jlc Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Well if any of our French speaking friends would like to transalte for us, I would appreciate what the jist of the article say's. http://www.clubic.com/ar/2369-1.html Please NO trickery! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MottS Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 From http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr Clubic.com: You made party of the initiators of the adventure Mandrake Linux, in 1998. Which was your objective at the time? At the beginning, my objective with Mandrake Linux was to propose a Linux system which is simple to configure and simple to use, mainly for a personal use. The idea was to propose a version of Linux with which one does not pass half of his time to configure the system. When then we created MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux grew rich much, especially on the level waiter use, according to the request which we felt. Henceforth one can say that Mandrake Linux is a solution at the same time waiter and working station, according to options' with which one installs it. It is what makes all its force. To give you an idea, the very first versions of Mandrake comprised approximately 600 software packages (a package can be a software or a library, or a localization for example). Version 9.2 is announced with more than 6000 packages! Clubic.com: Did you today, 5 years afterwards, change opinion? In 5 years, Mandrake Linux passed from a completely unknown version of Linux, with the one of 5 more known in the world, then the 4 others were already major versions in 1998. This with means often much lower than those of our competitors. During these 5 same years, there were hundreds, even thousands, Linux distributions which were created with very unequal successes at the very least. Thus in the Mandrake system there is well a "force" which meets a user's need. In addition one saw appearing office automation purely directed Linux systems, but despite everything we were never recognized so much for the accessibility to the product. In addition, I had the secrecy hope that Mandrake Linux can become a kind of pillier who would have supported a new strong dynamics of the data-processing sector in France and Europe. On this point there, that does not have for the moment be with the height of my hopes, North America representing a strong proportion of our sales turnover. Clubic.com: Linux - in a general way - gains shares of market on the professional market. Does Mandrake follow the same progression? There exists in this moment a true passion for Linux as an office automation station of travail/station on the market of the companies, and it is a historical positioning for us. Thus yes, we progress well in this field. Clubic.com: You has just made public Release Candidate 1 of the version Mandrake 9.2, which does she bring of nine? There A will be less "visible" changes in the 9.2 than in the two preceding versions. Nevertheless, we continued the improvements on the level of ergonomics, as well as multitude of small details. Obviously we will publish on the Web a page "innovations" at the time of the launching of Mandrake 9.2. Clubic.com: Do you think that today, Mandrake Linux is as powerful as Microsoft Windows? Less powerful in terms of shares of market, but certainly much more powerful in terms of robustness or safety for example. Clubic.com: Do you think that today, Mandrake Linux is as simple access as Microsoft Windows? One approaches some with great step, it is probable besides that the factor "simplicity of access" is not significant any more concerning the penetration of Linux, contrary applications available (in particular applications for the individual users). Clubic.com: With the recent viral attacks affecting the operating systems Windows, the fear of the data-processing faults is in the spirits. In parallel, your site of update against the bugs and the faults of safety - MandrakeUpdate - multiply alarms lately. Can one be really more serene with Linux like one so often says it? Under Linux, one becomes indeed less serene when one is victim of the general deceleration of Internet because of the propagations of virus, but also when one receives tens of messages per day which must with these viruses. But on the other hand, one becomes again very serene by thinking that all this is not likely any to put in danger its Linux system whereas the users of Windows dribble all of them, and more and more. It will never be said enough: a Linux system as Mandrake is strongly hierarchisé in its structure and its rights, with software layers which are quite independent. That constitutes a first rampart with the viruses. In addition there is no customer email under Linux which allows éxecuter an attachment. It is a basic rule in computer security, rule largely ignored by the Microsoft software. Lastly, Mandrake Linux historically is very strongly directed "safety", with levels of safety, alarms of safety, a firewall integrated etc. Clubic.com: You propose for the first time to pass by the Bittorent system for the remote loading, do you believe in these new methods of distribution via "legal" PeerToPeer? There is nothing illegal in the fact that two