On Friday 09 February 2001 15:33, Timothy R. Butler wrote:
Last I saw, for home use the price was $30. Home users simply don't need the whole $80 package, at least that was the rationalle at SuSE.
I'm both a home user, and a SOHO user on a shoe string budget for OSes. I like the features in the Pro edition (I don't want to give up any thing that was in 6.4!), but I definately can't pay $70 for it 2x or 3x a year.
$79.99 is nothing for most businesses but it is for home users 3x per year,
Right. $90/year if one chooses to update all three times. Unlike Microsoft, updates aren't force fed.
MS updates aren't force fed, where did you get that idea. Until recently my Windows setup was running Windows 98 (first edition)... I only upgraded because I wanted Win2k (so I'd see less BSOD's). I probably won't upgrade again for years.
You've been reading too many M$ 'white papers'. How long has Win95 been out? M$ announced they will no sell or longer support it. Or was that Win98? That means no one is going to write new software for it or maintain existing software for it. Win95 users are now frozen in time. They are on their own little island. They will NOT be able to add a patch to make the USB more functional, if at all. They won't be able to use the newest and latest features. Their version of Word won't be able to read *.doc files written by the W2K version of Word, so if they are in business and ther customers and sources start sending them W2K docs and email, etc., they won't be able to read them. Then there was Win98, quickly followed by the bug fix Win98SE, followed by WinME, Win2K and the recently announced vaporware, Whistler! When do you think support for Win98 will be dropped, especially if sales of W2K continue moribund. If your computer is only a hobby it probably doesn't matter. If you are feeding your family then it will matter. (Seeing how you said you just upgraded from Win98 FE, you trully are a hobbiest user.) It's interesting to note the recent ads M$ ran. They pointed out the lack of stability and reliability in other OSs to sell the consumer on switching to Win2000. Those other OSs? Win95 and Win98. Truely amazing! Bill Gates has been denying for years that there were any bugs in his software or that they were unstable. Now he's attacking his own software to sell W2K !!! JLK -- "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are a gift of God? Thomas Jefferson - 1781