Re: Linux 2.4 before 2001?

[Mike A. Harris]

On Wed, 5 Jan 2000, Peter Svensson wrote:

>> >The main reason comercial companies dont announce projected release dates
>> >is to not hurt sales of the older release. For this very reason I like the
>> 
>> That is one reason that they do it I suppose, but also to not
>> have vaporware products give them a bad image.
>
>That really doesn't amount to much, trust me. Usually one uses
>preannouncing as a way to block competitors. The bad-image phenomenon is
>usually discarded by most pr-people.

Allright, I guess I can buy that...

>> The kernel is a different cookie though.  I don't see how
>> projected release dates help one usefully choose a technology
>> with which to go with if the release dates are consistently
>> pushed ahead and delayed.
>> 
>> In order for release dates to be remotely useful for any purpose,
>> they need to be fairly accurate within a small time frame
>
>No, not really. They are goals and are useful as such. Those of us using
>linux at work in larger installations really appreceiate any help we can
>get planning the future. We use the goal-dates as a sort of minimum
>time frame. "The new kernel will probably not be in  a stable release
>before xxxx-xx-xx". 

Ok, I can also buy that too..   Then it would be nice if the
announcements that go out would read "no sooner than xxxx..."
Rather than "aimed for".

Ok... I'm done my minor pick of nits.  ;o)  Everybody get back to
bugfixing...  ;o)

--
Mike A. Harris                                     Linux advocate     
Computer Consultant                                  GNU advocate  
Capslock Consulting                          Open Source advocate

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