[fab] slashdot rough draft

[Rahul]

Max Spevack wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006, Josh Boyer wrote:
> 
>> It might be worth pointing out some of the stuff Unbuntu will do that 
>> Fedora cannot given it's stance on things like MP3 support and binary 
>> modules.  They provide explicit instructions on how to install the 
>> necessary packages from official Unbuntu repositories.  They have a 
>> small statement as to why these aren't enabled by default, but that 
>> doesn't make much of a statement IMHO.
>>
>> So while it might "just work" in Unbuntu, it comes at a cost some are 
>> not willing to pay.  Basically, you can use it as a way to further 
>> impress upon the masses Fedora's commitment to FOSS.
> 
> Is there a place where Ubuntu actually lays out their official policy on 
> that stuff?  I wouldn't want to throw that part of an answer in without a 
> link.
> 
> --Max
>

Their wiki is full of information on non-free software including 
detailed instructions such as these despite stated philosophies on other 
pages

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto

Commercial (read non-free repository) 
http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/07/06/02/

Micheal Tiemann pointed out that Ubuntu is also distributing Nvidia 
drivers within their CD's despite their claims on only doing Free software

https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-advisory-board/2006-April/msg00170.html

Mark ShuttleWorth confirmed that they do and he denies that it is a GPL 
violation since they do dynamic linking in

http://meetings-archive.debian.net/pub/debian-meetings/2006/debconf6/theora-small/2006-05-15/tower/Ubuntu_annual_report-Mark_Shuttleworth.ogg

Debian too has a non-free repository which they deny is "officially" 
part of Debian.

When you refer to distributions having a common goal, its good to point 
out that our goals are not so common and Fedora has a much more stronger 
commitment to Free software (which the current work done by Spot is 
going to make more explicit and clean).


Rahul