Opensuse Or Sled 10?

I bought this Lenovo R61 which came pre-loaded with SLED 10. Wondering if I should switch over to OpenSuse? I figure OpenSuse would install and run fine.

What are the advantages or disadvantages?

Thanks.

I bought this Lenovo R61 which came pre-loaded with SLED 10. Wondering if I should switch over to OpenSuse? I figure OpenSuse would install and run fine.

What are the advantages or disadvantages?

Thanks.
[/b]

not much as far as i'm aware other than extended support from novell. suse linux enterprise will be a little bit 'older' so to speak as it is a little more tried and tested for stability reasons, but opensuse is stable enough by any means. ive been using the standard suse desktop for about 2.5 years now and had 1 system crash which was my fault in a way so... (i tried opening up over 200video files at once, but instead of appending them as a playlist, i accidentally made them open up in seperate windows...) if your currently happy with sled10 then stick with it, opensuse 11 is coming out in 6-7weeks though....

I bought this Lenovo R61 which came pre-loaded with SLED 10. Wondering if I should switch over to OpenSuse? I figure OpenSuse would install and run fine.

What are the advantages or disadvantages?

Thanks.
[/b]

Hi J Seglem,
Welcome to the suse world and to our forum... I'm sure you will enjoy.

I think there is not too much difference between both,
You already bought your Lenovo with SLED preinstalled... I assume then that you have already paid for SLED included in the price of the laptop. (I don't know... can you check the documents, license, consult the vendor..)
Generally speaking SLED is free to download and use but:
Technical support: you pay for it annually.
Updates: you pay for it annually.
I wonder if these are included with your purchase, for how long?
Anyway... the costs are not really high... you may check Novell on this link

If you already have the right to update - and this is the most important point especially for security - then why go through the hassle of reinstalling or replacing an already working operating system?

Later on... if you do not wish to renew your subscriptions you may switch to OpenSuse, by that time it would be version 11.0.

In any case I'd chose to stay with SLED for some time especially if I'm not experienced with suse linux, and wait for some time after OpenSuse 11.0 comes out if my decision would be to switch to opensuse.

I hope you let us know about your findings in regards to the license, updates... etc. related to your purchase.

I hope this helps?

Thanks for responding.

No, there is no ongoing support from Lenovo. Online update seems to push out patches, but I'm not signed up (paying) for anything.

I bought this machine in particular because my experience with Thinkpads at work has been great for many years. I avoided the Dell Ubuntu version since Dell is not as good as Lenovo in my opinion. I like Suse now and look forward to learning. I figured it would make more sense to switch before I get too deep into setting the system and software the way I like it. So for now I guess there is no compelling reason to switch. SLED seems to do everything and then some for my purposes.

Thanks for responding.

No, there is no ongoing support from Lenovo. Online update seems to push out patches, but I'm not signed up (paying) for anything.

I bought this machine in particular because my experience with Thinkpads at work has been great for many years. I avoided the Dell Ubuntu version since Dell is not as good as Lenovo in my opinion. I like Suse now and look forward to learning. I figured it would make more sense to switch before I get too deep into setting the system and software the way I like it. So for now I guess there is no compelling reason to switch. SLED seems to do everything and then some for my purposes.
[/b]

I see... then... this is a good point that you don't want to waste time setting up SLED to your taste then switching... so I see we have a few options as OpenSuSE will only come out in few weeks:
1. wait on SLED till 11.0 is released, and experiment with it... to get to know suse better
2. download the current version 10.3 and:
a. stay with it for a while (6 months, a year, more?!) then switch to 11.0
b. experiment with 10.3 then switch to 11.0 as soon it comes out
c. download 11.0 beta... and start with it... but I personally won't do that
My opinion would be option 2.a because 10.3 have been around for some time and has lots of topics and answered questions, so it will be easier for you to sort out any problems or to get support.

I tell you what, yes... I believe suse is the best linux distro though ubuntu is gaining much bigger popularity... I have tried it... the only thing about it is that everything works out of the box... (windoze way)... but though... I didn't like it. This is another story.
Moreover... Lenovo is great... mine is 3000 c100 and I see it as a heavy duty laptop and with 10.3 it is even better.

Congratulations and welcome to suse and to this forum.

Limo, i'd like to try and see what ubuntu is like, out of curiosity, bu tlast time i tried it it didn't even pas the boot screen cause of the ati card? Think the latest version will work?

Limo, i'd like to try and see what ubuntu is like, out of curiosity, bu tlast time i tried it it didn't even pas the boot screen cause of the ati card? Think the latest version will work?
[/b]

Hi Doomknight,

First of all, my apologies for the delay, I just got busy.

Honestly I don't know about OpenSuse 11.0, I haven't tried it, and I don't have ATI card (as far as I know :unsure: ), I'm on a the above mentioned notebook)
As far as I remember I have read few posts here about some troubles with graphic cards because of drivers or something like that.
Just search this forum or browse the hardware threads to get more details.

What linux are you using now? (I hope it's opensuse), is it working ok with you?

I have tried some time ago a kubuntu live cd, I was impressed at that time that it automatically detected my DSL configuration and I was connected to the net without doing anything. On opensuse 10.2 that time I had to enter all the necessary info during installation to get internet connection. Maybe on opensuse 10.2 I was not that clever to let it do it automatically. But when I recently installed 10.3 it automatically did it, I didn't have to configure anything.

I don't know why I didn't like kubuntu, I simply didnt feel "at home", and I realy missed the sweet start menu of 10.2 and later where sub-menus just slide in and out without cascading, I missed the search box at the top of the start menu.

I believe that suse is much better, just my personal taste, I feel at home.

Same here...home sweet home... I'm using suse 10.3 now, but still dual booting with vista, until i can get the **** ati drivers to install corectly...I've tried everything i knew of, and read some howto files, posted here...nothing works...my only hope is suse 11, or the next driver release...until then not much i can do anymore....suse is working perfectly with me...tried a whole bunch of distributions but non seemed to work like ssuse...mandriva for example is just...rigid...fedora is gnome based and not on my taste...tried knoppix...doesn't cut it...ubuntu doesn't work at all...the onyl one that feels right for me is suse...while it may have some dificulties with configuring stuff, in the end, you get it to work, and it works well...suse seems the best replacement of windblows...