Rating: 
Summary: 2 thumbs down
Review: I had Mandrake 8. With KDE installed. Everything working perfectly. Fonts changed and the entire system almost like Windows, in 1024x768 resolution. My laptop is a Vaio, all components are top class, nothing from unknown companies etc.
Then, I took a friend's advice to install Suse. After the 1.5 hours of install (only 2 CDs needed) it came up with a 640x420 resolution of really crappy screen. Can I change the resolution? Nope. I go into the Monitor adjustments and it doesn't have any other resolutions listed. It doesn't recognize the monitor at all. It's a bloody Sony, a monitor EVERY OTHER operating systeam has breezily installed.
Way to go Suse. Best linux my butt.
Rating: 
Summary: The best Linux distrubution.... bar none!
Review: I have tried several distrubutions of Linux including Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian, Turbolinux, among others. However, I have to say hands down that Suse is the very best Linux distribution out there in this day and age (July 18, 2004).The reasons... 1.) One of the easiest to install.
2.) Suse has focused on making the transistion easier with a system they call YAST which serves as an installation and administration tool that drastically simplifies the use of the OS.
3.) First Linux distribution to support 64 bit systems. (pro version)
4.) Clean interface thru and thru.
5.) Comes with thousands of programs that can be used free of charge including anything you might needs such as word processing, email, web browsing, etc...
6.) Suse has major corporate backers such as Novell and IBM. It should be around for a very long time in other words.
7.) Has a user base that is growing fast. There are many other reasons I could list, but for the sake of space I will just say, buy it and try it. One last note. Windows users should recognize that if they want to switch over to Linux... they need a transition period to do so. Why? Linux is not Windows. Linux is however an excellent OS. It has many benefits which Windows does not offer. One being its security. It has far fewer security vulnerabilities than Windows does. It has a huge user community that provide free support to one another... there is paid support also if you want that sort of thing. In other words, setup one machine with Suse Linux so you can learn the ins and outs of the OS. Don't expect to use it for your main machine for a couple of months at least. You have probably spent years on Windows and are used to its peculararites. Linux is similar in some ways to Windows and different in some ways. Some features will feel familiar and others will feel new... so set aside some time to learn the differences. The payoff is much less frustration since you are expecting to learn new things and be presented with some challenges. In the end you will end up with a great OS that is in many ways superior to Windows and offers a much less expensive offering of software, support, and security.
Rating:
Summary: Windows XP 64 killer
Review: I have upgraded from 9.0 both the 32 bit version (on my laptop) and the 64 bit version (home PC). The 64 bit is much faster loading and the KDE desktop feels faster to use. I have had a bit of trouble configuring the Envy24 sound included on my chaintech motherboard, but I haven't been able to get it to work under the Windows XP 64 beta either. Obviously this is a driver issue. My cheap USB sound card works fine though. I am able to use this right now in 64 bit mode and Windows 64 is no where near as useful or as fast(though to be fair it is still beta). The package of included software continues to be impressive. The only reason I boot to windows now is for gaming.
Rating: 
Summary: some things don't work with this release
Review: I have used SuSE linux since their release 5.2. Version 9.0 installed and worked flawlessly. Version 9.1, which I installed clean, not an update, seemed to install without problems, but there are problems configuring the scanner (the same scanner I have been using with all the previous releases), the sound system, and the screensaver. My sound card is the very common Creative Audigy 2. This worked under 9.0 with no problems other than that not all features of the card were yet supported. Under 9.1, /var/log/boot.msg shows that the sound system starts, I have configured to card with YAST, but there is no sound. The scanner is an old Microtek X6EL scsi scanner. The boot log shows that the scsi card, and the scanner are recognized. Yet, when I try to use YAST to configure the scanner, no scanner is found. When I try to configure a scsi scanner manually, no scsi devices are found. Yes, the 2.6 kernel is faster -- I have already had to download two replacement kernels, for security reasons, however. The new KDE gui is a little annoying for those of us who don't want it to be more window-like. On the other hand, YAST has worked so well for the last several versions, that I don't even know where all the configuration files are (they've moved them, don't you know), and have no real desire to edit them by hand again, anyway. Therefore, I'm afraid I'm not very happy with what Novel has done with my beloved SuSE. Oh, yeah, the screensaver doesn't work either.
Rating:
Summary: Should give Microsoft some sleepless nights...
