I don't really get this whole Open Source free software thing. I plan on setting up a Linux server for work. I downloaded Mandrake 9.2 and am working with it now. From what I have seen it will do everything that I need it to do, which is pretty much everything. Now when I go to the Mandrake Store I see their Corporate Server 2.1 is $749. Why would someone purchase this? And more importantly, if I set this server up without paying Mandrake anything, am I breaking any laws?

Don't get me wrong, I plan on supporting the cause some way. I'm more inclined to subscribe to the MandrakeClub though.

Help me understand.

no you are not breaking any laws.

why pay for it.... Basically, Support the cause + You get Things Like User support, a pretty box to keep the cd's and a pretty instruction manual.

Typically when you purchase a commercial version of Linux from a vendor, you get things like printed manuals, better support, faster download connections, etc.

Remember "free" as in "free speech" not as in "free beer".

Netizen

Awww! No free beer!

its quite simple, besides supporting the cause and the code developers, you also pay for support. say you have no idea how to setup apache, so you call them up and since you payed, they walk you through the installation and setup of apache.
If you are not paying anything, then no biggie, but you are on your own in the cruel world.

Don't some of the distros not offer their latest and greatest for free. For example red hat doesn't offer free downloads of thier "enterprise linux". So if you want the newest stuff out there you might have to pay for it....I'm personally more inclined to spend that money on beer, but to each their own...

true, RH is stopping free downloads totally in spring.....
Suse does not offer latest stuff for free
On the other hand, considering that almost everything outthere is downloadable as latest version and the only trouble with it, is that it needs to be compiles, that is not such big price to pay for linux being free.