users exchange a free software or a piece of this software. It is exactly what occurs while using Bittorent. Clubic.com: Contrary to other distributions reserved to their customers "paying", one can download a fully functional and up to date version on Internet of the Linux distribution. Why this choice? The reason is simple: we think that the free software is better. Thus we let us accept of them the rules and we seek a model of business which functions with these rules - model that we found with the Mandrake Club. If we meanings not this model, then we would make software owner, and it would be rather wretched to re-use the work of hundreds of thousands of contributors without their returning the currency of their part, in the event a very complete and functional basic system. Notice that the two other most widespread Linux distributions with Mandrake are Red Hat and Debian which play the same rules of the game as us. To return from there to the Mandrake Club, it is a really powerful model which allows us "monnayer" our base important of users in the whole world. The Mandrake Club makes it possible to offer "even more" to those which pay. It is a step much more positive on all the levels than to offer less to those which do not pay. Clubic.com: Which are the benefit for the users? Which is the number of subscribers? There is at the present time more than 16 000 subscribers. The benefit are multiple: commercial (important handing-over on the MandrakeSoft products sold on MandrakeStore), access to various services as the remote loading of more than 50 000 packages software (of which commercial software that one finds only in the packs Mandrake), access in priority to documentation Mandrake (with a system allowing the users to enrich this Doc.) etc. The subscription also makes it possible to add directly to its Mandrake system the source of the software available on the Mandrake Club for an installation of only one click. Clubic.com: Which is the estimated share of market of the Mandrake distribution (and its derivative) within the Linux park? within the park of PC? Mandrake represents between 15 and 25% of the Linux distributions used in the world. Thus if one evaluates, like LinuxCounter.org does it, at 18 million the number of users of Linux, one arrives at an average figure for Mandrake of 3,6 million users. Expressed as a percentage total number of users or PC, that remains modest, but that has progressed continuously for 5 years. With peaks in certain fields as for the systems lodging a Web server. Clubic.com: Have figures on the number of free downloaded distributions? on the number of "Pack" Mandrake sold? on the number of "Pack" Mandrake sold on MandrakeStore? It is difficult for us to evaluate the number of free downloaded distributions, because we are obliged to use a system of mirroirs ftp to distribute our products. As for the sold numbers of packs, it is a figure which we cannot diffuse. The only important thing that one can say concerning the packs, it is that it has been a continual declining market for 3 years, all confused Linux distributions, obviously because of the explosion of access Internet high-flow. It is mainly for this reason that we must find a better model economic for the future. From where the Mandrake Club, which is in fact a service on line. Clubic.com: Today, Linux is in the center of a controversy: according to SCO, a part of the source code belongs to them and they claim royalties for each Linux installed. They propose to be put in rule - i.e. to pay the licence - quickly to avoid being continued thereafter. Which is the position of Mandrake on the subject? Does one have to pay this licence (699 USS before October 15 and 1399 USS after this date)? It is necessary to know that SCO, which according to what one can read currently connait economic difficulties, is train attacking IBM in justice on this business, all in their letting know that a private settlement can be found (i.e. if IBM is ready to pay). It is necessary to also know that IBM was intransigent with SCO and is attacking them in justice in return. In addition, Red Hat created a bottom of 1M$ to defend the interests of the free licences like the LPG and will also attack SCO. It is indeed unacceptable to undergo such a denigration campaign of Linux, and in particular on behalf of a company which had until very recently its own Linux distribution with a major part of components under free licence. In addition, SCO publicly did not always provide any proof of its allegations and much of analysts of the situation think that they will never provide any, préferrant to continue their gamble. In the passing, SCO even was until claiming to have the UNIX mark, which obviously was at once contradicted by Open Group, a group of UNIX editors including IBM, Sun, and HP... and which has this mark. It is interesting to also know that it is Open Group which defines the specifications of UNIX (Single UNIX Specification) and which certifies on this basis the operating systems UNIX, SCO having the rights only of the source code of an implementation of UNIX. The users of Linux should not thus be frightened by this denigration campaign of Linux of type "FUD" (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). Linux