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Why does the retail box matter? (openSUSE 11.0 ready for pre-order)
(5 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Looks like Kevin Dupuy beat me to the punch in writing about the retail box being ready for pre-order. Retail box? What’s up with that, right? We’re all about the free downloads over here, right? Yes, but… there’s a method to the madness of offering a retail box as well.
First, don’t forget that the retail box has a very long history for SUSE. We want to continue to provide the retail box for long-time users who still want to get openSUSE that way — and for new Linux users who may not be up for downloading openSUSE to take their first shot at installing an OS.
Of course you can get openSUSE 11.0 for free, and I hope millions will, but I’m also hoping this release will do well in retail. One of the fallacies I hear over and over again about the Linux community is that we don’t like to pay for things. My belief is that people will spend money when there’s something of value above and beyond the bits themselves.
So, what’s worthwhile in the retail box above and beyond the bits? The biggies are:
- Printed start-up guide
- 90 days of installation support
And, of course, a DVD that’s already pressed. Now, that’s probably not real compelling for long-time openSUSE users who comfortable downloading and installing openSUSE already.
But I think the retail box is still important for reaching new Linux users, even in the days of broadband access.
First off, it makes life much less complicated for inexperienced users if they can simply trade a few bucks for the DVD media, some printed documentation, and install support. Burning a DVD is trivial for experienced Linux users, but a hassle for many potential Linux users who have never had to figure out how to burn a bootable ISO before. That’s probably a weird perspective for many Linux users, but if you look at it from the viewpoint of someone who may have never installed their own operating system the idea of downloading an ISO and creating a DVD is perhaps a bit more daunting. Especially without a manual or anyone to call if things go kerflooey!
In short – people pay for convenience and a bit of assurance that they’re getting something real. You and I know that the bits are just as fresh whether they’re in tasty downloaded ISO flavor or crunchy pre-made DVD flavor, but some folks just need the packaging to feel good. (And maybe to read the ingredients…)
Secondly, there’s the perception issue. “They’re giving this away? Must not be worth anything.” vs. “Only $60? For all this software? That’s a bargain compared with Windows!” Sounds sort of crazy, I know — but when you’re talking about an unknown quantity, having a low price tag may be more reassuring than being free.
Also, if someone spends money on the box, they’re definitely going to go home and install it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a large percentage of downloaded images are never used.
Oddly, the price attached to the retail box — more than anything else — confers legitimacy to some people. If you’re a FOSS user, then free downloads are par for the course, but a lot of users expect their software to come in a box with a dead-tree manual, and look askance at the concept of just downloading something from a Web site.
If you’re an openSUSE user already and want to persuade a friend or family member that they should try this Linux thing, the retail box may be a better way to go than a burned DVD or CD.
But whether you download or buy the box, make sure you’re set to try openSUSE 11.0 on the 19th, because it’s chock full of awesome no matter how you get it!
“some folks just need the packaging to feel good.”
And strangely enough, after using Linux and openSUSE for over 5 years, that’s still how I feel
Well in the US the ISP’s are cutting off users who download big files or at least stalling the download so a DVD for 60 bucks might draw a lot more people this time. Torrents are now considered evil by the ISP’s and they are now even stopping content downloads. This I do not understand because the price is high for bandwidth but than with all the corporate greed and the lack of ISP’s investing in development they need some excuse to pay the CEO’s a few million more. This might be a good year to purchase if one can afford the 60 bucks due to the down turn in the economy.
The torrent blocking thing is awful. I’m on AT&T (formerly BellSouth), so we’ve, AFAIK, avoided it, although the cable internet company is doing it. But on the other hand, those users could still download HTTP.
Oh, and extra incentive for Americans: what better to spend your economic stimulus check on than openSUSE? (Aside from those bills piling up next to me
)
And don’t forget at entire unboxing experience and the smell of fresh, newly printed guide
IMO version 11.0 with GNOME will be fantastic 
(ubun..what?) and i like retail boxes. This tratidion should not be broken..
ubun ..what?
