Free Software Linux

"You would think that a GNU/Linux distribution dedicated to shipping only free software would be uncontroversial. After all, isn't free software what GNU/Linux is all about? Yet, when the latest version of GNewSense was announced recently, Slashdot readers were divided in their reactions..."

"...I have been unwilling to get involved with this debate [which is currently in progress on Manchester Free Software Group's mailing list] from an argumentative perspective, because it seems to me that the whole debate revolves around a perception of gNewSense and in general, not experience. [...] read more

For those not already in the know, gNewSense is a distribution based upon Ubuntu. The aim of the distro is to strip Ubuntu of all non-free software components and offer a completely ‘pure’ free software distribution to those who wish for it. This new 2.0 release is based upon the recent Ubuntu Hardy Heron version, as the announcement states.

"Free software lovers can rejoice at this month's release of gNewSense 2.0 (pronounced "guh-new-sense"), the latest version of the popular distribution based on Ubuntu Hardy Heron. Code-named DeltaH, this operating system includes only software where users have the right to run, study, adapt, redistribute, and improve all of the software and code. read more

RMS: «If Microsoft says that ['era of open computing'], it appears to be an attempt at a self-fulfilling prophesy. If people believe it, they may make it come true. The way to deal with that is to refuse to let Microsoft lead you. Pay attention to your freedom instead of self-serving forecasts ...

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## In this issue * Free Software Supporter exclusive: WBUR is streaming Ogg Vorbis! * DBD Action Alert - Libraries: Eliminate DRM! * Get DeltaH, gNewSense 2.0 * Get your next machine with gNewSense * Silicon Mechanics to ship servers with free BIOS preinstalled * Can we rescue OLPC from Windows? by Richard M. Stallman * End Software Patents: the Bilski hearing, heard. read more

"Why should we care to have a 100 per cent free operating system? Isn't being almost free enough? Not if you value freedom itself. The Free Software Movement was founded to win freedom for software users. Its offshoot, Open Source, was founded to downplay freedom as a value. This difference, which may seem subtle, has big consequences and this is one example of them..."

"The company Los Alamos Computers is now offering systems preinstalled with gNewSense, the fully free GNU/Linux operating system distribution..."

"gNewSense DeltaH was released today, and we are pleased to offer preconfigured Workstations, Portable Systems, ThinkCentres, Laptops, and Servers, as well as fully customized Core 2 Duo, Athlon 64, Xeon, and Opteron computers, preinstalled with the latest gNewSense GNU/Linux operating system. read more

Less than a week after the release of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS "Hardy Heron", the Free Software Foundation has gone ahead and released version 2.0 (named DeltaH) of gNewSense. For those not familiar with gNewSense, this is one of the few distributions certified by the Free Software Foundation as being a truly free Linux distribution...Here are a few screenshots from this latest release.

"A GNU/Linux computer operating system that contains only free software—software you are free to run, inspect, share, and modify—is out and ready for you to try on your ordinary PC (Intel or AMD-based computer)..."

I believe it is worth a special mention that gNewSense 2.0 has just been released. read more

Brian Brazil and the team behind the ultra-free gNewSense GNU/Linux distribution have released a beta of the forthcoming 2.0 (or Deltah) series. gNewSense is based on Ubuntu but strips the distribution of non-free components to provide users with a truly free operating system

"Brian Brazil has announced the first beta release of gNewSense 2.0, an Ubuntu-based distribution with the goal of strictly adhering to the software freedom ideals defined by Free Software Foundation: ..."

Mark Shuttleworth: "In the case of Launchpad, we do view you as a co-owner of the data, so the resolution of this problem is important to us. [...] Affero GPL is a strong candidate for the front line of thinking on the subject, and that's what I am inclined to use when we publish Launchpad's source code. [...] I do agree that Affero is a better option than the straightforward GPL. read more