You asked what are the advantages of purchasing Corel OS when you can download it for free.
Actually there are many. First consider the size of the download - about 318 MB. How many 56k modem users are going to attempt that size of a download? I downloaded the distribution on a cable modem overnight using IglooFTP (a version of Bulletproof for Linux).
Then once you download and burn the CD, you need to know how to install the product. While Corel has made it incredibly easy to install, there are some places where it is possible to get stuck. For example, the sound card installation. The standard edition comes with a manual and e-mail support. You are going to need a manual anyway if you are new to Linux, so you mind as well just buy the distribution.
In the long run, what Corel, RedHat, Suse, Caldera and the others are selling is not a product, but support. But do not trivialize support. Support is what has been keeping Linux out of the corporate environment. IT managers want a phone number they can call when things go wrong - and they are willing to pay big bucks for it. This is why Corel's 1/3 purchase of LinuxForce is so interesting. They understand what is being sold is support and a corporate backing.
The one thing I wish they would do is reduce the price of the standard package. At Best Buy it is $39.00 versus $24.00 for RedHat Standard edition. At this point in time, gaining market share is more important then profit.
Paul Borghese |