Ubuntu is the only distro’s that makes my Dell Inspiron 1720 work out of the box. I tried Suse 11 RC this week… no sound, no webcam ..and Yast is still slow compared with Synaptic.
And have you reported that into bugzilla.novell.com? Bugs which are not reported cannot be fixed…
I’d prefer the DVD set (bin/src) in a DVD Movie style box with a quick start card. Save a tree, be green – hey, we are green
Yes, people would spend money on something of value. Why would they spend money on Suse? To be protected in case Microsoft decides tosue them?
I used to buy the retail box all the time. Now that I’m a little less green with Linux, but still SUSE green, I just download the ISO. How ever, I still recommend my friends to buy the retail box. I will be buying the retail box for my mom because of the support. So if you’re reading this mom get ready to say goodbye to kubuntu.
Great! Let us know what your mom thinks of openSUSE…
One thing I miss is the SuSE swag that used to come in the box. Whether it would be a plush iguana, or a simple sticker, that swag really hit home with me whenever I found it in the box. Little things, even seemingly insignificant, often encourage customer loyalty.
Thanks for the comment. The contents of this release are pretty much locked in, but we’ll have to think about how to promote future boxes…
Good news – afaik we have 2 openSUSE stickers in each box with 11.0
I miss these stickers, too. The time when I bought SuSE 9.0 I was proud to have a geeko sticker on my laptop.
I agree. Shallow as it may seem, I always got most excited about the sticker.
There is a story posted on ITWIRE which states:
“Take the example of Novell – it had grandiose plans to migrate a large number of its workforce to its own Linux distribution, the Novell Linux Desktop, which was based on SuSE Linux. Today, the only NLD CDs that one can find would be museum pieces – the whole plan collapsed very rapidly after the initial enthusiasm within the company, fed by a few individuals, died a quick death.”
As a user of OpenSuse, I would like to know if this is true, and also provide an opportunity for your company to reply to this story, posted at:
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/18625/1090/1/1/
Thanks!
I can’t speak for the entire Novell organization, but most of my co-workers that work with Linux products are running SLED. (True, they’re not running NLD – that product is a bit long in the tooth, but the majority of my co-workers are running a Linux desktop.)
There haven’t been stickers in the boxes in a while. (at least the ones I bought.) I miss the stickers. Gotta have something to cover up those annoying Microsoft logos on the computers in the office.
I always pay for a boxed version of each new major release (I download minor releases). Since I don’t contribute code, I feel obliged to do this out of fairness to all those who make this possible. This time I’ve pre-ordered a book by some openSUSE folks that includes the DVD. Can’t wait to see the new KDE 4.0 desktop, though I will stay with KDE 3.5.x at least for another 6 months on my primary box. I like the idea of including a stuffed lizard with the boxed set. Kinda softens the image a bit. Not so “geeky”.
“The biggies are: Printed start-up guide …”
This is ludicrous.
Some years ago SuSE Linux came with big manuals. And I gladly payed for the box. Nowadays the “start-up guide” of openSUSE reminds me of the leaflets that come with “that other” operating system from Redmond, WA. Shame on Novell!
Another great alternative is to purchase already burned DVDs/CDs with a printed out start-up guide from various linux dealers like cheapbytes.com, on-disk.com, linuxmall.com, linuxcentral.com, etc. If you really want to save money other than depending on someone to download and burn a distro off the internet. My Linux Blog will have links to those sites for those curious about purchasing a Linux DVD/CD set…
Markus McLaughlin
linuxglobe.wordpress.com
Hudson, MA, USA
Hello, Zonker. In 2002, I started using Linux by purchasing SuSE Linux Professional, in the retail box with two substantial (in size and content) manuals — a user’s guide and a system administration guide — plus, of course, the installation DVDs and the source-code DVD — from the SuSE (pre-Novell) on-line store, and — although I qualified for the less expensive update retail sets after that initial order, I always purchased the “full” retail version with every release, because I wanted the printed manuals (which did not come with the upgrade). Of course, if you get documentation of any size now, said documentation is in PDF format and the cost of toner for a laser printer, decent paper, and binding probably are less than SuSE’s Linux Professional’s much-missed printed manuals. I also admit that I loved the SuSE Linux “swag.” Stored away carefully (but I do not know where exactly), I have a large plush “Geeko,” several quality SuSE Linux computer case badges, and an inflatable “Tux” with “Geeko” on his tummy that is close to a meter tall! (In another box, I have some KDE “swag,” included a large plush “Konqi.”) I ended up not needing the installation support for SuSE Linux Professional, but I must admit that using SuSE has not been the same since Novell acquired SuSE. In fact, I actually switched to Debian GNU/Linux, but I do plan to pre-order openSUSE 11.0, although I cannot help but recall the teething problems of openSUSE 10.0. I hope for the best with openSuSE 11.0 and perhaps I’ll find “Geeko”!
