[ Thanks to Jonathan
M. Prigot for this link. ]
“Say goodbye to shrink-wrapped software. That is, if Eazel Inc.
of Mountain View, Calif., has its way. Users of the Linux desktop
operating system were invited yesterday to download a trial version
of Eazel’s graphical user interface and, at the same time, get free
access to about 1,800 software programs, from games to instant
messaging tools.”
“Eazel also proposes to radically change the way people buy
and maintain software. Instead of going to stores to purchase
software, a user can buy the software online at www.eazel.com.
The program is then downloaded from the Internet and automatically
installed in the buyer’s computer.”
“Alternatively, users can pay monthly subscription fees for
access to the software they want, including all upgrades and
patches. When programs go haywire, Eazel technicians can
diagnose and fix software bugs remotely, over the Internet, without
the users having to unplug their machines and bring them to a
repair shop.”