Rating: 
Summary: Be Careful!
Review: I believe in Linux. I was ready to switch from XP. I was excited. I found SuSE 9.0 and was ready to go. Their site had a lot of good information and encouragement, including:"No previous experience is needed to install SUSE LINUX on any common PC - even alongside an existing Windows operating system." The YaST setup tool was very smooth. I followed SuSE's recommendations, being a complete novice with "no previous experience," and went with the recommended setup options. This included selecting to have the Windows partition resized, not deleted, and have the boot loader give me the option to boot either Linux or Windows OS. Well, rebooted after installation (by the way, make sure your printer is supported)and didn't receive any option other than Linux. Contacted SuSE's tech support and was told that the free installation support did not cover this topic. I needed to mount the Windows partition. I could pay for that support if I wanted. I went to Linux.com instead and received intelligent *free* support from the forum there. Had a couple of unsuccessful attempts to mount the Windows partition. Guess what? Discovered that there was no windows partition on my system anymore. ?????????? Contacted SuSE and told them I thought this did qualify as an installation issue. Here's part of their response: "During installation you can choose where to install Linux, it's on the installation settings screen. Also, you can choose to shrink an existing partition. Frankly, I'm afraid you've deleted your windows partition. Please _always_ read all instructions careful, all the information during installation are there for a reason. Just clicking 'Next', can cause
changes you didn't want." Really?! I did choose where to install Linux. I did choose to shrink the existing partition (their recommendation). I did read the installation instructions (remember - no prior experience necessary). As their website states, "The following paragraphs show how even newcomers can install SUSE LINUX 9.0 in 9 easy steps." It also states, "Then, YaST2 will automatically check your system and present an installation proposal. If you wish, you can easily install additional applications or change some of the settings. Experienced users have a lot of configuration options. Newcomers can simply click Accept." Of course, as I was admonished, "just clicking 'next' can cause changes you didn't want." Oh, and it says, "After you click OK, YaST will prepare the hard disk. Existing Windows partitions will be resized automatically to make room for SUSE LINUX." I guess I should have anticipated that "resized" could mean resized to zero. Finally, "When the system is powered on, you can choose whether you want to boot Linux or another operating system." They need to add, "unless we deleted your windows partition." I just don't know what to say at this point. I still believe Linux is a more stable OS than XP. My opinion of SuSE however was "resized" if not completely "deleted." Their site promises much, including: "SUSE LINUX is easy - probably much easier than you think. However, if you should encounter any difficulty - which is quite unlikely - our support team will be at your command..."
Rating: 
Summary: Near Perfect
Review: I had no problems with the install; nothing to write about there. No problems at all.
I used to have Red Hat 9 but after learning of RH's intention to drop desktop support. I went looking for a new version of Linux. I am glad I found SuSe 9.0. Why? First comes with Real Player already setup (had to go get and try and configure for RH9), second for a desktop OS SuSE is better in tune with multimedia type apps(Only complaint had to go get full version of xine to play dvds, guess they have copyright issues there). All in all I am still fairly new to Linux itself and after setting up Suse 9.0 I formated the Windows partition and all that is left is Linux. WHY??? Everything I want to work does!
Rating: 
Summary: Did not meet my expectations
Review: I have heard so many great things about Suse 8.0 & 9.0 so I dumped my RedHat to give it a try. Suse 9.0 was installed on my standard Dell Workstation and the installation went fairly smooth; however, I was surprised how few options I had during the install. After installation I realized there were problems with my network card, monitor, and keyboard! Keyboard?? I haven't keyboard issues in years. Yes, I was able to fix those problems, but I had to do it manually.
Perhaps my expectations were too high - after hearing there is a finally a great Windows alternative called Suse 9.0 - but after 1 week I missed my RedHat Linux and went back to it.
Rating:
Summary: Did not meet my expectations
Review: I have heard so many great things about Suse 8.0 & 9.0 so I dumped my RedHat to give it a try. Suse 9.0 was installed on my standard Dell Workstation and the installation went fairly smooth; however, I was surprised how few options I had during the install. After installation I realized there were problems with my network card, monitor, and keyboard! Keyboard?? I haven't keyboard issues in years. Yes, I was able to fix those problems, but I had to do it manually.
Perhaps my expectations were too high - after hearing there is a finally a great Windows alternative called Suse 9.0 - but after 1 week I missed my RedHat Linux and went back to it.
Rating:
Summary: SuSE is great!
Review: I installed SuSE 9.0 Personal Edition last week. Once I unplugged my SmartCard reader, SuSE installed without a problem. It recognized all my devices, including my scanner and my printer. It was easy to do. The documentation covers much of the major application software included. One caviat... If you are planning on a dual boot along with Windows XP and are using the NTFS file system, you will need to create a partition yourself. Partition magic works great and did it easily for me. Another consideration, make sure you install everything or you will need to go back and reinstall pieces here and there. In short, I would highly recommend this distribution. It was painless and linux is fun to work with.
Rating:
Summary: SUSE should be embarrassed to sell this crap !!!
