[KLUG Members] Re: My suggestion on organizing binary CDs for x86 chip-specific optimizations

[members@kalamazoolinux.org]

>>You're correct.  I honestly believe that Redhat doesn't care about the
>>money from CD sales of their base distribution.  Why else would they put

True,  but I'll wager they do care about controlling the *cost* of CD
production, maint, etc...

>>ISO images of new releases on their ftp site days before you can order
>>the product?  They have to be focusing on income from support and
>>enterprise products.
>You are correct!  And, at the same time, RedHat is a GPL-anal company. 

Say that to a Debian user... :)

>This means that anything they find themselves doing for
>support/enterprise customers, they usually add to the general
>distribution.  

Which I very much appreciate, Go RedHat!

>Such is the case with all the new and different
>pre-compiled kernels you see in the latest distros.  Such will be the
>case with x86-64.
>So I'm trying to suggest a new path to accomodate these better _before_
>CD #1 becomes little more than the installer and just kernel RPMs.  ;-P

And it is a good idea.  Have a "platform specific" CD the installer asks for if
it thinks the user might benefit, otherwise skip it.  Maybe the installer could
ask if the user HAS the platform CD, and RedHat wouldn't have to produce ship it
at all in the base distro.  But make it available for additional fee or free
download.  Hey, we should all apply for jobs at RedHat! :)

Any word if RedHat is going to come out with a DVD install media like AIX has? 
Single disk, very nice.