besides the commerical software and the print maunual if you buy the boxed version what else is different from the openSuse and rgular Suse. one major thing is does openSuse still have to update feature that the Regular Suse has, like updateing libraries and stuff. The main reason for using Linux is for devolpment purposes, I am involved with a project building a 3D Game Engine, Code Name Sigma Reactor.

2 other notes is one how good in Sun Studio IDE? I mean i am used to Visual Studio and I really can't seem to find a decent C++ IDE for linux?

Also is there a place where i can download openSuse in 1 dvd iso becuase i really don't want to have to download the 5 cd's?

Thank You,
Ryan Zec

There is really no "openSuse vs Regular Suse". openSuse is just the name for Suse version 10 and later, which is developed in a more community-based way.

so there is no other difference than what i said before from openSuse and the one you pay 59 for.

OpenSuse eval = 1 DVD = opensuse.org
Retail is a dual-layer DVD. One layer is 32-bit, the other is 64-bit. You also get more apps on the retail as the dual-layer holds more data than a single layer, however, the additional apps can be had via open suse or someplace like packman.de or most sites that host rpm repositories.

In commercial version are installed Macromedia Flash, Adobe Acrobat etc
Also you pay for documentation

Actually OpenSuSE is available in a 5CD distribution, and they also provide a script to build a single DVD. See http://en.opensuse.org/Released_Version

The tool to create the DVD from the CD ISO images:
http://en.opensuse.org/Making_a_DVD_from_CDs

Ok sorry to confuse the matter further but what is the difference between the eval suse, openSuse and the retail Suse I buy? Seeing that Suse says that the eval version 'does not time out in anyway', why don't I just download the eval on dvd?

Cheers

PB

The DVD is far more convenient than waiting hours and hours for your installation to download.

To summarize what others have already said:

* OpenSuSE does not contain any proprietary software packages, such as Flash, Acrobat, etc. Whether this matters to you or not depends on your own personal situation.

Eval and Retail are pretty much the same, except that:

* Eval requires you download approx 4 gigs of data. Even with a high speed connection, this will require hours and hours of time plus you need to supply the blank media, plus it contains a somewhat reduced package list according to the official site (scroll down toward the bottom of the page)

* Retail gives you everything on physical media, plus gives you some excellent documentation, plus gives you technical support. Furthermore, by buying the retail version, you are helping to support the distro maintainers, and your purchase adds to the Linux marketing numbers that retailers and manufacturers track so obsessively to determine what to offer. On this last note, as hardware manufacturers see that the Linux market represents increasingly serious cash, they will have not other choice except to offer Linux drivers just the same as Windows drivers. Everybody wins. Note that the list price for SuSE is currently approx $60, and that at typical DSL speed it would take you between 5 and 6 hours of time to download the Eval version. Assuming the value of your time is greater than $10 or $12 per hour (divide your annual salary by 2000) it would be more efficient to buy the retail version than to download.

Just my own point of view.......

Well there is no one stopping you. Go ahead , download the eval. If you have a dvd drive and don't want to buy the retail version, then the best options is to download the dvd.

With SUSE 10.1. (release date in april) there is NO OSS and NO eval or any other misunderstandings...

SUSE 10.1. is going to be called Suse linux!
It can be downloaded with 1 DVD or 5 cds ! Those have the same content, but NO closed-source or third party software. ITS OPENSOURCE!

There will be 6th add-on cd full of closed source programs (java, acrobat,flash,...) available for download.
As always everything can be downlaoded from ftps or one can add a yast repository.

i think there is a program (developed by SuSE) that combines the 5 cds into one dvd, check opensuse.org to know about that program.... but i havent used it personally