Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!ruffles.Eng.Sun.COM!sami
From: sami@ruffles.Eng.Sun.COM (Sami Shaio)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Motif -> Open Look look & feel
Keywords: Perspective
Message-ID: <138403@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 5 Jul 90 20:06:20 GMT
References: <9006291804.AA06484@flatirons.Central.Sun.COM> <1990Jul3.004745.7400@wrl.dec.com> <138275@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> <1990Jul3.193445.17201@wrl.dec.com> <1990Jul4.145214.6357@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
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Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
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In article <1990Jul4.145214.6357@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> reha@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Reha Elci) writes:
>In article <1990Jul3.193445.17201@wrl.dec.com> price@decisv.enet.dec.com (Chuck Price) writes:
>
>>I knew the statement that "you get what you pay for" would generate
>>controversy. I agree that there are good and many exceptions to the rule.
>>With free software, you are frequently on your own.
>>
>
>No! There are NO exceptions to the rule! GNU emacs, from a company's
>perspective is NOT a viable answer; as good as it is for hackers. When I
>get a tape from FSF, it comes with NO guarantees. Well, that is the whole
>point; a company wants packages which come with guarantees. When free
>software comes with 7x24 software support and guarantees, then I will
>alter my position on this issue.
>
>XView, low quality and very little service is not a good alternative, neither
>is MIT distribution of anything! X is available, with full support from OSF
>members. DEC has their own server, display postscript (from original vendor

You shouldn't confuse how a product is distributed with how it will be
supported. Sun has chosen to distribute XView as a free product with source.
However this doesn't mean it's unsupported! In fact, there were press
reports about Sun getting third-party companies to support XView on other
platforms. And Sun supports XView on the sun platform. It just happens to
be free. 

--sami

ps: Please note that I speak for myself only.
(standard disclaimer)