Subject line says it all. The Novell download area confuses me with language like "trial version" and so on. (Maybe I'm in the wrong download area? I had to register with Novell before being allowed access to the downloads.) If I download and install the 5 Suse 10 CDs that make up the trial version, will I have a fully functional Suse Linux installation, or will it be somehow crippled? What makes it a trial version anyway; the absence of support from Novell?

Thanks,
Jay

Pretty much. I've installed Suse10 for friends, and the family computer in my home uses Suse10. It seems that the only missing elements are things like RealPlayer, Helix Players, and licenced stuff. It's still missing built in MP3 and DVD support, but that's easily fixed.

http://www.thejemreport.com/mambo/content/view/178/42/

After you install it, follow that link, and it'll show you how to enable all those missing multimedia features. It is, however, a fully-functional OS that will entirely do your bidding.

Thanks for the info. I'll go ahead and burn the CDs and install this weekend.

Suse Eval is open source packages + Corporate packages (no open source code)

OpenSuse is just open source packages only

Basically no flash player, no Adobe Reader, etc.

I download Suse Eval because I like Flash and Adobe Reader. Then you can just add more Source Installations and upgrade stuff and add all the packages that you would've gotten if you paid in the store.
Some people just dont want to spend time downloading CDs/DVDs, so they just buy it. Just a preference I suppose

Hope this helps.

BTW, Novell is fixing that confusion in 10.1 and re-organizing their layout of their cds.

Does Novell offer support for SUSE?

SuSE offers support for 1 month with the EVAL version. There is no trial, EVAL means evaluation, and it is all of SuSE plus copyrighted nonoss software.

The retail version comes with all of the eval, but since you pay, it also comes with full installation support and support for a year I think.

I went back to the Novell download area and checked, and you're right. My mistake for using the word "trial" in the OP. The web site actually says "evaluation," but I was still confused by the language when I first encountered it; I didn't want to end up with five coasters after burning the CDs only to find that it was booby-trapped with a license timed to explode after 30 days or something similar.

Thanks again for the information and clarification you folks have provided.

Don't worry, whatever they decide to call it, it does not expire at any point. Novell encourages use of the "Eval" edition, but the way they get you to buy retail is bundling all of the packages making up SuSE onto a DVD or 5-6 CDs. Having the media on hand saves a TON of time, especially if you're setting up multiple machines.