At 09:19 AM 27/01/2005, Sean Rima wrote:
I am about to buy the Professional package but am concerned that 9.3 or 10.0 will come out in a month or two. Is this likely?
/cut Depends on why you want 9.2: Do you want it for the Kernal 2.6.x, Do you want it for the X.org server, Do you want it for the Latest stable KDE, etc., Do you want it to run new (like dvd writers) Hardware, Do you want it to "play around with Linux", OR do you need it to run your existing hardware or software efficently? If the latter then go for it, all the required patches and updates are already available and many users are available via these helpboards. If on the other hand, it's for the earlier, then i'd be holding out till late March (six months since 9.2 came out) and seeing if Novell/SuSE have any comments on the next release then, for us. However, by my perceptions on the lists I get, the few, AND I MEAN FEW, problems reported about 9.2 (against earlier releases) fixes were quickly arranged or "work-arounds" provided. And you can't blame SuSe for packages with obscure faults, they would only follow a "test script", usually provided by the software developers. And likewise the hardware that is rarely used anywhere now, they may not even have a set to try (like the early Arc-net LAN, ran 10Kbit over 4 twisted copper wires, early indoor telephone cable, and we thought it magic). And after all that, you have to think that 9.2 is really a dual release as the kernal\module formats\methodologies are fairly different between 2.4.x and 2.6.x. Personally I have no problems with waiting for the next release, even if it's six months away, as I have stable, working 8.2 servers and Workstations that don't need the extra bits yet, if ever! I will be investigating the next release though ,as I don't like to get too far behind (6.2>7.1>8.2>9.2/3) and making up my mind which to do then. If packages I have users to support with run better / faster / use less resources / have serious upgraded functional capabilities, then I consider it worth upgrading, if not and the users are happy with what they have then why do so. Most companies I handle are small (3<20 workstations) and happy with what they have, that the "on-going" costs are small, and that I am willing to help them, my "range" is about a 200 km by 300km egg and there are only two of us covering that, with another three "part-timers" available if help is needed. The next people are based some 200km north, have little linux knowledge (although one of their people is beginning to take an interest), are Microsoft certified and know XP backwards (but couldn't help with a simple '95 or '98 question). sorry for the waffle, but I hope it helped get the ideas I am trying to pass on get through. Don't be impatient, everything comes in it's time, and if the time is a little longer, so less should be the re-work. scsijon