I've never used SuSe, Redhat or NLD before so you'll pardon me if this is a stupid question. I understand that NLD is $50 for one year for updates but does this include installing new software too? For instance, if I want to install dosbox on debian I just do an apt-get install dosbox but I don't know what the equivlanet is for NLD? Is there a software source I need to set up (in YaST?) that doesn't expire after the eval period? Or am I stuck with compiling from source after that?

If I want a *free* easy to use desktop solution should I use SuSe personal instead? I am digging NLD 9.0 but I can't afford the $50/year just to install open source software..

The $50 doesn't mean that you are paying for updating your system via YAST. It probably means phone support and the opportunity to get the next version. I have 2 versions of SuSE - 1 paid for and 1 sent out for free. Both update and I don't subscribe.

If you don't want the phone support or to be on their 'preferred subscriber' type list, don't pay beyond whatever it costs to buy the distro.

Wow! Are you sure? You can download the evaluation of NLD for free but it comes with a key that makes it valid for updates only for 30 days. I think if I want to use updates.novell.com I have to pay that $50...

Is there another source I could use? Would the source for say SuSE 9.1 personal work on NLD? Anyone know what that source is?

Ah. I haven't used the evaluation version, the info was good for the 2 versions I have. In YAST, you set up your sources, I've never had any difficulties using online sources as listed in YAST. But they may have changed it.

You should be able to get SuSE cheaply via eBay or www.cheeplinux.com or similar sites. Otherwise, do what I do and only get distros that are freely available - like mandrake, Fedora, Slackware et al.