Like the Personal edition, Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional shares the same innovative, unified Bluecurve interface of Gnome 2 and KDE 3.03. Also included are three installation CDs, two source CDs, a documentation CD (though Red Hat's documentation hasn't had the makeover the interface has), and a multimedia and office applications CD. It also comes with the whole lot on a single DVD (no disc changing) and a small administrator tools CD. The main difference between the Personal and Professional editions of Red Hat Linux 8.0 is that Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional is aimed at those running servers and/or developing software. This version also offers a lot more paper documentation than you get with the Personal edition, including a network administrator guide. This makes it easier for those without advanced skills to start networking, serving, and developing. However, the software supplied on the three installation discs is identical in both versions.
Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional comes without MP3 support, without RealOne Player, and without a default CD burner. It uses the same Anaconda installation program (somewhat cleaned up from earlier versions and with a more logical sequence of actions), and has the same contempt for many older PCs--especially those without AMD or Intel processors.
Hardware detection and setup is excellent for most common cards and devices, including USB devices. It's especially hot on networking hardware. However, because many hardware manufacturers still don't support Linux, new types of devices and very old devices can be problematic. If in doubt, check the supported hardware list on Red Hat's site.
Apart from missing multimedia support, Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional doesn't do the kind of simple things that make life easier for new users. For example, most new Linux users come from Windows. Having the installation script add an icon to mount an existing Windows disk or partition is trivial and makes it simple for new users to access existing documents and files. But here, you're immediately stuck in a Linux-only universe where the first thing you have to do is edit fstab to get at your old files.
On the plus side, almost everything in Linux can now be configured from the graphical control panel, a far cry from just a couple of years ago. You may never need to edit a raw configuration file. Overall, with its far better paper documentation and wider range of installation options, Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional is actually a better buy than the Personal edition for those new to Linux. Experts can save money with the Personal edition. --Steve Patient, Amazon.co.uk
New usability and server features in Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional deliver versatility for small networks. From advanced package selection during installation to daily use with Red Hat Bluecurve, Red Hat Linux 8.0 is a user-friendly and flexible operating environment. The Red Hat Bluecurve interface is an easy-to-use, organized desktop that makes finding applications less complicated. Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional also includes Ximian Evolution and OpenOffice. Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional includes 60 days of installation support and a full set of documentation to ensure that users are up and running in no time. Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional's new interface offers a graphical appearance with fewer steps to frequently used applications and tools. Unified graphical representation simplifies installation and daily use. Discover integrated applications for e-mail, browsing, and office productivity.
Setting up a personal firewall is part of the installation process in Red Hat Linux 8.0. Choose from preset configurations, or customize your firewall for the exact level of security you need. Red Hat Linux 8.0 features Ximian Evolution, a robust open-source application including an e-mail client, contact manager, and calendar. Use OpenOffice.org to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
