Cheap Suse Linux Personal 9.1 (Software) (Linux) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Suse Linux Personal 9.1

Do NOT buy this product to UPGRADE your old SuSE!!!!!
In general, I think SuSE has always produced a great product. I've been using SuSE since version 6.4 and It's been my primary home operating system since version 8.0. I do not use Windows at all. I'm currently running SuSE Linux 8.2 and I'm very satisfied with it. I was anxiously awaiting SuSE 9.1 and the new SuSE kernel in the inexpensive "personal" edition that I've always used to update my SuSE Linux O/S.

I soon discovered that Novell has changed things!!! !!!YOU CAN NO LONGER UPDATE YOUR SuSE Linux OPERATING SYSTEM USING THE PERSONAL EDITION!!!! I'm not sure if this changed in version 9.0 or within this version, but it was a shock to me. I've always used the inexpensive personal edition and supplemented it with downloaded software from various sites online. To all long-time SuSE Users considering buying this version, be aware that you will need to have the "update" or "professional" edition to update your current SuSE Linux system!

I'm very disappointed by this change, particularly since I spent about $30 on a version that I have no use for whatsoever. The box should have been clearly labeled to indicate that this version CANNOT BE USED FOR UPDATING SYSTEMS and I would strongly recommend that Novell place this prominently on the box in the future!!!

For USERS NEW TO SuSE AND/OR Linux WHO WANT TO GIVE IT A TRY, I can recommend this edition however. The "Live CD" makes trying SuSE painless and SuSE is still probably the best desktop Linux around for the price that's *relatively* easy to install, configure, and enjoy. As for those users complaining that it doesn't work with or like Windows, I think they just wanted a cheap Windows knock-off, but Linux is something different and has to be approached as a separate thing with its own merits. A new user will have to learn Linux just as they once had to learn Windows. It's an adjustment, but it's not so bad if you can devote a little time and energy to learning it.

Novell folks reading this review: LABEL THIS CLEARLY NOT FOR UPDATING, DANGIT!!!! IF I EVER WASTE MONEY LIKE THIS AGAIN, I WILL BOYCOTT YOUR PRODUCT!!!

---

Very Good Distro
I'm a bit surprised at the negative reviews written before this one. I do not believe this distro is anywhere near as bad as these reviewers are making it out to be. OK, here is what I got:

My computer is a personal built Intel P4 (2ghz) with 512mb RAM, 80 gig hard drive, GeForce 4 video card, SoundBlaster live sound card, NetGear ethernet card, LiteOn CDRW, LiteOn DVDRW-that's the essentials.

Now I have my hard drive partitioned roughly in half with Windows 2000 on the first partition. I installed this distro to the second partition. No problems what so ever. I can boot into windows or suse just fine with no problems. Now I used the default settings on the install (they are just fine), but you can change stuff around. If you do change where and how it loads, be sure to know what you are doing first. I suspect that is how people get themselves in trouble then blame the product. The default settings work great, so don't change'em unless you really need to.

All the programs are there, from web browsing to Open Office. The interface is nice and clean yet it is still very customizable. Open Office has opened all my windows office files without difficulty.

My wife, who couldn't care less about computers other then web surfing and email, has no problem using SUSE. She took to it right away and hasn't had any problems finding her way around. This distro has organized the programs very well and I've found things easy to find.

I think SUSE did a very fine job. I've used alot of other distros, but I always come back to SUSE sooner or later.

---

Not as good as 9.0 Personal
Updated Review (17 July 2004): I've been using Suse 9.1 on the IBM 600x for a few weeks now, and I think I may have been wrong about the distro. It is working real well now. I used the wireless driver, ndiswrapper and now have wireless connectivity without the linuxant driver. I had to go out to the internet to configure it, but, after some simple web searches, you can make it work.

I installed Suse 9.1 on a Thinkpad 600x and didn't get that sound anymore, so, I was wrong about Suse 9.1 creating the noise. My apologies. But, when I tried doing some simple like MAKE, it wasn't installed by default. Wireless is still a pain to install, the easiest way to do this is to use Linuxant's drivers.

I'm not sure why Suse changed the nature of their product. It seems that after using 9.0 and loving it, they created this version of 9.1 with KDE 3.2 and things work, but, not in the same manner as before. I tried using the TV Tuner software and that use to work on my 9.0 system and now it works much more flakey. I installed 9.1 on my Thinkpad T22 and the a strange noise emits from the computer. Plus, very little packages that you need are available anymore. I think Novell is trying to make it less worthwhile to use the GUI environment native to Suse and go out and buy Ximian Desktop (which the by the way doesn't install on 9.1, OS isn't recognized).