As an experienced Windows user wanting to try Linux I experimented with Red Hat 9 for a while but could only get so far and decided to try SuSE 9.SuSE installed without a hitch alongside WinXP, downloading all patches and updates as it went, and did everything automatically that I had spent hours configuring manually in Red Hat (or never managed at all):
-All Windows drives mounted and accessible
-Digital camera detected and accessible
-Network detected and Samba client set up, Samba server configured with just a few clicks
-CDRW drive configured and working
-Mp3 player up and running
OK, this sort of stuff may be easy for experienced Linux users but it can be very daunting for newbies. SuSE 9 has to be the most user-friendly Linux yet. If all your hardware is recognised its quicker and easier to install and configure than Windows; if not, you may have problems.
My advice is to download the demo CD first from SuSE to check compatability with your hardware, then buy the retail version, which comes with support (which I havent had to try yet) and excellent manuals.
For about a tenth of the price youd pay M$ for Windows XP and Office alone you get a superb, industrial-strength operating system, a fully-featured M$-compatible office suite and hundreds of free programs and games. But dont expect it to be the same as Windows; under the hood its the same old unintuitive Linux, but SuSEs excellent Yast configuration tools minimise the need for manual configuration and it really repays a little perseverance.
Every day I use Linux a little more and Windows a little less.
In case this is all beginning to sound like an advert for SuSE, a few gripes:
- SuSEs standard desktop, with its Fisher-Price icons, doesnt have the quality feel of Red Hats bluecurve theme but no doubt makes newcomers feel at home
- As others have noticed, there are a few bugs in the start menu and parts of the manuals are still in German!
- er, thats it!
Windows has got some real competition at last - but if you consider the price difference, theres no really competition at all.