Just wondering, everyone in here says that you should support Open Source. lol, and how many of you have ever used Debian??? How many have donated money???

The only reason you pay is because you get a fancy box and manuals....not because you are supporting Open Source. 99% of you wouldn't donate money to Debian or Gentoo.

Sir, speaking for myself, I could care less about the fancy box and manuals. Minus the 'fancy box', anyone with half a brain could get copies of everything that comes with the "paid" versions without putting a single dime on the table. It's called file sharing.

So many opinions, ain't life nice

Here's my SuSe lifestory:

Bought versions 5 and 6. Why? Wanted the manuals that came with it, needed them badly back then

Version 7 I borrowed from a friend. This time I had 'moved on', SuSe could not give me what I was looking for (much more control).

8 and 9 I downloaded. Wanted to know what changed and how it performed.

Wow, I'm in the 1% category

This issue is no longer a concern for me. I've come to the conclusion that Linux in any form cannot provide me with what I need at this time. So I've moved back to Windows. Now before you flamers start rattling away on your keyboards, I want to state that just because I prefer at this time a closed-source system does not mean in any way that I do not support open-source. I've played both options for a while, and it's come down to these facts:

a) The Windows world provides everything I need.

b) Linux simply does not.

I need certain products available to me in order for me to do the work that I do - Primarily Access, but there are others as well. These products are simply not available to me in Linux without me having to spend far more time developing them myself - a prospect that I neither have the time or desire to do.

I've been flamed before for using the excuse that I don't have the time to learn, and that I'm too lazy to do it. Laziness is not the issue. I find anyone who flames me for not having the time for this is using a tired old excuse that has so many holes, I could make a tasty sandwich out of it. The truth is, not only do I not have the time, I do not have the desire to learn a new programming language. I don't want to be a programmer. I don't want to have to learn how to tweak the hell out of my operating system in order to get it to work the way I need it to. So why should I go through all that trouble when I have a perfectly good operating system that will do everything I need it to, is fully supported by the industry, and allows me to be productive within only a few hours of setting it up?

A computer should be like an automobile. I want to get in the car, turn the igntion, put it in gear, and go. Why should I have to learn how to completely reassembly my engine just to make it work efficiently?

That's what it came down to for me. Windows has everything I need. Linux does not (yet).

I believe Linux to be a fine operating system. And in time, I believe it will be the OS of choice for even casual users. Until that time, I'll be waiting and watching.

I suspect that I shall receive flames anyway. So I say, bring 'em on!

-Schadeboy

SchadeBoy,

I'm not too far from and when the flames come i might feel thr heat here.

Adler,
I got my waterhose ready, so the flames shouldn't get too big.

-Schadeboy

The best tool is the one that works for the user. Personally, I'm a Linux and Palm OS user. As to all the discussion of "free", I would like to say, "God is free of charge -- have you ever been to a church where they don't pass the plate?"

SchadeBoy,

You should use whatever works for you. I mainly use my laptop for internet stuff (web design, email, etc.) and older games, so I eventually plan on switching to Linux on it. On my desktop, however, I keep windows because it's my gaming system, and linux doesn't provide all of my needs for gaming yet. When and if it does, I will reconsider.

karaite,

What are you running off your Laptop for Web Design if I may ask. I assume that is a Linux app.

I haven't decided on what apps I will use on linux yet. My laptop has not yet converted to Linux fully, because I don't have wifi working yet. On windows, I use a mixture of Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and notepad.

karaite,

Thanks - I was wondering if you were running anything off your Notebook. I run just about everything off my notebook. I've another post going here in regard to me going to 9.2 - http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/in...howtopic=7601.

Wireless is best acheived with the Linuxant DriverLoader. That'll set you back $20.00.

Are you connected to a Network, and if so, how?

Well, this is certainly a pleasant surprise. I was expecting (and kind of looking forward to) a lot of anti-Microsoft sentiment. But so far y'all have been quite understanding. I 'spect the Linux crowd out there that vehemently hates anything MIcrosoft is either ignoring this thread, or vehemently not responding. I wonder...

Alright. I have pondered everyone of these posts that gets mad at me. First let me point out that this is a Suse forum. Suse is a business, and they do need money to operate. To download the free version of Suse 9.2 is completely legit, but to steal the 5 disc Pro withough any compinsation is stealing. For all of you that use Suse at all, think about the fact that if Novell does not get money for suse, it will not be produced anymore. That is the way a business is ran, you get money, or you cut your losses. See, Linus came up with Linux to get away from Unix, being frustrated that the code was taken back. Now days alot of users get into Linux being frustrated with Microsoft. The point that I am getting at is that without Suse, alot of new users to linux would sink back into Windows. Now if you argue that then you are just not thinking about it. Suse, along with many other distros, is a stepping stone. For a Windows user to jump right into Debian or something to that extent would be unwise, I am would be willing to bet that the user would be back into windows in no time. So for all of you that argue the communist comment, don't bite the hand that feeds, because that is all that you are doing. How much is 89 bucks to support Novell? A very small price to pay for what I feel is the greatest thing ever to touch my hard drive. And one last thing, this thread seems to have divided us amongst ourselves, which is no good. We are a community, so lets treat it as such. Throwing around derogatory names at specific individuals is just immature and petty, so just drop that. Again, for you "holier than thou's": DONT BITE NOVELLS HAND, THEY ARE FEEDING YOU. I am more than happy to donate to whatever distro I use, and I do every chance that I get. So please, don't scue the real intent of my post, which was don't steal from such a great company. As for all the people out there that say, oh he doesn't know what a communist is like, I don't first hand, BUT, I have studied them to a very good extent, so unless you have been DIRECTLY abused by a communist regime, back off. That is all, I am going to smoke, and I hope that we can all realize that we need to help each other on this forum, not bellitle. You cannot divide a wall and then expect it to stand as strong. Enjoy all.

I will be posting soon about what I think about suse 9.2, and I have very high expectations.

Schadeboy, most of us still use Windows for applications or games that are not suitable for Linux. If you want, you can dual-boot with a linux version and keep working with both. I think you'd find that Linux is a great learning tool with many applications that equal or surpass their Windows counterparts. Good luck to you.

Yes, but right now I can only connect at home (via a lan cable) since the wifi isn't working. When I get it working, I'll use linux both @ home and school via wifi.