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Open Letter from SSC President to The SCO Group

Aug 21, 2003  By Phil Hughes
 in
If SCO wants to bring a Linux user to court, Phil Hughes says SCO knows where to find us.

Dear SCO Folks:

Being on your press release list, I regularly receive your musings. The fact that they first appear to be legal in nature but actually come from a PR firm amuses me.

That said, on to the important stuff. I would like to inform you that SSC is a Linux user--a long-term Linux user. In fact, we upgraded from SCO UNIX to Linux about ten years ago.

SSC President Phil Hughes, who upgraded from SCO UNIX to Linux ten years ago, at the 1998 Future of Linux conference. Photo: Jim Howell, Linux Gazette

Some other amusing data points from along our road to Linux use include:

  • I interviewed Brian Sparks of Caldera years ago. We agreed that the only reason Caldera had a product was because SCO hadn't put Linux in a grey and yellow box with its name on it.

  • Technical support on Linux always has been better than it is on SCO Xenix or UNIX. We actually get quick answers from the people that know whenever we have had a problem.

  • Today, there is a Linux system on everyone's desk at SSC as well as Linux-based servers in the office and our web servers in Costa Rica.

  • SCO FUD has made for great entertainment, interspersed with articles about governments around the world embracing Linux on our new WorldWatch Web site.

So, why this letter? Well, I would like to make it easier for you folks to know where to find another Linux user if you still are running your protection racket. The office address for SSC is in your copy of Linux Journal (I know there are people at SCO that get Linux Journal).

Finally, this letter is being written on one of my Linux systems. There are six others here. Send your lawyers to Calle Paula, 100m este, Carretera Alajuela a Carrizal, Alajuela, Costa Rica. I will be happy to give them a quick introduction to Linux.

Phil Hughes, PresidentSpecialized Systems Consultants, Inc.phil@ssc.com

Phil Hughes is the publisher of Linux Journal.

email: phil@ssc.com

______________________

Phil Hughes

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Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

To be perfectly honest, this is my response to SCO about this whole thing:

#include "666.h"

void main (void)
{
goto (Hell) ;
}

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

THartman's picture
Submitted by THartman (not verified) on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Okay, I'm not as big on Linux as I could be... I still regularly use Windows because of toolset availability. But hey... when I saw this letter, I decided it was time to get my one-ear subscription too.

-T

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

But hey... when I saw this letter, I decided it was time to get my one-ear subscription too.

What, are you Van-Gogh or something? LJ must be an amazing mag at those prices...

* ducking for cover *

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/25/2003 - 02:00.

"What, are you Van-Gogh or something? LJ must be an amazing mag at those prices..."

There is a joke about "SUN-flowers" in there somewhere......
(http://art.koti.com.pl/vangogh/gogh20.html)

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

rsradvan's picture
Submitted by rsradvan (not verified) on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

A fitting touch -- truly the keyboard is mighter than the sword. This is not the only case involving smaller companies turning their backs against Microsoft. Recently, CNET had an article posted on 20-Aug-2003 about a slightly larger company, Ernie Ball, about this very thing.

Here's the URL:
http://news.com.com/2008-1082-5065859.html

I have worked with UNIX/Linux for over 24 years and have always encouraged the use of Open Systems Architecture. These postings leave me with a "warm 'n fuzzy" feeling about the future of Linux.

On a different note, I have seen other companies attempt their "world domination" strategy before, and they have all "crashed and burned" -- SCO simply is attempting to extort money from companies, thereby putting Linux into a bad light. And who's funding this endeavor? Microsoft.

Yet another reason to switch over to Linux.

Power to the people (and to open source architectures)!

-r

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Just subscribed myself.

I consider it a donation to the "Kick SCO in the ass and get a great magazine to boot" fund! :)

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/23/2003 - 02:00.

I subscribed, as well. I'm 100% in favor of kicking SCO in the mouth/ass. Lead on, General!

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Thank you! I just renewed my subscription to LJ!!!

