On Wed, 30 Jun 1999 22:01:39 +1000, Jason Carley wrote:

Hi folks. Having run SuSE 6.1 now for some time, I am wondering how much

of a difference there would be between this dist and Debian as a desktop system. For that matter how does Caldera compare on this basis? Between Debain and SuSE? I've personally never used Debian, but from what I understand, it's only slightly more sophisticated than Slackware (which I've run for extended periods on numerous occasions). Slackware isn't very darned sophisticated at all, for point of reference. Mostly everything is done manually, there are no nifty scripts like SuSEconfig, it doesn't have a central administration tool like YaST, and it doesn't have as many cool toys :).

I am not after a standard "which dist is better" but more a comparison of applicability for:

1) A novice Linux/experienced windows user

Maybe Caldera, SuSE is good here. The biggest problem with Caldera is that there is no flexibility (as in none, zip, nada). The old system tool LISA was a real b!+c# to work with, and had a nasty habit of rearranging things behind my back. I haven't even tried LIZARD yet, and I don't plan on it unless I get *really* bored one day. I'll admit to one thing: I use Linux today because Caldera gave me hope. My first system was a Slackware installation based on a 1.3 kernel. After realizing that I didn't have a freaking clue what I was doing, I gave up. A few months later, I found a Caldera Open Linux Lite 1.1 CD and decided to give it a spin. It was then that I realized why my friends liked Linux; it was fast, stable, and the price was right. I found LinuxMall one day in my random searchings, and ordered a Six-Pack Extra Large, which at the time came with COL1.2, RH5.1, Deb1.3.1, Slack3.4, LinuxPro, and SuSE 5.2. I used every single one except for Debian, and decided that SuSE was the best for me.

2) A technical and intermeddiate linux user

SuSE all the way.

3) A power linux user

If you are too "Grown Up," you might feel the need to go to Debian. OTOH, one of the SuSE distribution's greatest strengths is it's flexibility and growth potential. I've never tried to do something and been held back because I was using SuSE.

Not from a developer perspective but as a desktop OS (but allowing for end-user compilation, hardware compatibilty integration etc) and the stability of the distribution as a whole. For example I have personally found RedHat to be not overly well put together and the consequent errors would probably stump a lot of very novice users and cause them to give up.

I've found that about Red Hat as well. Too much money for not enough engineering. SuSE has applied the DoS patch (kernel 2.2.10) to the 2.2.7 kernel that they distribute, for example...who else does that? SuSE has as many software engineers as Red Hat does, and not only puts out an excellent product, but puts out an English-Language product too! Let's see; four times as many packages, three times the quality, and twice as many languages....which one would you pick? :)

Installation under SuSE was fine but still required a relatively high degree of technical knowledge as does sound card integration and networking.

I'll give you that, but I have yet to find anything that makes sound installation easier than OSS. SuSE includes that, too. The version that they include doesn't support my card, but at least they tried, eh? As I understand it, ALSA comes on 6.1 also, which gives the users/administrators something called "choice."

I should add here that I am very happy with my SuSE but want to get a better feel for the differences in order to better advocate each dist to each type of user.

Spend some time with Debian, but leave before you turn cold. Spend some time with Caldera, but destroy the CD before you are consumed by it's proprietary madness. If you like one or both better than SuSE, use it. That's what the OSS movement is all about, right? Open source, open exchange of ideas, and freedom of choice. -=|JP|=- (Resident GNUbie) Jon Pennington | SuSE Linux 6.0 jon_pennington@excite.com | Kernel 2.2.10 Kansas City, Missouri, USA | K6-2 350 _______________________________________________________ Get your free, private email at <A HREF="http://mail.excite.com/"><A HREF="http://mail.excite.com/</A">http://mail.excite.com/ -- To get out of this list, please send email to majordomo@suse.com with this text in its body: unsubscribe suse-linux-e Check out the SuSE-FAQ at <A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/"><A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/</A">http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/ and the archive at <A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html"><A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html</A">http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html