Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!manuel!anusf.anu.edu.au!drw900
From: drw900@anusf.anu.edu.au ("Drew R Whitehouse")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Re: ShowCase distribution
Message-ID: <1991Mar25.105712@anusf.anu.edu.au>
Date: 25 Mar 91 00:57:12 GMT
References: <9103211517.AA16498@nazgul.physics.mcgill.ca>
Sender: news@newshost.anu.edu.au
Reply-To: drw900@anusf.anu.edu.au
Organization: Australian National University Supercomputer Facility
Lines: 41

In article <9103211517.AA16498@nazgul.physics.mcgill.ca>, loki@NAZGUL.PHYSICS.MCGILL.CA (Loki Jorgenson Rm421) writes:
|> 
|> 	I concur that it seems unreasonable that a piece of system software
|> which is being distributed freely via normal channels (in system releases)
|> can't be distributed via the net.  It does not fall into the category of
|> commercial use of the net (it would seem).
|> 
|> 	However, I recognize the tenuous nature of SGI's access to the
|> net and the relative sensitivity they have to this issue.  If they
|> choose to be cautious, then I must respect this prudence insofar as I 
|> wish to see that we continue to enjoy the presence of SGI on this list.
|> It is their responsibility and their decision after all.

	Two questions - 

	1. Would it be possible for SG to make the Showcase program
(current version) freely distributable and unsupported. Then someone
who had a copy could make it available for anon. ftp eg FTP.BRL.MIL.

	2. How come SUN manage to distribute XView and the likes via
X11/contrib ?

	I think that doing small things like this is one of the
reasons that so many people go out and buy SUN's regardless of the
technical prowess of the machines. So many software bit's and pieces
are available to make life easy/interesting. Every bit of software you
think might be useful doesn't require a trip to the post office /
department administrator (groan).

	Encouraging this sort of flexibility of distribution in the SG
world can only help SG sales in the long run.

								Drew
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