[Guest]

FLASH: Mandrake Linux 9.0 - How you can give back.

As has been widely reported, Mandrake Linux 9.0 is now available as a free download from many Internet locations. MandrakeSoft is proud to continue the Open Source tradition of releasing the distribution immediately upon completion of development -- approximately one month in advance of retail pack availability, and in easy to use ISO images. But as you know, producing a Linux distribution represents a huge investment in research & development which carries a high price tag.

This is where you come in. If you understand the huge effort involved in producing a Linux distribution, and if you value the efforts of your favorite Linux software company, make a valuable contribution today by:

* Joining the Mandrake Linux Users Club.
Club membership directly funds Mandrake development while also
providing
special privileges and valuable offers to members:

Just got this in an email from Linux Mandrake...............

 

[TheTechIsIn]

Redhat does a simlillar thing, they dont allow you to download system updates automaticly unless your a redhat member ($39 dollars yearly if you FTP-ed an ISO)or if you bought the package at the store ($79 @ CompUsa) its free. You can still download and install the updates manually but its a pain.

I guess they need to pay for the overhead or somthing, I personally really like RedHat so I didnt have a problem with becoming a member .. but I guess I can see how it would piss some people off. Linux will always be free but if you want it given to you in a nice little bow I think we're gonna start seeing the major distributers going to somthing like this. I dont know if its good or not ... I dont want to see RedHat go the way of Correll(sp?) or T.L. or anything so if it keeps them afloat I dont have a problem with member dues.

 

[Guest]

Well I guess the only thing that will be separating them from Microsoft in the future evidently will be the price difference...

 

[TheTechIsIn]

That, and the stability, security, and everything else that defines linux as it is today. Everything is still GPL so if anyone wanted to build a linux install they dont need to go to one of the big guys to do it ... its just easier ..

Oh and I was wrong about the update thing .. aparantly they just ask that you join if you downloaded the ftp ..(my mistake ... wont be my last Im sure) I guess I read it wrong :no: I was a member anyway so it didnt really matter I just briefly skimmed it ... to quick I guess.

I still think Linux is the superiour OS, no matter the cost its still better, not just because its free.

 

[gotissues68]

As I've said many times before I'm not a huge fan of either Mandrake or Redhat (I learned on Mandrake though and its great for that) however I had the chance to see Redhat 8 today for a production backup server we're building for work and .. I have to say the interface dev has come along way. I think there's plenty of apps out there that mimic windows apps.. and do them better ... I may not like Redhat, but I do see the push towards a mainstream Linux Desktop Community and I dig that ... As to paying for support or updates or what not.. I wouldn't be opposed to purchasing the OS or applications, but updates.. paying for those.. I dunno.. unless its a core update to something say Redhat or Mandrake actually produced (DrakX or Hard Drake) for instance.. I don't see the point, because its putting money in the distro companies pockets and not the developers who adtually created the app (Like the XFree team or the Samba Team) .. whose apps corproate Linux dist companies are capatilizing off of.

 

[shawnbowski]

Has anyone tried out SUSE LINUX 8.1