Novell SuSE Linux 10.0

By: Philip McCartney
Reviewed: January 14, 2006
Description: Novell SuSE Linux
Version: 10.0
Released: October 6, 2005
Website: www.novell.com

The following is a copy of the review I posted on Amazon.com:

Don't Fear Change

I started using Linux back in 1996. A friend mentioned Linux to me the previous year, and I was immediately intrigued. So, I started my research with Slackware (a very solid distribution, but not for the timid). I later tried several other distributions, and eventually decided to give SuSE 5.3 a try. This was sometime back around '98 or '99. I was instantly hooked, and I have continued using SuSE ever since. I will admit however, when Novell took over SuSE, I was very reluctant to continue using this distribution of Linux. I was afraid that the new Novell SuSE would eventually lose some of its quality. All I can say is that I'm glad I was proven wrong.

This release truly is rock solid. I've been using it for over a month now. From a desktop perspective, there are so many applications available, I have practically given up using Windows all together. There are only a couple of Windows programs that I still use on a regular basis, but I run them on top of Linux with the assistance of an emulator or some other means. And as time goes on, I find myself discovering more and more applications to replace the remaining Windows programs I still use. With over 4000 apps to choose from, and more on the way, it should only be clear that you have more options available to you with SuSE Linux than with any other commercial OS.

I will say this though, if you're a total novice, and you've never even attempted an OS installation of any kind on your own, I highly recommend finding somebody who knows what they are doing to help you. On the other hand, if you have installed an OS (such as Windows) before, then you should be able to install this latest version of SuSE Linux without any trouble. You can accept the default settings that the installation provides along with the hardware it detects. It's that easy. And, if you're adventurous enough, you can go through a more advanced approach of configuration and installation, depending on how comfortable you are doing that.

Here's something else you can try... if for any reason you don't like your configuration, or you feel that things aren't working the way you like them to, you can always experiment with different variations of the installation. This will increase your comfort level of installing and most importantly, working with Linux. The key is, you have to be willing to retrain your way of thinking if you're coming from another OS. The most difficult process is the initial installation, but once your system is configured the way you want it, everything else becomes a real breeze.

The best part is, your single copy of SuSE Linux can be installed on as many systems that you have access to, without any of the proprietary licensing restrictions. You can setup SuSE Linux 10 to run as a stand alone desktop workstation or as a network server or both. The choice is yours. The uses that you can get out of Linux are only limited by your imagination. Most people will only want something they can use to check email with, or listen to MP3's, or surf the Web. Whatever you use your system for, I highly recommend giving this distribution a try. At least two months (that's only fair). Before, most people thought their only choices were Windows or Mac, therefore, I know that it took Windows users more than a week or a month to learn all the basics before they felt comfortable. All I can say is, give this distribution a chance, and most of all, "Don't fear change."

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