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

I'm a subscriber to your magazine, and I must say that it is a top rate publification. I congratulate you on your bold declaration against SCO. I too am a linux user and if they want to sue me, go right ahead! :)

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Well well... I had too reward you... I subscribed!!!!!

Thanks!

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

ScienceMan's picture
Submitted by ScienceMan (not verified) on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

I'm doing better than that -- I'm subscribing!!

Thanks for your stand, much appreciated and the right thing to do.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/25/2003 - 02:00.

I'm doing better than that -- I'm subscribing!!

I don't think you'll be disappointed... LJ is a fine magazine; one of the few computer magazines out there that isn't full of reviews for multipurpose fax printers and the latest $29 Windows file-finder utility.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

ScienceMan's picture
Submitted by ScienceMan (not verified) on Sun, 11/02/2003 - 03:00.

Had seen it before at work but now have my own copies arriving regularly... am very happy with the magazine and its technical focus so far. In fact, I've used something out of every issue I've read, sometimes to very good advantage.

Keep up the good work.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Phil, you are my hero...

I completely enjoyed your open letter to SCO. I must say I particularly like you terming SCO's tactics as a "protection racket"... finally, someone calling it what it is.

We use an embedded real-time linux OS in our platform, so I have been following the SCO-Linux-IBM controversy with increasing intrest over the past 4 months... it's GREAT to see brave souls like yourself standing up to them.

Fight the good fight...

Mike S.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Just too kewl for words.

Thank you for your stand. Just to let you know, I was one of the people who signed the 'SCO, sue me' petition.

You can find me as WhiteFang. I post regularly on VarLinux.org.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Linus that is...

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Wow! You are in Costa Rica? May I work for you...

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

Well done Sir. I am with you.

Antonio Ferraro from Belgium

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

C'mon Mr. McBride, you can't switch jobs yet! You have to finish up your term at SCO first.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

Just blew away my DNS server (Caldera eServer 2.3 - Licensed) and rebuilt it with Red Hat 9.0.

SCO should file for Chapter 11 now.

John Fergus
Bendigo Vic
Australia

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

So the real question is, can you tell the difference between Compsognathus and Daryl McBride/Ray Norda?

Yes

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

One is a tiny, extinct predator/scavenger.

The other is a breed of dinosaur from the very late Jurassic period (Tithonian age).

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

It's nice to see people standing up to let these people know they are full of *****. I think it's even funnier that SCO made the news with headlines like "SCO releases evidence" and then backtracks to say it's evidence to something different when Linux comes out of the woodwork to say "they're smoking crack".... LMFAO. I'm a microsoft guy, but I downloaded linux this morning. Thanks guys.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

"I'm a microsoft guy, but I downloaded linux this morning"
--That's the best news I've heard all day. Enjoy

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Yes, I am in Costa Rica. Have been for almost two years. Armed with the Internet (and Linux, of course) you can be pretty portable. Moved our web hosting here a few months ag. You can send your resumes to phil@ssc.com.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

I love Costa Rica! Wonderful people! I spent six weeks visiting in 1995. Gotta better my Spanish before I go back.

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

jwiggs's picture
Submitted by jwiggs (not verified) on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

I think Phil is having them on a bit, here. At least as recently as a
few years ago, SSC was located in the Seattle area, in the north end
of Ballard. The Seattle LUG used to meet at a little Greek restaurant
a few doors up the street from LJ's offices, before the LUG got too big
for the place. I remember the last time I attended at that location was
the same month that dipstick Della Croce was claiming to own the
Linux trademark...

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/22/2003 - 02:00.

It's called an offshore tax haven...

Re: Open Letter From SSC President to The SCO Group

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/21/2003 - 02:00.

Prediction: in 2007, the IT analyst firm of Della Croce and McBride will put out a report entitled "Linux Still Not Ready for the Enterprise". Text of the report will infringe a Gartner Group copyright, and the case will receive major coverage in the mainstream IT media. In the time it takes to read the report, 45,000 people will receive LPI certification

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