OT: RedHat going to a subscription model? WTF??? Options

[SirAndy]

so, if i understand this right, RedHat Linux just went to a yearly subscription model, ranging from $179 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS) to $2499 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS) PER YEAR ...

WTF??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

so, now i have to pay $179 each year to use Linux as a desktop workstation?

this is nuts ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) Andy

[airsix]

I use windows.  What does that make me?  :unsure:

A virus/worm distribution center. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (jk)

I thought the only reason Linux was so good is because it was free and open source, kinda the communist operating system.

Linux/Unix is very useful in a lot of ways.

It basically boils down to three things for me:
1) platform flexibility
2) security
3) automation

Linux/Unix is fundamentally more secure than Windows. I'm not just talking about code quality - I'm talking about the fundamental structure of the opperation enviroment. For example, a non-administrative user can do no harm to a Linux system. Can't delete anything important, can't modify anything critical, can't launch a program that will do harm, etc. A unix/Linux system can be fully administered remotely in a secure manner. All functions/tasks can be utilized with or without a graphical interface (that's why my servers don't have keyboards/monitors). Unix/Linux provide better resource management when doing multiple tasks. (You wouldn't dare burn a CD and compress audio/video at the same time on a Windows pc, but with Linux this can be done). Linux/Unix have automation tools built in that Windows can not even dream of. Any program's output can be turned into another program's input (and get reformatted/massaged along the way if needed). Basically, any procedure you can do manually, you can teach the machine to do by it's self.

Personal computer/Windows culture is one of user inputs guiding the computer along every step of the way. How many times have you "clicked ok to continue"? See what I mean?

The mainframe/mini-computer/Unix/Linux culture is based on the premise that the user should have the tools to teach the computer what to do and from that point on the process is autonomous. The user has better things to do than sit in front of the box all day moving a mouse around, clicking and drooling his way through work the computer should be doing on it's own.

Don't get me wrong. I think XP is the best product MS has ever produced. It's quite stable (compared to everything else they've ever done) and while not nearly secure enough, it's an improvement over past products. It's easier to use than Linux (for most people), and there is a large support community. It truley is a better platform for the average person. If Linux had a consisten interface, and the ease of use of windows then I'd recommend it to the average user because it's more secure and powerful, but until then you should stick with Windows (unless you want a server).

-Ben M.