Review: I'll spare you the gory details cause it ain't pretty. As others have discovered Acronis software will completely wipe your Windows partition if you are not extremely careful. I was and it didn't, but it could easily have happened if I had followed SUSE's FUBAR directions... For the record we tried BOTH SUSE Office Desktop 8.1 and Linux 9.0 and neither would install our standard US Robotics 5610B modem nor our cable modem, both of which worked flawlessly on Windoze, which I HATE because it is the Buggiest code every written and the latest "Critical Security Update" totally hosed our business PC. Back to SUSE Linux... Be advised that SUSE provides ABSOLUTELY NO TECH SUPPORT" for their products no matter what they claim on their website or in their user's manual or on the package or on the installation instructions. I'm not kidding when I tell you they provide NOTHING and will NOT help you install your modem unless it is external dial-up modem, not a cable or DSL modem - Like who in their fugging minds uses an external dial-up modem these days ??? So between the two editions of SUSE Linux we are out $150 in software plus $6,000 in hardware and labor costs for a distro that simply is not ready for Prime Time. Not only is SUSE doing consumers an injustice, they are doing Linux and Linus a huge disservice !!! Linux is a fine O/S that needs a respectable graphical interface. SUSE has demonstrated they can't provide it in any of their products, based on our experience. From conversations with Internet journalist who review Linux software all the time, none of the distro suppliers other than IBM provides quality tech support. Therefore unless you desire to be a Linux programmer without a life, you might want to pass on any of the Linux distros until these companies get their products ready for Prime Time with Tech Support to match a quality distro. What SUSE pulls on customers is a disgrace IMNHO. If they are not defrauding consumers then you would think they would willing refund your money or provide basic installation tech support, neither of which they will do. We know this from personal experience on BOTH SUSE products. Just so you understand, I'm all in favor of Linux but the SUSE products we've purchased at full retail price from do not come with ANY Tech Support and they do NOT install properly or as claimed by SUSE, as other folks here and in other forums have confirmed, which is a real shame.
Rating: 
Summary: Friendly graphical desktop, but with share of problems
Review: Like others have reviewed here, Suse Linux 9.0 can erase Windows if you are not careful enough. This has happened to me, because I tried to resize the Windows partition. I cancelled the process, and was unable to return to Windows. However, if you attempt a *Manual Installation*, you can install this version of Linux without any major problems. I was able to install Linux and have a choice between which operating system I want to use. I had no problems connecting to the Internet with Broadband, but I heard from a friend you can have problems connecting to the Internet if you are using a modem. Since I had broadband, I did not experience any problems in this area. I enjoyed using Linux, but I did not understand the run-time commands to use it in-depth. One problem I had that I did not find in the reviews here: Unless I did not have the correct driver, my keyboard was messed up after Linux installed. All the characters on top of the number keys were all different, and my 'Y' key and 'Z' key were reversed when I typed them. Other then that, Linux was a charm to use for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: Friendly graphical desktop, but with share of problems
Review: Like others have reviewed here, Suse Linux 9.0 can erase Windows if you are not careful enough. This has happened to me, because I tried to resize the Windows partition. I cancelled the process, and was unable to return to Windows. However, if you attempt a *Manual Installation*, you can install this version of Linux without any major problems. I was able to install Linux and have a choice between which operating system I want to use. I had no problems connecting to the Internet with Broadband, but I heard from a friend you can have problems connecting to the Internet if you are using a modem. Since I had broadband, I did not experience any problems in this area. I enjoyed using Linux, but I did not understand the run-time commands to use it in-depth. One problem I had that I did not find in the reviews here: Unless I did not have the correct driver, my keyboard was messed up after Linux installed. All the characters on top of the number keys were all different, and my 'Y' key and 'Z' key were reversed when I typed them. Other then that, Linux was a charm to use for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: I don't know what they are talking about
Review: Multi loading OS's on a computer isn't something people do every day. It's not hard but it's easy to mess up if you are NOT paying attention and have little experience with that sort of thing. If you are installing JUST SuSE on your computer then it works great. Sure I've had computers in which "oddball" hardware doesn't work on it. SuSE on the other hand should be considered bleeding edge on the hardware support side. They are into it all and do a great job. More bang for the buck with RedHat? What does that mean? I get an extra rpm or two? Listen. Look at what they both provide and make a decision. Anything someone else has you can get for SuSE. I was surprised with YaST. I loaded some stuff that was missing from the distro. It selected a site in Chicago by default. Took only a few moments with my broadband connection (Cable 3 Mb pipe). Fedora RC2 was crap. Better than RC1 but still crap. Debian and Slackware are pretty good. For a desktop install I would recommend you wait for SuSE 9.1 actually. It comes out this month I understand (I've already downloaded the source rpms. It's HOT)
Rating:
Summary: I don't know what they are talking about
Review: Multi loading OS's on a computer isn't something people do every day. It's not hard but it's easy to mess up if you are NOT paying attention and have little experience with that sort of thing. If you are installing JUST SuSE on your computer then it works great. Sure I've had computers in which "oddball" hardware doesn't work on it. SuSE on the other hand should be considered bleeding edge on the hardware support side. They are into it all and do a great job. More bang for the buck with RedHat? What does that mean? I get an extra rpm or two? Listen. Look at what they both provide and make a decision. Anything someone else has you can get for SuSE. I was surprised with YaST. I loaded some stuff that was missing from the distro. It selected a site in Chicago by default. Took only a few moments with my broadband connection (Cable 3 Mb pipe). Fedora RC2 was crap. Better than RC1 but still crap. Debian and Slackware are pretty good. For a desktop install I would recommend you wait for SuSE 9.1 actually. It comes out this month I understand (I've already downloaded the source rpms. It's HOT)
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