Why Buy Linux?
 

Fedora, mandriva etc, can be downloaded FOC from net, then, why those linux like Mandriva, still selling their product?
Who want to buy while you can get it FOC?:)

Well, different distros are aimed at different sectors of the market. Distributions like Mandriva and SUSE are aimed at newbies, because they're easy to use, already come heavily customized, and they work almost flawlessly out-of-the-box.

Also, for people who only have 56k modem accounts, buying Linux seems the only way forward. It would probably take about a year for them to download all of the Mandriva ISOs, and for this reason (among others) Mandriva have - very intelligently - decided to sell CDs of their distro. They will also probably come with some sort of documentation, to get the user started on Linux and to get him up to an average standard.

I've had lots of problems with Fedora - and I wouldn't even use it if they PAID me to. :D

J_K9

P.S Interesting signature you got there... :confused:

Support plus other items
 

The reasons one might wish to purchase a distro is:
Support for x number of months
Manuals and other printed material
Bonus packages in the install set so you can install right away
Access to vendor repositories like Linspires click and run
Other things...

All these things can be great for a newbie, or a company, or someone with a slow internet connection, etc. A savy linux user may choose to go it alone, many do. I started out by buying my distro. I don't anymore because I run debian and well once installed you only upgrade, downgrade, etc. I know some people who are savy linux users who still buy their distro, for example slackware users, or libranet users.

Re: Support plus other items
 

Add to that, you also help that particular distro keep their head above water financially and give them more cash for development. There is nothing wrong with downloading and using the free versions to find one you like. And when you do, maybe buy the next release to help them out. Most (if not all) distros are very reasonably priced.

Most (if not all) distros are very reasonably priced.

Precisely. Much more than Windows is, anyway... :D

J_K9

P.S I don't want to repeat what alaskazimm said, but yeah...buying their CD copies will generate revenue for them, which will allow them to appoint more people (and better ones) to further develop their distro! :D That's why I always like to contribute, especially if I feel that a certain distro has satisfied my needs... *cough* Ubuntu *cough*

:D

A better question: Why buy Windows? -- J.W.

As has been said.. it is a support issue. Businesses want support when the get software so they don't have to figure out a way to support it themselves.

That being said, I'm moving this to General as it seams more applicable there.

A better question: Why buy Windows? -- J.W.

Hahaha...I love moderators' posts - they're always entertaining! (In a good way of course) :D

I have to say that I agree with it entirely...my Ubuntu box can do everything and MORE than I can with Windows (except for playing games, but I've gotten past that phase). What would I need Windows for? Especially with the HUGE price tag it has...

M. ;)

Buy
 

I'll buy the next SUSE release as a 'thank you' to them for defending Linux against SCO, and for finally making SUSE a completely open project.

The fonts in windows is better than linux

And Chevy's are better than Ford's, what's your point? And how can fonts be better than an OS. Fonts are used in an OS. Perhaps if you knew how to update and install new fonts in Linux you wouldn't say things that make you look stupid.

But let's also not forget that just about all the fonts in Windows are owned or licensed by Microsoft. So here's the challenge: instead of emptily bragging about the siperior Windows, create programs and fonts that are as good as those in Windows but are usable by us.

Re: Why Buy Linux?
 

Back when I tried Mandrake 10.1, I downloaded it first. Then nearly went mad with frustration because I couldn't get the crappy CD burner I had at the time to burn the ISOs. It'd fail on every attempt. I eventually gave up and just bought Mandrake 10.1 Discovery so I wouldn't have to burn the CDs myself.

I suspect that physical media is on the way out, but since it's not gone yet, it can be very convenient. Worth buying. However, the retail sales-cycle is typically slow and the disks that you buy can be out-of-date by the time you receive them. It's important to look at what you actually get in the box and how current it is. Then you're basically buying "convenience."

I wouldn't buy any distro. I will only download. When I have to pay for it, I won't use it again