Hello all. I used to use SuSe Linux 9.2 and was very happy with it. However, it was necissary to upgrade to 10.1 in order to update hardware support etc.
I know, this is going to make some of you angry, but it must be said. In using 10.1, I have this odd feeling that I am really using Windows. The software is so buggy that truly, it makes me wonder if I am really using Windows. I have tried 10.1 on three different machines, very different machines. Each machine shares the same buggy nature. Slow running, as if I were trying to run Windows XP on a Pentium 2. Some people say to turn things off to increase the speed. Umm.. that is like taking the engine out of a Porsche and replacing it with a chain saw engine to get the light working. what is the point? Settings made in YAST are completely ignored and the software seems to have a mind of its own. I tell it to NOT use any power save functions, yet it does, even though the settings say otherwise. YAST takes almost two minutes to load anything at all. All other software comes up slowly and everything is very buggy. Trying to update video drivers using about a half a dozen techniques found in forums online results in the same conclusions. Nothing works like it is supposed to. If SuSe knows and has known that there is a problem with the video drivers having to be installed manually, why didn't they do something about that instead of making non-command line users use the command line?
I have read in the news lately that the man who first developed SuSe Linux has left the company, saying that it is not the company he started 13 years ago, since Novell took it over. Does this mean that he himself knows that SuSe is heading in a more Windows type direction where nothing works properly? Everywhere online I see people fighting to get SuSe Linux 10.1 to work properly. That doesn't sound like Linux to me, it sounds like Windows. What on earth is happening to Linux?
Nobody online seem to know what is going on. Try this, try that. Umm... why? It shouldn't be this way in the first place. Can anyone give a complete and honest answer as to what is going on with SuSe these days? Let's face it, Germany is not known for its expertise in programming. That is why they have only two reasons for importing workers. One is for programmers because they thought computers were only a fad and didn't prepare for it. The other is telecommunications. I know, as I was imported to work there a few years ago. Typically, they prefer to import and hire Russian programmers that used to be milking cows, then went to school for programming. I know this is a fact, as I was there and witnessed it in several companies. Is this what is happening to SuSe? Are they hiring cow herders and milkers to create SuSe? Is this why the original owner left the company in disgust? I share his feelings.. I am completely disgusted to. It is getting worse instead of better. SuSe seems to be turning into a Windows clone, in every respect.

Well I've never used 9.2 but I do know that 10 and 10.1 can be a real pain to set up and use with certain macines. And yet it works flawlessly with others. But my introduction to SuSE is quickly becoming a bad one if problems keep arising.

A year and a half ago I decided to try a commercial distro after running my own systems (based on Linux From Scratch) for several years both at home and at work. So I tried SuSE 9.3. Then I bought 10.0. I saw it was quite nice but I also saw it was less stable than the systems I used to run. But still no big deal. And then I recently tried 10.1, downloaded from opensuse.org. I tried it on both 64 and 32 bits machines.

It was a great help.

It was a great help to get me back to rebuilding my own systems. I needed that push and SuSE 10.1 gave it to me. The 'thing', for lack of better term, is so buggy for a pro distro.

What's the use of spending hours on fixing that when that time can be used in a more productive and creative manner instead of searching forums for fixes ?

SuSE 10.1: three thumbs down.

I started Linux with SuSe 8.1. It was nice and stable on any machine it was installed on. Then, I moved up to 9.2. That was also nice, untill I allowed it to update itself. With the new kernel changes, it screwed up everything. Basically the same problems I am having with 10.1. Each machine allowed to update itself suffered the same fate. More buggy with each update. It is as if whomever was writing the new kernel was somehow incapable of writing them so they are functional. Maybe people who used to work for windows perhaps? Ah.. I am just irritated. Three machines, each a different kind entirely yet the same problems in each. 11 hours of hassles and still no success with any of them. It used to be that the only people who became programmers were those who saw nothing else in life but programming. That is a true programmer. Live eat and breath it. Nowadays, who knows why people get into programming anymore. Programmers are not created in schools, they are born.

I agree. For a professional distro, SuSe is really sinking. I suppose it is like most corporations, where the dollar is more important than the actual product. This leads me to believe that pro distros are falling into the same old trap. Less and less for the better of the software community and more and more for the cheapest way to throw something, anything out the door on schedule. This is really a sad thing, as I really did believe that eventually, Linux would topple Windows through better programming, programmed by people who really cared about what they were doing. I didn't think that Linux of any distro would fall prey to corporate rule and methodology. I suppose that just goes to show that in the end, everything kneels before the green god. Ah... I just hate writing such things. Sad isn't it? No matter what, I am a Linux user and always will be. I just wish corporations would keep their noses out of it and let it be the superior software it was created to be.

Does anyone consider to change to oneother distro?
I am absolute beginer in Linux Suse 10.1 (have it on my second hard disc about 2 weeks)
I did learn a lot but I never felt so frustrated as now using Suse 10.1. It's full of problems.I consider to change to oneother distro.. Can you recommand a good one for beginers like me?