and the free software is a true basic wave which is supported by giants of the software industry, of which IBM, and by a community of users very important and dynamics that SCO has been just put at back. The continuation of Linux is thus guaranteed, contrary perhaps with that of technologies of its detractors. Clubic.com: More generally, regard you to them bills concerning the patentability of the software as a danger? Yes it is a true danger, not only for the actors of the Linux world. For example, in the USA one can patent all and anything. Blow one attends requests for raçon, finally... with lawsuits, completely surrealist, because of patents like that on the hyperlinks, held by British Telecom, and well of other lawsuits of this kind. If one agrees to patent the software in Europe, does the least idea will become patentable, one wish that? As SME of the data-processing sector, MandrakeSoft does not wish it, as a citizen Européen I do not wish it. Moreover it is necessary to be quite conscious that the patents are a manner for the large actors of industry of crushing the emerging actors who do not have the means of depositing patents contrary to the large companies which make the race with the dépot. Many analysts thus underlined the economic nonsense of these practices, and the fact that they are an obstacle with the creation of richness and thus with the growth. Clubic.com: One sees multiplying on the market of the Linux distributions at the giants of data processing. For example, Sun proposes a distribution Sun Linux for its new entry of range PC, developed on a Suse basis, in more of the Redhat solution for its waiters x86. Novel for its part repurchased the editor OpenSource Ximian, launched by Miguel de Icaza, developer at the origin of Gnome and Mono, the free software equivalent of the net of Microsoft. And of course IBM which presents Linux today as an attacker of choice to take up the challenges of the E-business (rappellez you to it publicity on a stage of tennis shoe). What think of this passion for the free software? Do you develop partnerships with such giants? Concerning Sun Microsystems, they offered before a distribution based on Red Hat, and they develop their own distribution now. For the remainder it is true that Linux is an important movement in data-processing industry, to which much seek to join, and in particular IBM which directs its strategy around Linux more and more. Concerning MandrakeSoft, we obviously develop to the maximum the partnerships with giants like HP, INTEL, AMD... But for the moment one can still wonder which form that will take. Will the traditional actors absorb the small ones or the small ones will end up competing with the large ones? Clubic.com: At the beginning of the year, MandrakeSoft which directs the development and distributes the versions in pack was put in suspension of payment. You had then launched a call with solidarity. What happenhappen does today? Following excés of the "mad years", MandrakeSoft indeed had to be placed in legal rectification to protect itself from its creditors. We obtained a first period of observation which has been just renouvellée jusq' at at the beginning of 2004. In same time we had to restructure the company in an important way, "to reduce the aerofoil" while waiting for better days. Clubic.com: Let us speak about future: Data-processing industry is directed today towards mobility: Where is one standard installation of new in the Mandrake distributions: Wifi, Bluetooth? After the SPV developed by Orange and Microsoft, one comes to see appearing of Smartphone (portable telephone equipped like PDA) equipped with an alternative with the distribution MontaVista Linux (Motorola A760). Also work on this market? Which are the other projects of Mandrake in this field? Mandrake Linux is more a solution of infrastructure and equipment, and we do not have like project for the moment to direct us towards the market of the portables/PDA. It is a very particular field and the business-model for Linux in term of product is very vague there since one overflows of the transfer of competences. Nevertheless our products support since several versions the materials making it possible to make of WiFi and of Bluetooth because these technologies develop as well within the framework of a personal use in company. Clubic.com: Put besides are those developed by the teams Mandrake Linux, which according to you the software projects most promising? Next projects of MandrakeSoft: -) A few months after the exit of Mandrake 9.2, go for a very innovative project. Clubic.com: Many are the users to see in Mozilla a serious challenger with Internet Exploring but an important brake with its development east can be also its too scrupulous respect of the standards with the result that certain sites (badly developed) are posted badly. Do not think not that the developers of Mozilla (and more generally the community Open Source) should show a little less rigidity (to make some concessions) in order to take shares of market (it is easier to impose choices when one is in position of force that the reverse)? It was perhaps true undoubtedly still two years ago, but at the present time, Mozilla is a navigator who exceeds