Today marks the first time I have ever installed Linux on one of my own computers. I have long thought I might do so but I have been afraid of the problems often described with the installations of earlier versions of Linux. I have to report that having downloaded the single CD “experience” version of SuSE Linux 8.2 I found installation went entirely without a hitch. Thus emboldened I would like to get my hands on the full install and put it on a spare HD so I can muck about with it more extensively.
I don’t suppose someone who has it would mind sending me copies of the discs or telling me where I could find the disc images of the full distribution? Or would that be piracy? The difference between the licensing terms of various forms of open source and “free software” are still a little opaque to me. If I get the software but I don’t hassle SuSe for support I had the impression that it wouldn’t count as piracy. After all, you can download previous versions of SuSe Linux from them for free.sex all hardsex 17canal ahaveconcerning safe-sex a essay persuasivealbano teensanalogue ahadvd files empire adult pornstarsex swim group amatuer Map
Eventually they’ll put Suse Linux 8.2 onto the web – they may be holding it back a bit so that people who are keen to upgrade buy a CD with support etc 🙂
The fact is, all major Linux distributions are provided on CD and online for free. Only thing is, as you identify, no support with the downloaded version. After all, it’s mostly open-source and under the GNU license – i think – you can’t charge for the GNU’d bits of it. Hence they make their money from installs, CDs and support, rather than the actual software!
So, go ahead and download whatever you find – no way is it piracy – all you have to lose is your bandwidth… 🙂
Comment by coffeelover — 11 May 2003 @ 1:07 am
Welcome to the dark side… <maniacal laughter>
Comment by Harald — 11 May 2003 @ 2:21 am
Given the conservative release policy of SuSE, and the fact that it contains non-free software such as the installer/configurator YAST, if you’re particularly interested in the latest SuSE Linux distribution within the next few weeks I’d say it’s worthwhile getting your wallet out and buying yourself a copy. The humungous manuals included in the boxed set are probably worth the price on their own.
But you might like to try a few other distros before you decide which to persevere with. For instance, you could spend just ten quid and get the full GPL release of Red Hat 9 (although codenamed for licensing reasons) on six CDs or for fifteen quid on one DVD (so you can set it going and go down the pub rather than having to sit around feeding CDs into the machine). Similar deals for Mandrake, Debian, etc.
If you are time-rich and cash-poor, it’s quite possible to download the ISOs and burn them to CD .. but life’s probably too short.
It is also possible to install most distros via FTP. Quite a neat way to do things. Have a root around on http://www.mirror.ac.uk and read the READMEs.
A couple of UK-based cheap disk suppliers:
http://www.cheeplinux.com
http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk
When you’ve found a distro you like, it’s a cool idea to donate in some way or other, eg if you like Mandrake, buying an official Mandrake boxed set or join MandrakeClub.
As the login welcome of SuSE says, have a lot of fun…
Comment by Trevor Parsons — 11 May 2003 @ 2:50 pm
A rookie Linux user writing for The Independent has eventually picked a good distro for beginners and seems to be enjoying himself as a result. An encouraging read for those who want a relatively untroubled first encounter with free operating systems.
Comment by Trevor Parsons — 15 July 2003 @ 11:11 pm