To whom it may concern

I have today decided to stop using SuSE Linux.
I have used 6.1, 6.4, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3

This latest version has finally convinced me that SuSE
is now more concerned with glitz and box-shifting than
ever before. This process started with 7.0, and has
got worse.

Nothing of significant value has been added since 7.0,
except a huge hike in the price.

I am fed up with fixing the problems SuSE installations cause,
often the same problems in each new release.

The release of 7.3, obviously insufficently tested, may make
tinkerers happy, but it is not the basis for the serious use
of Linux for other than hobby purposes.

SuSE has no online bug-tracking system.
The new hardware database is worse than useless.
The Portal site a complete waste of energy.
Replies from feedback@suse.com are almost non-existant.
The scope of installation support is not clear until *after*
you buy the package.
YOU is pathetic in comparision with the update mechanisms
available to freeBSD and Debian users for example.

Certain of your flagship packages are worse than useless.
Yesterday I set up X11 in a few moments on a Slackware system
using the standard XFree tools. It worked perfectly.
I have never had this experience with sax/sax2.

In fact in one evening's work I had a Linux system based
on Slackware with 90% of the functionality I require
installed and working. One more evening's work and that will
be 100%. The weeks I have spent on every SuSE distribution
overcoming it's problems are a telling story. And I am an
experienced UNIX System Administrator !

Configuration management is a nightmare. I filtered all of
the SuSE mails concerning the new KDE installation before 7.3
was released, a minefield of problems was all I saw.

In my view you are becoming the Microsoft of the Linux world,
tying people into your distributions - making people nervous
of installing anything that is not packaged by you. This is not
in the spirit of Open Source.

There are 2 issues that finally broke the camel's back for me.
One was the use of frame-buffers/X11 and Matrox g450 cards.
I have found out how you can do this, not with Vesa support,
that does not work. But on my Slackware system I have it working
perfectly. You have never bothered to look into this, and Matrox
cards are very common.
The final straw was when I updated via YOU, and it decided to
update my Postfix installation, I did not ask it to. It broke
it.

Enough is enough.

I have no objections to commercial distributions of Linux/GNU packages
if they add genuine value and ease of use. I know many people on the
list think you can do no wrong, anything that does not work is
always someone else's fault. However I would not recommend your
product to anyone coming new to Linux as a place to start.

In your present situation, and the present cyncial attitude you show
to your customers (the splitting of the distribution into Personal/
Professional being a disgraceful example of this) I will be surprised
if you survive.

One last point. I would like you to pass on a thanks from me to Lenz,
one of your employees whose personal contribution to the list is
always helpful.