Unfortunately, I still do not have room for the giant “Geeko/Tux,” but I’ll make room if I find it. Novell, I would love to see “real” manuals with the retail versions of openSUSE and would be interested in contributing (I have written documentation for 25 years) — and a tiny “Geeko” and/or computer case badge in the retail box would make me feel more a part of openSUSE’s community. Thanks!
Just some background information on the manual. Prior to skipping the admin manual out of the retail box we had 2 SUSE Linux/openSUSE surveys and asked about things important to the users, such as stability, security, price, software quantity etc. In both surveys manuals were rated least important. That and the fact that retail business is very tight and the admin manual were one of the highest costs for the ratail box the decision was made not to add it to the retail box anymore.
And on the swag side I have positive news – with openSUSE 11.0 retail box 2 openSUSE stickers come with.
I have to agree with David. I also bought the old Suses (from Suse 7.3 to Suse 9.0) for the manuals.
In the case of Suse 7.3 (to give an example) this meant about 1100 pages printed manuals with seven CDs and one DVD.
This documentation in form of printed manuals made the Suse 7.3 box a real “Suse Professional” version.
Why should I buy the OpenSuse 11.0 retail box now?
I am honest, I don’t know.
In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing in it that adds any kind of additional value to the free DVD or CD downloads.
NLD was the first attempt at a technology meld of Ximian and SUSE. It worked to a degree but it was experimental and too early for general adoption. SLED is where it’s at for the classic corporate desktop but openSUSE is the bleeding edge. NLD started awesome conversations and actions and, although it’s a museum piece now, it is the primordial ooze from which the latest product incarnations have evovled. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I buy the “boxed retail” as well as some of the “DVD” offerings from several different sources (give/install them as gifts for friends and associates). I have always purchased Linux in some form or another. I am not an uber coder so I can not make the deep contributions that others are able to make (I miss Kylix/CBuilder, though QT4 is great). I do have pertinent ideas and offer suggestions. I have played with SuSe since ‘95 as my primary and still have a copy of ‘NLD’ somewhere around here. During that time I have also used/played with other distros as well; RH, Mandrake etc. and have used Ubuntu, Mint on and on.. I still come back to SuSe…I miss the case badges, but the stickers I miss the most. I put them everywhere…drives the MS reps and consultans crazy. I have several ‘Tux’, ‘SuSe’, ‘Firefox’, ‘TBird’ shirts and jackets that I wear to many of my ‘MS conferences’ and ’round table discussions’. I get asked by other directors and managers about it and then I go into ‘why Linux’ much to the chargrin of the MS speakers and partners present (the absolute best one was at the Houston business leaders intro to MS HPC). I would like to see the stickers/badges back, I had our graphice dept do a logo for me of gecko splitting a win logo with his sword (yes I’m 53 but still refuse to grow up
just so you know)
I am using OpenSuse 10.3 currently for study, I use it because it fully supports my thinkpad T43 – everything just works, including sound, video, network(wired and wireless) as well as finger print reader, I also notices there is a patched kernel for thinkpad, I tried other distros, each of them has more or less some problems.
