Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
On Sun, Apr 08, 2007 at 07:44:13PM +0100, andy wrote:
Hello
I have, since installing Etch, been downloading packages with regard for
functionality and because I wanted that program, rather than focusing on
whether or not that package was non-free or free (with respect to the
Debian commitment to free software).
I am curious about the packages I currently have installed that aren't
free (I know about the w32codecs and the flashplayer-plugin, for
example). Is there a way of auditing this?
I would also point out that the Debian definition of free software isn't
necessarily authoritative. You are welcome to disagree and use a package
without any moral qualms (if you believe that using free software is
moral). For example, I do not agree with the exclusion of things like
fonts, firmware, and some other program data from main -- but the beauty
of Debian is that these things are still available to us even though the
project feels they aren't free. For example, the non-free Broadcom
wireless firmware was a few clicks away for me by simply installing the
bcm43xx-fwcutter package from contrib. Voila--instant wireless on my
PowerBook. Not 30 seconds after installing that package, my home
wireless network showed up in the NetworkManager icon. You don't even
have to search Google for the Windows driver. Now if they could only
figure out some way to do something similar for the Intel Centrino radios...
Andrew
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