Difference between Retail and Free SuSe
 

I am very curious as to what the difference is between the retail and free versions of SuSE professional and personal are. I mean i checked in PC World and the Retail SuSE professional 9.2 was £69.99.

Someone told me that there is no difference between the free and retail you are simply giving the money to support the makers. Is this definitely true. If so £70 just for support is a bit excessive in my opinon.

Thanks

The free versions exclude certain packages (commercial and copywrited); in other words, a bit stripped-down. I don't know which packages are excluded, but the free version is probably 90% or more of the retail version, which is licensed to include the otherwise excluded packages.

I don't know for sure but I thought that you also get some comprehansive manuals with the retail version?

Suse.co.uk can probably give you the answers you're looking for.

The retail version contains 5 cd's, 2 dvd's and the user and administration manuals.
As a newbie I found this very convenient and well worth the money,
especially since you get a code which entitles you to free help from the suse people,
at least for a certain period (3 months if i'm correct).