Linux isn’t proprietary, but the distros sure can be. Red Hat.
I use Xubuntu 11.04 myself. Extremely stable and I love XFCE user interface.
Linux was never meant for this.
I was a Slacker from 4.6 to 13.1 and this just isn't right by any definition. Maybe Patrick can sue AARP?
A phb-ette at an support facility that I worked at and under her (nightmarish experience) told me that I needed to get a license to use Knoppix live discs. This was an experienced and knowlegeable admin. She was also lying, duplicitous, and ugly down to the bone.
I used Knoppix as a data recovery tool when Windoze blew out and to test hardware when Windoze had problems to rule out the hardware. 95% it was Xtra Pathetic.
Another jerk IT manager at certain large electronics companty based in St. Louis who didn’t care for me since he couldn’t lie to me said he would never approve of open office use. He said there was a charge for it but would not approve 8 copies of office for east coast facility people.
We had to share one or two that had office. The loons from St Louis would scream and complain about why things took so long. It was explained more than once on the phone, over live on line meetings with cameras, and more than one visit by senior managment.
They said they would get that changed. They never did and acted like their inspection visits never happened.
Where I am now is a sensibly run place from my viewpoint. Linux is used by some developers. I am a hardware person among other things and use Ubuntu live a lot.