probably Internet To explore in term of quality and functionalities, and it does not have there more problems of incompatibilities - I use it daily, therefore I say that in any frankness to you: -) Konqueror, which is the navigator Web by defect in graphic environment KDE, is also a very mature navigator Web, he was recently adopted besides by APPLE. (Note of the drafting: We tried to use Mozilla at "full time", and we confirm that there are still problems of compatibility...) Clubic.com: What could be able of to better help the free software today? That the software publishers start to carry all massively their software for Linux. There is considerable waiting on side there on behalf of the users who wish to pass to Linux as quickly as possible. Which are the Internet sites which you frequently visit? On a purely professional basis, the Mandrake sites, obviously: -) For the remainder I consult a quantity of Linux sites daily, and in particular Slashdot.org and LinuxFR.org. On a purely personal basis, it is often LeMonde.fr. And Obviously, Google. Thank you for these answers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ixthusdan Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 :lol: How about a real translation? Anyone? I get the jist of most of it, but my own laughter is a little distracting! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoopy Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 :mystilol: Sorta sounds like the distro I have installed: "confused Linux distributions" and "waiter and working station" with apache "lodged" in my box. Next projects of MandrakeSoft: -) A few months after the exit of Mandrake 9.2, go for a very innovative project. But until a better translation comes along, thanks CybrJ and Motts, the above statement looks promising. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlc Posted September 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 :mystilol: Sorta sounds like the distro I have installed: "confused Linux distributions" and "waiter and working station" with apache "lodged" in my box. Next projects of MandrakeSoft: -) A few months after the exit of Mandrake 9.2, go for a very innovative project. But until a better translation comes along, thanks CybrJ and Motts, the above statement looks promising. :D It's "cybrjackle" all lower case and spelled out. :mystilol: j/k :lol: It does make me wonder, what is going to be "inovative"?? Why leave us hanging man, let the cat out of the bad already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ixthusdan Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Maybe he means "marketing"? :wink: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmpatrick Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 I hope "inovative" != dumb adds :lol: But why beat that dead horse again. :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoopy Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Maybe he means "marketing"? Now that would BE innovative for Mandrake. But I would guess they want to do something special for Mandrake "X" Just hope its not too innovative and causes me to be stuck with 9.2 for years to come (much like what MAC has done to us at work... we need to stick with OS 8.6 due to compatibility reasons) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowator Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 OK, quick glance... serveur (a male waiter or barman etc) I'd ahem read as SERVER. I might get the chance to read through later :D Perhaps someone with better French and English :D would do a better job though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Ok. automatic translation are getting better but not perfect yet. There is several here able to translate that and we don't have to do all the same job. So as I'm the least qualified ( my spelling is horrible ) and as I have no time today to translate everything I start from the end ! :shock: lets go .... Clubic.com: Many are the users to see in Mozilla a serious challenger with Internet Explorer but its development is perhaps also slowed down by its too scrupulous respect of the standards with the result that certain sites (badly developed) are badly displayed. Don't you think that the Mozilla developers (and more generally the Open Source community) should show a little less rigidity (make some concessions) in order to take more market shares (it is easier to impose choices when one is in position of force that the reverse)? It was perhaps undoubtedly true two years ago, but at the present time, Mozilla is a browser witch probably exceeds Internet Explorer in term of quality and functionalities, and it does not have incompatibilities problems any more - I use it daily, therefore I say you that very frankly :-) Konqueror, which is the default web browser in KDE graphic environment, is also a very mature web browser, it had recently been adopted by APPLE. (Note of the editor: We tried to use Mozilla at "full time", and we confirm that there are still problems of compatibility...) Clubic.com: What best can happen to help free software today? That the software publishers start to massively port all their software to Linux. There is considerable waiting on this matter from the users who wish to switch