Suse 10.1 is working good on my laptop.
I could never get the touchpad right with my 9.3 install.
I had to manually install some kde synaptics package but my touchpad is working. Mplayer installed and I can play DVDs. Linuxant modem driver and my winmodem works. USBserial adaptor working. Digital camera accessible from digicam. CNN clips accessible without freezing up.
I am not so happy about the mess they have made of the updater. Seems to be working now whatever it is.
Things were screwed up for a while when Suse started implementing YAST2 in much the same way. I did not use Suse from 7.1 to 9.1. Doing Mandrake and Debian instead.
Yep, new software can be frustrating. My only tip is to never run only one thing. Always keep your "good" system running when installing the "new" system. I am still running Suse 9.3 (amongst other things) on my desktop.
I do not doubt you are stating your experience but you do realize that the specifics are vague and your post qualifies as a rant.

It is true, my recent posts have been rants. The responses of a frustrated mind. I have a ton of work to do, but cannot due to failures in the system. I am a mechanical engineer, so programming is not my scene. I will attempt to describe the transition from 9.2 to 10.1.
9.2 was installed from disk without incident. All devices and packages were fully functional. Once updates began, everything started messing up. I purchased a new printer (HP PSC 1510 all-in-one). There were no drivers for it associated with 9.2. I purchased 10.1 as it supports the new hardware.
The computer system is an IBM with a Pentium 3 @ 1GHz, 256M ram, 40gig HD. I use a Logitech TrackMan Marble+ and a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard. I am dual boot with Windows for AutoCAD 2004 as well as EagleCAD (the only reason for windows). The only thing 9.2 would not do is give me access to the new printer or my digital camera. 10.1 solved this problem. I expected that 10.1 would provide the same efficient ability as 9.2, as the system is the same, just a new version of SuSe. But, with the installation of 10.1, nothing was the same even though the hardware did not change. This made no sense to me.
In 10.1, the trackball works eratically with no scroll wheel. Pointer jumps around as if it had a mind of its own. Windows will open by themselves just by passing over tabs with the pointer. Everything loads very slowly. Yast takes up to 2 minutes to come up. Most software comes up very slowly and runs very slowly. Often times it takes so long for things to come up that it makes me wonder if it is going to or not. I just have to sit and wait. Monitor shuts down on power save even though all power save functions are set not to. Monitor takes on average 30-40 seconds to come back up each time the ball is moved.
Many attempts have been made to install new Nvidia drivers, as in 10.1 my 3D card suddenly has no 3D ability. No matter what technique is used to attempt Nvidia install, it always tells me that the kernel install failed. So, now there is no 3D ability in my card. 9.2... not a problem. I am waiting for a newer card to be delivered. Will try again then.
In 9.2, computer completely shuts down when told to. In 10.1, no soft shut down at all. I have to manually shut the computer down with the power switch.
Using Firefox in 9.2, plug-ins install automatically. In 10.1, they won't. I have to go into Yast to do it, then reboot for changes to take effect. Sometimes, even that doesn't work. Depends on the plug-in.
The more I use the OS, the more problems I run into. I can't go back to 9.2 because of my new hardware such as the camera and printer. I need these things for my business. Then again, I can't keep using 10.1 due to constant problems. So, what to do? I can't keep fighting this system. I have a business to run! I sincerely appologize for my rants in previous posts... but these problems are driving me crazy! I am not used to such problems with a Linux system.

thorn3, I'm sorry for all the troubles you have. I have installed Suse 10.1 and it works perfectly. I only used Yast to install Smart Package Manager. With Smart I got mplayer, with plugins in Firefox,(win32codec + mpeg + java), got xmms working perfectly. I followed the instructions on nVidia's site on installation of drivers (IA-32 1.0-87.62). I installed the dependencies that was needed:

1) Kernel sources must be installed and configured. Usually this means
installing the 'kernel-source', 'make' and 'gcc' packages with YaST2.
2) Use the nvidia installer for 1.0-8762.
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run -q
3) Configure X.Org with
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia (0 is a digit, not a letter!)

NOTE: There is no need to try to enable 3D support. It's already
enabled, when the nvidia driver is running.

IMPORTANT: You need to recompile and install the nvidia kernel module
after each kernel update.
A tip, if it doesn't work, try installing tiny-nvidia-installer in Yast. You can install that one, because when you install the correct driver, the driver that the "tiny" one installed is uninstalled.

I have a nVidia 6600 GT 256 Mb PCI-express, 3D works. I am using Cedega v5.2 and the games works perfectly. Drivers for all hardware was found and installed.
Average output in glxgears: 39720 frames in 5.0 seconds = 7944.000 FPS.
I am using digiKam for my Sony Cybershot 6.0
I don't like dual-boot, so I have a harddisk for each OS, I have a Chieftec case with a "door" on the side, so it's just a matter of switching the S-ATA power cable between the harddisks. The harddisks are mounted parallel to the front of the case, with the back of the disks facing the door.

