Re: Paying For Linux

On 2025-05-29, RonB <ronb02NOSPAM@gmail.com> wrote:

On 2025-05-28, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 May 2025 11:48:19 -0000 (UTC), Borax Man wrote:
>

I have done so.  When I first used Linux, I wasn't even sure it was
free.  Intially I thought the version I had was a 'trial' or 'shareware'
version.  I was prepared to pay, but the fact there were many distrs,
and I might switch stifled that idea.
 
I still ended up buying Red Hat 7.3.

>
I bought SUSE 8.1, in a shrink wrapped box from BestBuy for $79.99. At the
time getting the installation media and hardcopy documentation was easier
than trying to do some sort of piecemeal installation.
>
It was better than installing Slackware from two boxes of diskettes.

>
I bought a shrink wrap copy of SuSE from BestBuy also. I think my version
was 7... something. Never did really like it though. Although I thought (at
the time) that it was nice you got a thick manual with it. I think I've
still got it somewhere in storage in Texas (if the rats haven't chewed it to
shreds).
>

Ahh, manuals.  I do like a good manual.

The first three computers I had, the VZ 200, the Vic 20 and the
Commodore 64 came with manuals that explained how to set it up, how to
program, how the computer and peripheral works, all done with care and
attention.  It was a joy to read the manual, learn, experiment and try
things out for yourself.

Even Windows 95 came with a manual.

The first distro I had was Linux Formats first edition coverdisk, so the
magazine did act as a manual of sorts, but with a good book (Using Linux
by Bill Ball) you got that sense of discovery again.