to Linux as quickly as possible. Which are the Internet sites which you frequently visit? On a purely professional basis, the Mandrake sites, obviously: -) For the remainder I consult a quantity of Linux sites daily, and in particular Slashdot.org and LinuxFR.org. On a purely personal basis, it is often LeMonde.fr. And Obviously, Google. Thank you for these answers Okay I sweat to do only that, hope its not ridiculous. Please if it is useless don't hesitate to tell me so I don't wast my time. Thanks roland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYinYeti Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Please DELETE (errr, this is not an answer to any previous post! I mean: detele this post, my post, not another one)(delete this one, not my next post, OK? no bad joke :lol: ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowator Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 From http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr I just edited this....don't expect Miracles... Clubic.com: You have shared with At the beginning' date=' my objective with Mandrake Linux was to propose a Linux system which is simple to configure and simple to use, mainly for a personal use. The idea was to propose a version of Linux with which one does not pass half of his time to configure the system. When then we created MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux grew rich much, especially on the server which we felt. (note not strictly exact but the meaning is better) Henceforth one can say that Mandrake Linux is a solution at the same time server and workstation, according to options' with which one installs it. It is what makes all its stength. To give you an idea, the very first versions of Mandrake comprised approximately 600 software packages (a package can be a software or a library, or a localization for example). Version 9.2 is announced with more than 6000 packages! Clubic.com: Did you today, 5 years afterwards, change opinion? In 5 years, Mandrake Linux passed from a completely unknown version of Linux, with the one of 5 more known in the world, then the 4 others were already major versions in 1998. This with means often much lower than those of our competitors. During these 5 same years, there were hundreds, even thousands, Linux distributions which were created with very unequal successes at the very least. Thus in the Mandrake system there is a "force" which meets a user's need. In addition one saw appearing office packages purely directed Linux systems, but despite everything we were never recognized so much for the accessibility to the product. In addition, I had a secrecy suscpicion that Mandrake Linux can become a kind of piller which would have supported a new strong dynamics of the data-processing sector in France and Europe. On this point there, that does not have for the moment be with the height of my hopes, North America representing a strong proportion of our sales turnover. Clubic.com: Linux - in a general way - gains marketshare of the professional market. Does Mandrake follow the same direction? There exists in this moment a true passion for Linux as an office PC or workstation on the market of the companies, and it is a historical positioning for us. Thus yes, we progress well in this field. Clubic.com: You has just made public Release Candidate 1 of the version Mandrake 9.2, which does she bring of NEW There will be little "visible"(cosmetic??) changes in the 9.2 than in the two preceding versions. Nevertheless, we continued the improvements on the level of ergonomics, as well as multitude of small details. Obviously we will publish on the Web a page of "new features" at the time of the launching of Mandrake 9.2. Clubic.com: Do you think that today, Mandrake Linux is as powerful as Microsoft Windows? Less powerful in terms of shares of market, but certainly much more powerful in terms of robustness or security for example. Clubic.com: Do you think that today, Mandrake Linux is as simple access as Microsoft Windows? One approaches some with great step, it is probable besides that the "simplicity of access" factor is not significant any more concerning the penetration of Linux, contrary to the number of applications available (in particular applications for the individual users). Clubic.com: With the recent viral attacks affecting the Windows operating systems, the fear of the data-processing problems is in the spirits. In parallel, your site of updates against the bugs and security exploits - MandrakeUpdate - increases the alarm lately. Can one be really more relaxed with Linux like one so often says ? Under Linux, one becomes indeed less relaxed when one is victim of the general deceleration of Internet because of the propagations of viri, but also when one receives tens of messages per day (which must contain viruses). But on the other hand, one becomes again very serene by thinking that all this is not likely any to put in danger its Linux system whereas the users of Windows dribble all of them, and more and more. It will never be said enough: a Linux system as Mandrake is strongly hierarchial in its structure and its rights, with software layers which are quite independent. That constitutes a first defense againt the viruses. In