GeekLimit

What a beautiful day, 11th of May … at last, couldn’t wait any longer.

The “Final” version of SUSE Linux 10.1 has been released by Novell.

Whether you’re new to Linux or you use it daily, SUSE Linux 10.1 delivers the features you need most for home computing and networking. SUSE Linux includes all of the latest desktop productivity tools to help you with your most common home computing tasks. Whether it’s instant messaging and communicating with friends, creating and designing graphics, or organizing digital picture and music files, you’ll find what you need on our easy-to-use desktop. From established solutions like Firefox and OpenOffice.org to “first looks” at emerging technologies like Beagle and Xen, these applications are a real value. You simply open the box, run the installation program and start using Linux for everything you do. Choose the default set of applications to get a great desktop or customize your entire computing environment. It’s truly that easy.

There are 2 ways you can get 10.1:

• SUSE Linux 10.1 Box/Retail = tech-support + closed source software + printed manuals. The retail box will contain 1 DVD9 (double layered) for x86 and x86_64, 5 CDs for i386 containing only OSS packages, plus one CD containing closed source add-on packages. As before, the DVD9 version contains more packages than the CD version. Downloadable DVDs have a reduced package selection compared to the retail DVD, because the retail DVD is double-layer and can hold more data.
• SUSE Linux 10.1 Downloadable = comes either as installable 5-CD set or 1 DVD5. There are two versions of DVD iso, one 32bit and the other being 64bit. Then there is “Add-On CD”, which includes free closed source software, such as Flash plug-in, Acrobat Reader, etc. LiveDVD for x86 only is also available.

Other than that, there are no other differences, as far as I know.

All non-OSS media and packages will are hosted on novell.com or suse.com, not openSUSE.org. Remember that the distribution is now called “SUSE Linux”. The “OSS” string in the download version is no longer used.

Some of the new features and appps that SUSE Linux 10.1 contains are:

• Kernel 2.6.16
• X.org 6.9.0
• GCC 4.10
• KDE 3.5.1
• GNOME 2.12
• Firefox 1.5.0.3
• Thunderbird 1.5
• OpenOffice 2.0.2
• openssh 4.2p1-18
• perl 5.8.8
• Xgl + Compiz
• Novell AppArmor 2.0 (new package)
• NetworkManager 0.6.2 (new package)

If you are new to SUSE Linux, I will recommend check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for your hardware, though this is not necessary. I have to say that SUSE, as well as the kernel supplied with it, are quite good when it comes to supporting and detecting hardware, especially the x86 platform. PPC platform is also supported.

So, what are you waiting for and wasting your precious time reading this post … go and grab a copy or even better buy a retail version and support the community. If downloading, better use BitTorrent or mirror sites, so not to overload the main servers. I am personally going to buy this time and will be installing x86_64 version.

Word to openSUSE and Novell Team: SUSE Linux 10 was a wonderful implemenation of Linux, an an evolutionary move from SuSE Linux Professional 9.3. Thank you for all the great work. Time to enjoy 10.1 now.