CIO Today: Pssst... Free Linux! Only $799!

"How free is Linux? If your application vendor only supports one of the Red Hat enterprise editions and this obligates you to pay at least $799 for your first year, is it still free? More directly, under what circumstances is Linux at $1,295 free with your order for an IBM OpenPower eServer 9174-720E?

"In theory, of course, the answer is that you're not licensing Linux; in fact, you're not even getting an IBM operating system. You're getting a '1 year standard subscription and support license' from Red Hat, which you're then entitled to install on that IBM machine..."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• Editor's Note: Shaping the Debate(Feb 25, 2005)
• IT-Analysis: Open Source and Software Rental(Oct 14, 2004)
• ZDNet: Here's How Linux Gets to the Desktop(Jul 14, 2003)