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From:SuSE Inc.
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#1487 |
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14 of 14 customers found the following review helpful:
 9.2 Pro offers ease of install and configuration for newbies, 2004-11-13
Personal knows, I really like SUSE. It was my first Linux distro , it was my learning tool, etc. With that in mind, I'm proud to be able to review SUSE 9.2 PROFESSIONAL prior to its release to the general public.
SUSE Linux Professional 9.2, as the Novell-Suse Distribution is known, has updated much of the distributions core technology. This includes the new Linux kernel now 2.6.8 from version 9.1's version 2.6.4. In addition, 9.2 has shifted the distribution from Xfree86 to the X.Org Foundation's X Window System.
If you are a KDE user, you will be happy to know that SUSE has upgraded to version 3.3. GNOME users are not quite as fortunate as version 2.8 was released in September and the timing did not work for this release. 9.2 PRO has GNOME version 2.6. While not the newest, this is still a very feature filled release.
SUSE Linux Pro 9.2 also has new redesigned interfaces to make the setup of network services like Samba, DNS, and DHCP easier than before.
Other advancements in this distro include; GIMP 2, a comprehensive image processing and graphics creation tool, INKSCAPE, a new vector graphics application that is advertised to outperforms all other Linux alternatives, Nvu, a Web authoring system that combines Web file management and easy -to-use WYSIWYG Web-page editing, Open Office 1.1.3 and a host of other cutting edge programs.
An area that Linux, in general, has needed to improve upon has been WIRELESS. Version 9.2 Pro now offers "Bluetooth" wireless support including automatic recognition of Bluetooth-devices via the YaST configuration and admin tool. Bluetooth configuration is simple using YaST making it easy to connect to and move between wireless LANs (WLAN) and other network connections. There is even a suspend-the-disk feature that makes it easy for laptop users who require increased mobility.
WHAT ABOUT INSTALL AND USE?
Those that have installed SUSE before are familiar with the Green Screen. The new SUSE 9.2 Pro has a very pleasant blue and grey screen, but beyond that, the installation is as smooth as always. Couple of questions, auto partitioning (I always turn the entire hard drive over to the distro) and the installer goes to work. Not unlike every SUSE install, after Disc 1 has been installed, the installer reboots. A couple of disc changes and you are ready to boot into your new system.
Hardware detection is excellent. SUSE 9.2 PRO correctly detected all my hardware including my old HP printer and did the full set-up without problems.
I booted into KDE and was quite pleased with the speed, quality of fonts and graphics. Using the Suse icon, I went to the Control Center and selected a screen saver and then checked Internet to see what was available for browsing. KONQUEROR was my only choice, so I went to YaST and selected INSTALL SOFTWARE. With YaST, if you have never used it, you can search for software in a number of ways. I chose to enter Mozilla into the search block and it came up with Mozilla and a host of plugins. Also offered in this distro is Mozilla's Firefox.
After install, I checked to see what plugins had been installed, as I have a couple of sites on the Web where I go to play games! No JAVA! Not a problem, I made a directory and downloaded. Installing java in SUSE is a little different from other distributions. If you are using a Red Hat, Mandrake or a Debian distro, you can go to /usr/lib. Find Mozilla and install into the plugin directory. SUSE uses /opt/mozilla. If you are creating a simlink, your path to Mozilla becomes:
/opt/mozilla/lib/plugins
Once the symlink had been created, it was off to the Web to give it a spin. The system worked flawlessly and I noted how quickly the system responded to commands.
Sound would be the next check. I went to one of the Web music services and selected a genre. Immediately, I had music playing using Real Time Player 10.0.
So far, so good. The next test would be logging into my home network. The network consists of multiple LINUX machines in the Lab and a couple of WINDOWS XP machines in the household. The Windows machines are both wired and wireless (although it doesn't matter). Log in went flawlessly.
First look appeared as expected...EXCELLENT! For those that had fears when SUSE was purchased by Novell, this distribution should eliminate any doubts that SUSE is going to continue bringing an excellent product, featuring many cutting edge programs. Their release schedule is aggressive with a new distro planned for every 6 months.
3 of 43 customers found the following review helpful:
 Suse ruined by computer, 2004-11-13
I am now typing on a friends laptop after Suse Linux caused my machine NOT to boot up. It would not even display the screen on the monitor, the file system is now damaged from what a PC repair center informed me. It will cost me $80 to have it re-loaded with Windows XP Pro, by the way I purchased for $100 OEM off the internet!
Trying to save money buy buying cheap bug filled software was an expensive $$$ mistake!
39 of 64 customers found the following review helpful:
 After years of SuSE, it might time for a change...?, 2004-11-11
I've used SuSE Linux since 8.0.
9.1 was their best release, but their last before Novell completely took the reins (Novell had bought SuSE before 9.1's release, but 9.2 is their first fully controlled release - and seeing the "N" word over the SuSE logo at more than every opportunity reeks of blatant egoism too.)
Not only did 9.2 lack sundry emulator programs I love, and that it won't install by default some of its hyped up programs (Scribus and the NVU web editor), I also couldn't easily install the video (Nvidia) or sound (Sound Blaster Audigy) correctly. While I did get the video to work after hours of tweaking (which is atypical, I've done this install for every new SuSE release since 8.0), I am still battling the sound problem - the driver installs and tests OK, but none of the sound applications or games think a sound driver is installed. (!) Looks like a permission rights issue, but that shouldn't be.
It's also something of a RAM hog, the RAM requirement is surprisingly high.
It's a shame Novell won't take refunds, this 9.2 needed to go through some more installation testing...
(Update: Reinstalling the audio driver worked. The only problem remaining is Unreal Tournament 2004's video mode compatibility that wasn't a problem in 9.1. Definitely more of a hassle than 9.1, but the new version is worth 3 stars. )
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