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.

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