addition there is no email client under Linux which allows running an attachment. It is a basic rule in computer security, rule largely ignored by the Microsoft software. Lastly, Mandrake Linux historically is very strongly directed "security", with levels of security, alarms of security, a firewall integrated etc. Clubic.com: You propose for the first time to use the Bittorent system for the remote loading, do you believe in these new methods of distribution via "legal" PeerToPeer? There is nothing illegal in the fact that two users exchange free software or a piece of this software. It is exactly what occurs while using Bittorent. Clubic.com: Contrary to other distributions reserved for their "paying" customers , one can download a fully functional and up to date version on Internet of the Linux distribution. Why this choice? The reason is simple: we think that the free software is better. Thus we allow ourselves to accept of these rules and we seek a business model which functions with these rules - a model that we found with the Mandrake Club. If we don't accept this model, then we would make software owner, and it would be rather unethical to re-use the work of hundreds of thousands of contributors without their returning the moneyof their share, [of] in the event a very complete and functional basic system. Notice that the two other most widespread Linux distributions with Mandrake are Red Hat and Debian which play the same rules of the game as us. To return from there to the Mandrake Club, it is a really powerful model which allows us "monnayer" (sorry no time for dictionary but I think it means amoritize or such) our important base of users in the whole world. The Mandrake Club makes it possible to offer "even more" to those which pay. It is a step much more positive on all the levels than to offer less to those which do not pay. (This translates badly, its quite clever in French but !!) Clubic.com: Which are the benefits for the users? What is the number of subscribers? There is at the present time more than 16 000 subscribers. The benefits are multiple: commercial (important handing-over on the MandrakeSoft products sold on MandrakeStore), access to various services as the remote loading of more than 50 000 packages software (of which commercial software that one finds only in the packs Mandrake), access in priority to documentation Mandrake (with a system allowing the users to enrich this Doc.) etc. The subscription also makes it possible to add directly to its Mandrake system the source of the software available on the Mandrake Club for an installation of only one click. Clubic.com: Which is the estimated share of market of the Mandrake distribution (and its derivatives) within the Linux park? within the park of PC? Mandrake represents between 15 and 25% of the Linux distributions used in the world. Thus if one evaluates, like LinuxCounter.org does it, at 18 million the number of users of Linux, one arrives at an average figure for Mandrake of 3,6 million users. Expressed as a percentage total number of users or PC, that remains modest, but that has progressed continuously for 5 years. With peaks in certain fields as for the systems lodging a Web server. Clubic.com: Have figures on the number of free downloaded distributions? on the number of "Pack" Mandrake sold? on the number of "Pack" Mandrake sold on MandrakeStore? It is difficult for us to evaluate the number of free downloaded distributions, because we are obliged to use a system of mirroirs ftp to distribute our products. As for the sold numbers of packs, it is a figure which we cannot make available. The only important thing that one can say concerning the packs, it is that it has been a continual declining market for 3 years, all confused Linux distributions, obviously because of the explosion of access Internet high-flow. It is mainly for this reason that we must find a better model economic for the future. From where the Mandrake Club, which is in fact a service on line. Clubic.com: Today, Linux is in the center of a controversy: according to SCO, a part of the source code belongs to them and they claim royalties for each Linux installed. They propose to be put in rule - i.e. to pay the licence - quickly to avoid being continued thereafter. Which is the position of Mandrake on the subject? Does one have to pay this licence (699 USS before October 15 and 1399 USS after this date)? It is necessary to know that SCO, which according to what one can read currently knows economic difficulties, is attacking IBM in law on this business, all in their letting know that a private settlement can be found (i.e. if IBM is ready to pay). It is necessary to also know that IBM was intrangient with SCO and is attacking them in justice in return. In addition, Red Hat created a base of 1M$ to defend the interests of the free licences like the LPG and will also attack SCO. It is indeed unacceptable to undergo such a slur?? campaign of Linux, and in particular on behalf of a company which had until very recently its own Linux distribution with a major part of components under free licence. In addition, SCO publicly did not always provide any proof of its allegations and much of analysts of the situation think that they will