Hi List ---
Hopefully this thread will have died by the time my response gets to you, and no one will feel compelled to reply: I drive an older Mercedes Benz because it makes me happy-- I have SuSE 8.0 on my machine - because it makes me happy-- and if you want to switch to Redhad, or Win 2k, or Debian, or take up bowling because it makes you happy -- go for it;
However, in answer to the question that started this thread, IMHO, SuSE's (English) support is everything I expected it to be, and more --- much more.
As I said, I have SuSE 8.0 w/ KDE3.0.5a, - and an unopened 8.1 pro under my computer table -- on an i686 machine -- dual boot using - using lilo, I use YOU for Security patches, fou4s for some updates -- and rpm via ftp for others, I am in the process of deciding if I want to switch to KDE 3.1, and am testing Gnome2.....
The reason I haven't switched to SuSE 8.1 is: I like lilo over grub -- my machine is very stable ---knock on wood --- --- I have had only one system ooops in 9 months despite my downloading all sorts of SuSE rpm's. When 8.2 (or whatever) comes out, I will buy that, but not necessarily install it.... My System Admin is still running RedHat 6.2 on some parts of the system (and rolling his own patches, etc.)
(I can't speak to other languages as I don't speak any other language but English. However, I see in the SuSE distro language packs for a number of other languages, and on the "security list" there are usually a few questions each day posted by people for whom English is their second or third language, so SuSE must be doing something right for them too!)
I guess I like SuSE so much is because I rarely contact vedors for support.I usually just read the manual or spend hours educating myself on the matter ;)
... I too read the manuals --- including Togan Muftuoglu's excellent "Unofficial SuSE FAQ" http://dinamizm.ath.cx/
as well as SuSE's Reference Manual's, Read Me's, change log's, etc. it is my experience --- not that the answer isn't there, it is; Rather, the problem is: I don't have the background or the vocabulary to understand what is being said (and foo to you too); and at times that frustrates me ...so what's new, and, I also happen to have a on-site System Admin who knows Unix, Linux, plus several programming languages, and loves reading man pages (and from him I too am learning to love man pages and if they don't make sense to me I usually make a copy of them and start adding my own notes, just like I did when I worked on my Master's.
(as an aside, he also happens to like RedHat better than SuSE and he knows some German, Russian, and French, along w/ a few words of spanish as spoken by roofers in Denver, USA, and he kids me, about Suzzie every chance he gets -- and when I ask him a simple question, his first response is: "RTFM !!!")
and it bugs me that he could answer my question in a heartbeat, but after I really try -- if I am still stuck and ask nice, he will help or point me to someone who can, or help me word a question so I can ask this list w/o sounding like a whinner.
He also keeps reminding me that it is dumb to put any mission critical application on an untested system, and if you don't have the horse power to test the system, pay somebody who does; and his rate for testing start-up systems is $100 per hour with 20 hours minimum (plus/ travel and per diem to be negotiated).
And with that in mind, how much did you pay your distro ???
(Note: if you got down this far -- and you are OTROWL over the idea of testing a mission critical system in only 20 hours -- bear w/ me--- I could have said I spent $500 in reference books so I could understand the "SuSE Linux Basics" --- and you could reply all that info is on the web is you know how to access it -- which is just my point)
Someone wrote:
I had a major problem getting started with Linux,
and tried to get help from SUSE.... ************snip****
I posted the problem here and had a fix about 2 hours later.
.....Good, that is what this list is for --- and why SuSE pays for the Webserver, and a webmaster, and archieves, to say nothing about bug patches, security announcements, a ftp site, etc.; and BTW, my Mercedes gets 30+ mpg in the city :)) ---- your mileage may vary --- Peace, ~Gar __________________________________________________________________ The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/