Hi guys
I'd love to install SUSE 11.1 with the MINIMAL amount of installed programs etc. I'm not talking about a "Tiny" or Thumbnail Linux. I want a fully featured SUSE with KDE GUI but minimal nr of extras.

I'm not sure at all as to what I need and what I can leave out.

I basically want KDE with its bits and pieces,
Internet browser (Firefox), Email client, Virtual Box, Ability to load and update software, ability to make and compile programs and update the kernel if I have to. Wireless and LAN connectivity. I also want proper Video resolution and ability of course to PRINT.

I don't need any pre-packaged Multi-media (can install my own), Compiz / snazzy eye candy, games etc etc.

I'm not trying to use the OS to "replicate" Windows -- If I need zillions of pre packaged apps I'll use Windows -- I know that sounds like sacriledge on a 'Nix forum but by all accounts the New Windows 7 has actually got some supporters. I am looking for a Fully featured (with a GUI) small fast Linux.

The current Distos just seem to come with so many packages very few of which I am unlikely EVER to use.

Cheers
-K

The Live CD KDE is that still to much ?
If so after you have install the Live CD , remove all the packages you do not want.

openSUSE is a Windows replacement OS and I think it's an excellent one. But it is on the bottom of my list when it comes to any kind of a minimal distribution.

What you are asking for does not make any sense at all. openSUSE is about providing every conceivable package and service without the user needing to know anything. It's a great plug-and-play OS but it is not a minimal distro and if you try to make it into one either you have way too much time on your hands or you like hurting yourself

I have a few suggestions for you. First if you want a great Linux, there is NO BETTER DISTRO THAN SLACKWARE when it comes to absolute control, stability, and the perfect mix of binary packages and ability to build from source. You can customize your install and come up with an excellent and lightweight desktop or server very quickly and without much effort.

If you want a UNIX desktop where you have access to a huge repository of apps that you can pick from, then install FreeBSD as the X user install and then start adding packages from there.

Either of these two approaches will give you a cleanish (clean, with Slackware) desktop that does what YOU want and not what somebody else THOUGHT you might want.

You can pump up or trim down nearly any reasonable distro but these two suggestions are what I would do if I wanted to do what you want to do. If you want a lightweight setup then looking at a full-featured or bloated distro and cutting it back is silly and time consuming. Better off starting with something that lets you install a minimal system and add to it instead of only having the option of installing 4 or 5G of rubbish and then spending the rest of your life deleting packages and hoping you don't break something (you will).

If you know exactly what you want in terms of exactly which programs you want installed, just use yast to get what you want and SuSE is no worse than any other Linux Distro with the same selection of packages (and some others make it harder to get exactly what you want).

On the other hand, if what you really want to know is what you can remove without breaking your installation, that would be rather different question.