Review: I have wide experience with various OS platforms, but not a lot with Linux. After installing SUSE 9.1 and watching it automatically find and configure all my hardware, I would expect Microsoft to start having some sleepless nights worrying about home users switching to Linux. I purchased SUSE Professional 9.1 and, as a test, installed it on a Dell laptop (Inspiron 5000) that already had a copy of Windows 2003 Server installed. I created an extra partition to hold Linux. I booted from the CD and used the Partition manager that came with SUSE to format and rearrainged my partitions on the hard disk. I then performed a completely hands-off installation, letting the software configure all the hardware. Not a single problem. I then unplugged my PCMCIA network card and plugged in a Linksys wireless. When I rebooted, SUSE automatically found and configured the card. Then, while the system was running, I plugged in a USB Key Drive (SanDisk). SUSE automatically configured the USB drive without a hitch. This package ships with five CDs worth of software including Open Office 1.1, dozens of games, a CD and DVD Burner program, as well as all the developer tools you need such as a C++ compiler, Apache, scripting, etc. It uses KDE as a default, which is much like windows (Alt-Tab to switch windows, etc). I could even view and copy files from my Windows 2003 partition from within SUSE. Overall, I am very impressed with this package and it's ability to automatically configure and install itself. Hardcore Linux folks may not like some aspects of the basic OS or the selection of software packages, but in terms of an everyday user this is worth the money. If you are a beginner that wants to start using Linux or you are a developer that wants a no-stress way to get into Linux applications development, this is your software.
Rating:
Summary: All you need...
Review: I haven't loaded SuSE since version 8, and at that time I thought it to be a decent Linux distro, but it still needed to evolve. With version 9.1, SuSE has certainly evolved to the point where anyone can easily load the OS and be up and running immediately much like with Windows. For me, I was able to install Win03, SuSE 9.1, and Solaris x86(ver 9) on one hda without a problem through using SuSE's fdisk tool. SuSE 9.1 recognized all my hardware on my homemade box, and really is fun to use since there is a boatload of applications to tinker with. For the money you can't beat it. For those who complain that SuSE 9.1 trashed their Windows partition, then they might want to learn a bit about disk geometry and the coexistance of different platform OS's before they blame the problem on the SuSE OS. Finally, I wish SuSE/Novell, RHEL, or any other vendor would step up their marketing to convince IT managers to use these NOS CLIENT/server alternatives so competition can flourish, thus making systems evolve to be more secure and stable. SuSE 9.1 brings the hope of this happening a little closer.
Rating:
Summary: TOP LINUX DISTRO, BUT GET THE PERSONAL EDITION, IT SUFFICES.
Review: I love Suse, I liberally evangelize it, and despite the trivial grouses of some reviewers (namely, Mozilla not being the default the browser or Gnome not being the default desktop, both of which are easily and freely resolved issues) I believe SuSE is the best Linux distro on the market, the benchmark to beat.
But I'd like to point out that the "Personal" edition of the OS does all you probably need it to do. If you have a high-speed connection, the personal version is also absolutely FREE to download.
Take a look at www.suse.com/us/private/products/suse_linux/pers/pers_prof.html (or google for "SuSE 9.1 personal professional comparison" in case this site filters the URL in my review) and you'll see why the Professional version is not worth the price of admission. It includes some micro-minor software that is easily skippable. (E.g., do you really need GnuCash and Mr.Project?)
That said, if you're in the market for trying out a Linux, you simply cannot go wrong with SuSE; it is the most easily configurable, the best supported, the best documented, and above all, the most easily usable OS in the Linux world.
Rating:
Summary: EASY EASY AND EASY!
Review: I read all of the reviews both regarding the suse and others. I went ahead and got the 9.1 pro just for the simplicity of it all. It came with cds, dvds, and two excellant books. I swithched to mac one year ago after using all forms of PC since the early days. I installed the software on both a amd athlon 1900 and a amd laptop.
Installation was easy. No problems whatsoever. Great user interface. Has programs that I use on my mac such as open office. Still have to work some more with it but in my humble opinion it is worth a try.
dan
Rating:
Summary: Box is now crashed...
Review: I sit here typing on a laptop because my main pc is crashed thanks to this mess. The only error I get is a kernel panic and then it locks up. My Windows partition is gone, pictures, data everything. ARGGG, I am not very happy now at all. At least with Windows it actually works unlike this linux fiasco.
Rating: 
Summary: Suse 9.1 Pro does not work for me
Review: I tried for a dual boot with Windows XP. I have installed a wide variety of Linux distros. Suse 9.1 has been the hardest to install. While most of the problems revolve around GRUB, I have also had problems with installation and recognition of my monitor (a Microscan ADI 5EP), my printer, scanner, and camera. I found YAST to be impressive and useful. The two books that come with official versions of Suse 9.1 Pro are excellent. Note that Windows XP and LindowsOS 4.5, ArkLinux, Redhat 9.0 all installed with less problems than SUSE. Lindows (now Linspire) is a complete no-brainer to install with Winows XP. Bottom line is that Suse 9.1 goes south much too easily. Hardware: 800 Mhz Pentium III, 30GB primary disk. 120GB secondary (divided into 4 Partitions). CD R/W and DVD drives. DSL 512MB total memory. I will try to return this distro to Amazon. I have spent 7 days almost 8 hours a day trying for a successful installation. No Luck
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