never provide any, prefering to continue their gamble. In the past, SCO even claiming to have the UNIX trademark, which obviously was at once contradicted by Open Group, a group of UNIX editors including IBM, Sun, and HP... and which owns this trademark. It is interesting to also know that it is Open Group which defines the specifications of UNIX (Single UNIX Specification) and which certifies on this basis the operating systems UNIX, SCO having the rights only of the source code of an implementation of UNIX. The users of Linux should not thus be frightened by this slur campaign against Linux of "FUD" (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). Linux and the free software is a true basic wave which is supported by giants of the software industry, of which IBM, and by a community of users very important and dynamics that SCO has been just put at back. The continuation of Linux is thus guaranteed, contrary perhaps with that of technologies of its detractors. Clubic.com: More generally, what do you think of bills concerning the patentability of the software; as a danger? Yes it is a true danger, not only for the actors of the Linux world. For example, in the USA one can patent all and anything. the first round waits for requests for reason, finally... with lawsuits, completely surrealist, because of patents like that on the hyperlinks, held by British Telecom, as well as other lawsuits of this kind. If one agrees to patent the software in Europe, does the smallest idea will become patentable, does one wish that? As SME of the IT sector, MandrakeSoft does not wish it, as a citizen European I do not wish it. Moreover it is necessary to be quite conscious that the patents are a manner for the large actors of industry of crushing the emerging actors who do not have the means of depositing patents contrary to the large companies which make the race with the dépot. Many analysts thus underlined the economic nonsense of these practices, and the fact that they are an obstacle with the creation of richness and thus with the growth. Clubic.com: One sees multiplying on the market of the Linux distributions at the giants of data processing. For example, Sun proposes a distribution Sun Linux for its new entry of range PC, developed on a Suse basis, in more of the Redhat solution for its servers x86. Novel for its part repurchased the editor OpenSource Ximian, launched by Miguel de Icaza, developer at the origin of Gnome and Mono, the free software equivalent of the .net of Microsoft. And of course IBM which presents Linux today as an attacker of choice to take up the challenges of the E-business (do you to 'call-back' advertsing in a baseball stadium). What think of this passion for the free software? Do you develop partnerships with such giants? Concerning Sun Microsystems, they offered before a distribution based on Red Hat, and they develop their own distribution now. For the remainder it is true that Linux is an important movement in IT industry, to which many seek to join, and in particular IBM which increasingly directs its strategy around Linux. Concerning MandrakeSoft, we obviously develop to the maximum the partnerships with giants like HP, INTEL, AMD... But for the moment one can still wonder which form that will take. Will the traditional actors absorb the small ones or the small ones will end up competing with the large ones? Clubic.com: At the beginning of the year, MandrakeSoft which directs the development and distributes the packaged versions was put in suspension of payment. You had then launched a call with solidarity. What happened, what's happening today? Following excess of the "crazy years", MandrakeSoft indeed had to be placed in legal rectification to protect itself from its creditors. We obtained a first period of observation which has been just renewed just until the beginning of 2004. In same time we had to restructure the company in an important way, "to reduce the profile while waiting for better days. Clubic.com: Let us speak about future: Data-processing industry is directed today towards mobility: Where is one standard installation of new in the Mandrake distributions: Wifi, Bluetooth? After the SPV developed by Orange and Microsoft, one comes to see appearing of Smartphone (portable telephone equipped like PDA) equipped with an alternative with the distribution MontaVista Linux (Motorola A760). Also work on this market? Which are the other projects of Mandrake in this field? Mandrake Linux is more a solution of infrastructure and equipment, and we do not have like project for the moment to direct us towards the market of the portables/PDA. It is a very particular field and the business-model for Linux in term of product is very vague there since one overflows of the transfer of competences. Nevertheless our products support since several versions the materials making it possible to make of WiFi and of Bluetooth because these technologies develop as well within the framework of a personal use in company. Clubic.com: Put besides are those developed by the teams Mandrake Linux, which according to you the software projects most promising? Next projects of MandrakeSoft: -) A few months after the exit of Mandrake 9.2, go for a very innovative project. Clubic.com: