Greetings.

I have been following several discussions regarding the Merced chip, and
certain NDAs that apparently accompany it.  At first, I was very
disappointed, and angered.  I thought "God, I am tired of these companies
bullying the freeware world around!"

Then I got the facts, and I am very glad that I didn't make any impetuous
posts regarding this issue.

Please, lets all try to have ALL of the story, before we post, lest we
spread FUD, and scare people away from freeware.  I have learned something
valuable here... I hope everyone else here has too.
--
Stephen S. Edwards II -- Support GNU... run UNIX... be happy.
http://www.**-**.com/ ~rakmount -- r a k m o u n t @primenet.remove.com
*** You have been kicked off of channel #sane (banned:  Welcome to hell!)
"Don't *WHAM* touch *WHAM* that! *WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*" -- Michael J. Peterson

On 19 Mar 1998 07:52:00 -0700, Stephen Edwards <ja207...@primenet.com> wrote:

What is the real scoop on Merced & NDA's?

: What is the real scoop on Merced & NDA's?

You can get much info at http://www.slashdot.org

Basically, the NDAs are only for while the chip is in development.  Once
it ships, the NDAs will be dropped.  Intel has already agreed to give the
FreeBSD team full access to their labs.
--
Stephen S. Edwards II -- Support GNU... run UNIX... be happy.
http://www.primenet.com/~rakmount -- r a k m o u n t @primenet.remove.com
*** You have been kicked off of channel #sane (banned:  Welcome to hell!)
"Don't *WHAM* touch *WHAM* that! *WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*" -- Michael J. Peterson

Indeed. I am the originator of the "No Merced for Linux!" thread. I posted
that with the intention of starting a discussion in which the facts would
be presented because I want to know how we are going to get our favorite OS
running on Merced.

--
Tracy Reed      http://www.ultraviolet.org
The idea that Bill Gates has appeared like a knight in shining armour to
lead all customers out of a mire of technological chaos neatly ignores the
fact that it was he who, by peddling second-rate technology, led them into
it in the first place. - Douglas Adams in Guardian, 25-Aug-95

Intel approached the FreeBSD folks, at least, and asked them if they'd
like info and use of test facilities/pre-release hardware.  This is
according to Jordan Hubbard, who used to call himself the president of
FreeBSD, Inc. so I'm pretty sure this is true.

Not as bleak a picture as has been painted recently,eh?

-Chris