> Well, there you go.  I'd not like to guarantee that it will work, and 
> SuSE has modem drivers on the 5th CD.
> It could work straight out of the box.

Yes it's a "could", but chances look good.

> They've checked which version of all the 
> driver works with *their* kernel, and included it
> with the install.

I can't believe some distros still don't include redistributable
binary-only drivers on their media. I'd simply call that substandard.
(Of course there are those drivers from noxious companies like nvidia
which aren't redistributable, or which cost $$ eg Conexant, nothing
SuSE can do about either).

Many many moons ago SuSE included staroffice 5 on their media -
excellent scheme, because I could test drive it with one more click.
When downloads cost $0.25-$0.50/MB I'm not terribly interested
downloading anything big (let alone a whole distro). But guess what -
people were bitching in droves because it wasn't "free". I don't think
SuSE ever got any positive mention on /. (rather the opposite).

When I install a system I'm not terribly interested in spending my time
online looking for missing bits and pieces. I'd imagine most newcomers
interested in Linux would be the same, they just want something which
works so they can get on with it. That would be somehwere closer to the
top of questions I'd ask of a distro before I considered installing it
(note I didn't mention names).

> Now, where did i put that flame-proof suit?

No need. You raised some good points.

Volker

-- 
Volker Kuhlmann               We are stuck with technology when what we really
http://volker.dnsalias.net/   want is just stuff that works. Some say that
                              should read Microsoft instead of technology.

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