Andrew.

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                              • A Andrew Peace

                                Ed Dixon wrote: Most folks buy PCs to run apps What else are they gonna do :-D? -- Andrew.

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                                Ed Dixon
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #18

                                Servers of one sort or another is one other common use, which seems somewhat well suited to Linux machines. My guess is that a fair percentage of these machines effectively have no monitor or keyboard, and just sit in the corner and perform their server actions. Ed

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