[ros-general] Just a curiosity-- ROS redistribution legalities

[Mark IJbema]

On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 06:35:35AM -0800, Frank D. Engel, Jr. wrote:
> > The reason being, that the most costly part of any
> > modern 'win32' based computer is its operating system.
> > By eliminating a Windoze license, you EASILY shave off
> > 300$ from the computer's price.  So, your 500$
> > cheapskate computer is now a 200$ cheapskate
> > computer--
> 
> Interesting.  I knew it was quite a bit, but I didn't realize it was
> quite *that* much.

Well, windows itself (XP Home) is about $100, but with Office it's
around $300.
 
> > 4) ROS, and any/all other open sourced products must
> > not be 'sold', but reimbursement charges (copying, or
> > other expenses for making products and sources
> > available) are applicable within reason.
> 
> The GPL explicitly allows you to sell GPLed software, as long as the
> licensing terms are maintained; however, this would be counter to your
> purpose, and not consistently useful, as those users could then take
> the software and give away copies for free... (or just d/l from the
> 'net to begin with).

Well, it would be nice to have some buyable reactos as well. In a box,
with a manual. Else it stays an OS for nerds. If it ain't in the stores,
people won't know it. Price could be as little as $10-$25. (of course a
freely downloadable version could easily coexist, but some people just
like to buy stuff).

Mark