That's rubbish
The company was German in the first place but is now American (Novell).

I can only relate my experiences. I have used SUSE Linux since version 9.3. Currently, I have installed SUSE Linux 10.1 in five machines, including my HP Notebook computer. I'm not a Linux expert, by any stretch of the imagination, I but I do try to read and follow SUSE blogs and forums, looking for tips, fixes and experiences of others.

I can only say that SUSE 10.1 installed perfectly, recognized all hardware and runs without any issues in all the installations I have done thus far. The only problem I had was with the HP Notebook, which was purchased with 256M of RAM (has an AMD Sempron 2800 processor). It seemed to freeze during installation. I was not happy with how slow it ran, even with SUSE 10.0, so knew I really needed more RAM. My 1GB RAM chip arrived yesterday...replaced the sickly 256M chip and as with the desktop installs, the HP notebook happily installed SUSE 10.1. And, SUSE runs well and fast, just as it does in the desktop systems.

Incidentally, none of the installs I have done are on dual boot systems...only thing I run is Linux and on my own desktop system, I run software SATA RAID0.

Cheers,
zenarcher

I noticed the hardware you have. I have same mainboard, but with 4 GB RAM. You are running SuSE in 32 bit mode. Why ?
Do you have 7.1 sound ? Are you using one of the on-board RAID hardware interfaces or are you using the SuSE soft RAID setup ?

Cheers.

BTW, on another topic, funny thing, this Microsoft Windows Server System advertisement right at the top of this page to write a reply in a Linux forum. Why is LinuxQuestions.org running Microsoft ads ? And servers at that.

IMO too many people are crying over a "work in progress". Novell is still new to th open source game, and IMO they have actually done a very kick ass job on SuSE since they took over.

Sure 10.1 had a few bugs, but most have been fixed, and well IMO it's better then 10.0 and the features it provides well surpass 9.x .. I say by the time 10.2 comes out it will be just as solid as 9.2 was.

I run 10.1 now on a Laptop without any big issues.
I have been using them since 8.2 then 9.1 then 9.3
I had no installation problems what so ever. I used YAST Control panel and registered with Novell.
After a short download using YOU, another download was required as the first fixed up all the issues reported with zen and on the 2nd round a heap of update patches got installed.
It has been smoother then 9.3 which I still run as dual boot for the moment until I am more certain with 10.1 (mainly due to the bad reports).
I have now installed just a couple of repositories with zen and it has been working fine so far.

There is nothing wrong with SuSE to move towards a more familiar look of Windows.
How else will we get more Users to come across to Linux?
If it is too alien then people won't touch it.
How do you expect me and others to get new users across to a better OS unless it has at least some familiarity to what they have used before?
On this Laptop with just a 1.7GHz processor and just 512MB of RAM it seems to run just as fast as 9.3
Yes there are still bugs, but they are minor now..not major.
I have no stability issues...maybe the ones that have all the problems should download the latest ISO?
I had mine up and running in just 2 hours..including setting up Network and access through my Server to the Internet via ADSL.

Actually I've just downloaded the 10.2 Alpha --this installed fine on my Laptop and a desktop -- seems to have fixed a lot of probs I had with 10.1

However it IS alpha software so I would expect to run into something sooner --but it seems fine especially for an ALPHA.

Cheers

-K

New problem discovered this morning. When reading mail in Thunderbird, I deleted one mail. The pointer was still floating over the delete button and actuated itself! I noticed this activity in other programs, but didn't notice this in mail untill this morning. Not always, but often times while typing, the time between keypress and the moment the character appears on the screen is not always the same. Seems confusing at times. A lag is occuring for some reason.
alfredh: Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the German people. I am one! I was just raised in the US. While working on communications systems for tunnels through Weiland and train door mechanisms and controllers for KFB and Webasto (which involved several companies) the primary complaint was the lack of programmers and why. So the information I posted was originally spoken by the Germans I worked with. I was unaware of the problem untill they themselves expressed it to me. My complaint about Novell is the idea that most corporations tend to destroy products due to financial requirements, not the requirements of the actual product. This is seen not only in Novell, but most corporations. Have you ever attempted to engineer products for a corporation? If so, you would agree with me that they tend to choose money over quality, pushing products out the door before they are ready, all due to a time schudule. For people trying to run a company on software, this is rather devastating to the user.
I suppose my primary concern regarding 10.1 is that although my system has not changed, the way 10.1 interacts with my hardware has completely changed. I find this odd and quite frustrating. Although my hardware is listed in the supported list, just as in 9.2, the way the hardware interacts with the software in 10.1 is very quirky. Why is this so? Shouldn't the hardware interact in identical fashion? If I were starting out with all different hardware, I would understand possible conflicts. But, this is not the case.