Numerous people look to Mozilla a serious challenger to Internet Explorer but an important brake to its development is to be also its too scrupulous respect of the standards with the result that certain sites (badly developed) are posted badly. Do not think not that the developers of Mozilla (and more generally the community Open Source) should show a little less rigidity (to make some concessions) in order to take shares of market (it is easier to impose choices when one is in position of force that the reverse)? It was perhaps true undoubtedly still two years ago, but at the present time, Mozilla is a navigator who exceeds probably Internet Explorer To explore in term of quality and functionalities, and it does not have any-more problems of incompatibilities - I use it daily, therefore I say that in any frankness to you: -) Konqueror, which is the navigator Web by defect in graphic environment KDE, is also a very mature navigator Web, it was recently adopted besides by APPLE. (Note of the drafting: We tried to use Mozilla at "full time", and we confirm that there are still problems of compatibility...) Clubic.com: What could be able of to better help the free software today? That the software publishers start to carry all massively their software for Linux. There is considerable waiting on side there on behalf of the users who wish to pass to Linux as quickly as possible. Which are the Internet sites which you frequently visit? On a purely professional basis, the Mandrake sites, obviously: -) For the remainder I consult a quantity of Linux sites daily, and in particular Slashdot.org and LinuxFR.org. On a purely personal basis, it is often LeMonde.fr. And Obviously, Google. (nore by me: hmmm he could do with visiting mandrakeusers.org!) Thank you for these answers[/quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Here some more, still from the end to the beginning Clubic.com: At the beginning of the year, MandrakeSoft which directs the development and distributes the pack versions was put in suspension of payment. You had then called for solidarity. What's up [(WAZZZZUP ! ;-) )] today? Right, following the exces of the "mad years", MandrakeSoft had to be placed in "legal rectification" [can't translate this sorry] to protect itself from its creditors. We obtained a first period of observation which has been just renewed to the beginning of 2004. In the same time we had to heavily restructure the company, "to reduce sail" [ french expression: from sailing: reduce the amount of sail on a ship when there is a storm ] while waiting for better days. Clubic.com: Let us speak about future: Data-processing industry is directed today towards mobility: What about the Mandrake distributions's support of the new standards: Wifi, Bluetooth? After the SPV [?? don't know SPV ??] developed by Orange and Microsoft [(Orange = a leading french mobile phone companie)], some Smartphone (mobile phone equipped like PDA) are appearing equipped with a MontaVista Linux distribution variant (Motorola A760). Do you also work on this market? Which are the other projects of Mandrake in this field? Mandrake Linux is more an infrastructure and equipment solution, and we do not currently plan to go to the market of the mobiles/PDA. It is a very particular field and the business-model for Linux in term of product is very vague as soon as it is more than know how transfert. Nevertheless our products, since several versions, support the WiFi and Bluetooth hardware, since these technologies are spreading on personal use and professionnal use as well. Clubic.com: Except those developed by Mandrake Linux team, which are according to you the most promising software projects ? Next MandrakeSoft projects :-) A few months after the Mandrake 9.2 had been release, lets meet again for a very innovative project. Still ok ? Yin Yeti where are you ? roland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYinYeti Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Yin Yeti where are you ?I was taking my lunch. As you know, it's 1:42PM in France. I'm back now. I'll go on editing my previous post. Yves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowator Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Hey, can't work out if I can multi pm or not... Yves wrote A little too complicated I think. I see that Roland has begun translating from the end. I began from the beginning, and I'm lucky enough to have some spare time today at work, so at the pace we're going, we'll be done soon, by the two of us. I'm just now going to edit my post to add still another part of the translation. Thanks for writing. If Pierre is willing to help though, we'll both be very happy to have his review for translating errors, or bad writings... Hmmm I think Pierre speaks better English than me! Donc, je pense Yves a suggéré une bonne direction. Si vous avez une question spécifique d’Anglais n’hésite pas de pm ou utilise mon <<émail>>. (je refuse d’utilise le mot <<couriel>>) C’était écrire avec un humour certain et la traduction simple n’sont suffis pas d’envoyer-les subtilité. On dit en Anglais <<reading between the lines>> Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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