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

[TheCabinetmaker]

Andy, I wish I knew what you are talking about. I can barely turn my computer on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[tat2dphreak]

use mandrake linux!... same linux, and the updates will stay free...

[mike_the_man]

Haven't heard that, but what the hell??? Isn't that the whole point of Linux, is that it's free?

[914werke]

One word..SUSE! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[914werke]

Whoops I should have read the post! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
What I meant to say was XIMIAN

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

What? Those developers didn't want to continue developing their version of Linux for free?

Wow, I can't believe that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Many other flavors of Linux out there, some free, some not. No matter what version of Linux you choose at least you aren't giving MS any more $$$.

[krk]

Andy,

I can wax eloquent on this -- but it's easy. They wanna make more money. They shot the box ("use Fedora if you are a home hobby type person") in order to drive people to the per-CPU licensing they are running on the RHEL line of distros. And on that line, they charge what the upper end of the market will bear.

There are those of us aiming to fix it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (keep an eye on this space)

kim.

http://www.SpecifixInc.com

[airsix]

Yeah, I can't believe our resident German doesn't use SuSE.

IMHO Mandrake is for babies and besides that it's French (sorry. no offense intended). Men use Debian, real men use Slack, and alpha-males use Gentoo. I've been using Linux for 10 years and just can't come up with a reason to use RH. I've just never liked it.

I highly recommend Debian for server duties. It's very easy to maintain with apt-get doing all the upgrade work for you. I have two Debian servers that have not had a keyboard or monitor plugged into them for 5 years and they are to-the-day updated. Debian is quick to provide security updates (which are few), and bottom line it's just a good platform. Whiners say it's hard to use, but they are wrong.

-Ben M.

[tat2dphreak]

Mandrake was the first one I got to install correctly and everything work... it was much easier... it's all I have experience with besides RH on Linux... now things are easier, but I haven't found a use in going to anything else... I am just a casual user though

[MattR]

I use windows. What does that make me? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

haha. yeah, I thought the only reason Linux was so good is because it was free and open source, kinda the communist operating system. If I understand RedHat sells linux in stores with a book, and the bundle is like 50 bucks, but they dont have any copyright stuff prohibiting duplication of a cd. For a price tag of 179, wouldnt it be cheaper to go with XP? If its about money, then XP Pro is going for like a hundred and change on ebay for a 'new pc' version.

[tat2dphreak]

I looked it up, the SOFTWARE appears to be still free, like ALL linux, it's the RH SUPPORT... which I think they have always charged for... the software and all the updates will still be free, but if you want documentation or to talk to someone... you will need to have paid...

I could be wrong though...

[SirAndy]

the software and all the updates will still be free, but if you want documentation or to talk to someone...

nope, here's what i got from them:

[...]
Red Hat Linux 9 has now reached end-of-life for errata maintenance.
This means that as of May 1, 2004
we will not be producing new security, bugfix, or enhancement updates for this product.

[...]
We'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of the options
available to you for migrating your Red Hat Linux implementations.

[...]
For businesses, governments, or those looking for a stable Linux that
provides updates and support for up to 5 years: try Red Hat Enterprise
Linux
(that's $2499 per year!)

[...]
Red Hat Desktop provides a high-quality, full-featured client system
suitable for coporate deployments requiring secure, manageable and
stable desktop solution.
(that's $179 per year!)

[...]
Use the Red Hat Linux Migration Resource Center to find the Red Hat
solution best suited for your needs:
http://www.redhat.com/solutions/migration/rhl/



that's it! it's still open source, and i never had problems PAYING for a copy, but a yearly subscription?

that's just plain nuts ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Andy

[mikester]

Redhat is kind of a bit of crap.

We use it where I work for all of our servers and while it serves it's purpose we aren't really doing very much.

My previous and the majority of my *NIX experience is with FreeBSD and Solaris which I believe are extremely good and well supported Operating Systems.

At the moment we do pay for our subscriptions to redhat through the redhat network (rhn.redhat.com). We do this for the update ability, Redhat also is in no way shape or form free - if you want to use redhat legally you HAVE to pay for it. Otherwise, it's just like pirating M$ software or any other software for that matter. They made this move a couple of months ago. They stopped support and development of RH 9, I think they may have even stopped their workstation product entirely but I need to check that. They are concentrating on making money via their Server product and using Fedora as a "FREE" product in the spirit of the original linux project. It is not officially supported and I don't think it gets the automatic updates via the rhn web site and up2date program that the supported products get.

Redhat is crap though, make no mistake - while it does provide a *NIX OS for the masses it does not provide an OS with any reasonable vendor support. I've had to call them on a number of occasions and never have I been able to get a technician who was more intelligent that I was on the operating system and I only have about 6 months experience with the OS myself (granted I do have near a decade experience in *NIX flavor Os's).

Use Fedora and the newsgroups for support and you'll be okay if it's personal use. If you're running a business though and using Redhat as the basis of that business you're taking a substantial risk in my opinion.

Also it is worthy to note that if you're using Redhat to save money on the cost of the OS then you're using Redhat for the wrong reasons entirely. The choice of an operating system should not be the essential cost of the software itself off the shelf but the cost of operating that operating system in a productive manner. Choose an operating system for your business based on what is going to provide the most productive work environment. The most productive work environment is what is going to make you the most money - not saving money on the purchase of an operating system.

Just my two cents...


Also, note that Redhat is *NOT* open source - LINUX is open source - Redhat is a proprietary version of Linux with source code written and distributed by a private company. While there is a lot of debate in the linux community regarding Redhat's claim here there is no disputing the fact that redhat is a private company who makes money off of THEIR version of Linux. If you were to distribute Redhat without paying them what they ask they claim that they have copyrighted protected code in their distribution that if not removed requires payment to them to distribute.

[phantom914]

I use windows. What does that make me?

A victim? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


Andrew

[SirAndy]

What? Those developers didn't want to continue developing their version of Linux for free?

Wow, I can't believe that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

i never had problems PAYING for a copy, but a yearly subscription?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) Andy

[tat2dphreak]

Damn, that is some crap... how can you be forced to pay for something that's open-source... I musta read it wrong. I thought it was only for business sites would have to pay!

I'd change Linux versions.. there are plenty of free ones...

$179/year is more than windows!

[SirAndy]

if you're using Redhat to save money on the cost of the OS then you're using Redhat for the wrong reasons entirely. The choice of an operating system should not be the essential cost of the software itself off the shelf but the cost of operating that operating system in a productive manner. Choose an operating system for your business based on what is going to provide the most productive work environment. The most productive work environment is what is going to make you the most money - not saving money on the purchase of an operating system.

i use it to run a BBS for a bunch of car-freaks. it's called 914world.com ...
check it out on of these days, it's pretty cool!
if you like 914s that is.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.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.

[tat2dphreak]

i use it to run a BBS for a bunch of car-freaks. it's called 914world.com ...
check it out on of these days, it's pretty cool!
if you like 914s that is.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Andy

annual dues? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)