DistributionWatch Review: Red Hat Linux 6.2 - page 2

Introducing Red Hat Linux 6.2

You can download Red Hat Linux 6.2 from the Red Hat Web site, but most users will want to obtain it in one of the three shrink-wrap editions. All three editions include some level of support, a boot disk, two CDs with the operating system and the accompanying source code, free priority access to a dedicated customer-support FTP server and some level of documentation. Gone is the free copy of StarOffice 5.1 that came with Red Hat Linux 6.1.

The Standard Edition costs $29.95 and includes 30 days of access to the FTP server, 90 days of Web-based installation support and the Installation Guide. (Gone is the Reference Guide, replaced by a CD-ROM.) If you're looking for just the operating system and don't need a lot of hand-holding or applications shipped on CD, consider this edition.

Most users, especially those moving from the Windows or MacOS worlds, will want to consider the Deluxe Edition. For $79.95, the Deluxe Edition bundles 180 days of access to the dedicated FTP server, 30 days of telephone support, 90 days of Web-based installation support, a Powertools CD with over 300 applications, a Linux Application CD with over 40 third-party workstation applications, plus the Installation and Getting Started Guides. (Gone is the Reference Guide, replaced by a CD-ROM.)

The Professional Edition, which goes for $149.95, includes everything in the Deluxe Edition and adds a secure Web server, e-commerce software, database-management software, 30 days of dedicated Apache configuration support, an IBM DB2 CD, a CPAN archives CD, a Server Linux Application CD with over 30 popular server applications and a Secure Web Server Guide.