I tried Ubuntu 8.04, although it is newer than OpenSUSE 10.3, it does not support my laptop well: screen brightness has strange problems and there is still the Load_Cycle_Count issue that kills my harddrive(whereas OpenSUSE 10.3 has no this problem), also, I did not notice any thinkpad specific module loaded, so I think it’s better to use a machine dependent module to fully support individual machine’s feature.
I forgot to mention, I would not buy the boxed version, not because I don’t like it, just because I don’t want to spend extra money. There is downloadable version and I have a dvd burner, there are also osdisc.com who sells burned Linux distros at a low cost which is more affordable for a student.
Any way, if I have extra money, I’ll definitely buy the boxed version as I like something in a package. Every time I got a packaged software(e.g. games) I felt like I received gift which really makes me happy for a while.
I’m wondering – does the money go to openSuSE, or Novell? I’m willing to pay the full price for a boxed set if I know that the money is used to 1) produce the boxed set, and 2) any extra goes to openSuSE.
I’ll wait for a gold-mastered DVD to come cover-mounted with my next issue of Linux Format. Bargain.
http://www.linuxformat.co.uk
I look at buying the boxed version as contributing to the cost of the development/sustaining effort.
“Free” is nice but a bunch of real people have put in a lot of time to make this product work.
I don’t mind paying “something” (does anybody have any idea how many work hours went into making 11.0 ready for release?) to help cover the cost of this effort.
My thanks to the team/contributors in advance.
Hi,
Nice write-up. Much as I’d like to buy a box, I won’t – why? Because I stay in India. If Novell India can offer me a box for somewhere around Rs. 200 – 300 I’d be more than happy, but US Dollar conversion is just killing. Here, I know it will take me 7 days to download the DVD on my 256kbps connection, but I still won’t spend as much as Rs. 2500 for a box
as compared to Rs. 10/- for a nice blank DVD.
I am not against the concept, I just wish you would take local conditions into consideration. Novell could have something like a “download-burn-package-distribute” factory in India. I know it’s difficult to cater to every country, and that this comment will not make much of a difference, but I just wanted to get my thoughts across
Rohan.
Well, we’re now expecting that you tell us more about :
- where goes the money when we buy an openSUSE box. We’d like to know more on this.
- Also tell us why manuals are not as big as they used to be.
It looks like these two things would help a lot
Thanks
Amen, Zonker. At an expo, I was representing KDE, and the openSUSE team there gave us some 10.3 live CDs. All visitors were very happy to get a CD, even if many of them already had SuSE installed. Seems like they like the officially looking media.
I’ll have the company I work for, order a retail box just on principle – to pay back at least a little bit. We’re using SuSE on all our servers and a lot of workstations and it’s worth a lot more than 60 Euros.
BTW: OpenSUSE 11 is the first SuSE release I’m really excited about. I recently tested RC1 and it worked like a charm!
Good work, I’m looking forward to having Compiz on my private laptop and business workstation. (Dunno, when we’ll equip the servers with 11).
It’s awesome what a community of committed people can do!
Tino.
Dead tree manuals are useful….
I have to go to lulu.com to get the 3 books of a total of 1680 pages for Freescale ARM i.MX27 (ARM 926te with MMU) published for my development team.
I tend to have a published book for gcc, ld, binutil and make as well as a lot of other stuff.
It is a beautiful thing to get a creative commons, compiler manual, processor manual published and mailed to one for $10 to $20 so one can put it beside you while you code.
So when does openSuSE do an ARM port like Debian? Yes I cross compile with openSuSE under Eclipse. No the RPM’s for Eclipse and CDT don’t work. You are better off installing Java and Eclipse in your user account.
Cheers John
Well, I bought the 11.0 Retail box, and it had no stickers in it, and only one DVD. Even though the manual that comes with it says ‘2 DVDs’, and its predecessor 10.3 came with 2 DVDs. So, have I been undershipped, or have you now crammed everything on the one DVD, or have I been short-changed? As a big part of the attraction of the Retail box was getting 2 DVD-9s of compatible Linux software compared with the 1 DVD-5 I could get from elsewhere, and downloading the rest (or indeed all of it).