If one is installing 11.2, then I believe ext4 is worth moving to.
Reference updating to 11.2, then here is what I noted in another thread:
11.2 has some improvements with YaST. For example in software management under 11.1, after one has completed updating some software, the software management would close. I believe in 11.2 it is supposed to stay open (in case one wishes to install more software).
In 11.2 YaST the graphics/monitor menus have been removed and are no longer maintained. This is a reflection of 11.2 having more automatic graphic card recognition built in. But if that (auto configuration) does not work, it is still possible to boot to run level 3 (ie boot to an ascii / text full screen mode) and run the program “sax2” with various options ( “man sax2” will provide some of the options) and then sax2 will create a custom /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. If that file exists in 11.2, it will over ride the auto config settings.
11.2 YaST also purportedly has partitioner interface enhancements
11.2 purportedly has other YaST enhancements (yast to QT4)
Aside from YaST, 11.2 promises to have many other updates. As already noted, the update from 11.1’s 2.6.27 kernel to 11.2’s 2.6.31 kernel should provide :
- USB-3.0 support
- some speed/memory improvements, boot speed improvements
- improved drivers (better wifi support, bloothooth, … )
- improved files system support (such as ext4, btrfs , encryped )
- improved ATI radeon kernel mode setting (KMS) support
- improved alsa/oss support (SB X-Fi, … etc … )
- new kernel debugging features
- other improved hardware support
- improved virtualization (KVR)
- improved drivers (graphics, scsi, sata, network/wifi, sound, usb, bluetooth … )
11.2 provides Gnome-2.28 with its
- better social network client interfaces (facebook, twitter, Identi.ca, … )
- new windowing and user interface (Sonar)
- various bug fixes
- Epiphany web browser switch from Geckto to WebKit
- new Bluetooth module
11.2 provides a more stable KDE with KDE-4.3.1 (with patches)
- includes better social network client interfaces (twitter,Identi.ca … )
- improved Kmail
- firefox default browser
- improvements to plasmoids
- many bug fixes for improved stability.
Note KDE-3.5.10 is not included in 11.2.
Also, 11.2 provides
- Ext4 file system (by default)
- Newer application versions (firefox, openoffice, amarok, digikam, k3b, konversation, gimp, … )
- Encyrption more feasible
- Semi-Auto graphic card detection/use
- Hybrid ISO’s to install openSUSE from USB
In 11.2 the LiveCDs are to have more language, and packaged with printing drivers (as opposed to download needed)
However for the best 11.2 experience, IMHO one is best to wait for 2 to 3 months AFTER 11.2 GM version is released, … ie with 11.2 being released in mid-Nov-2009, wait until Feb/Mar-2010 before installing 11.2. There are always many bugs that were missed by the testing team, that are not discovered until the masses jump into a new openSUSE release. Hence the time from Nov-2009 to March-2010 will be filled with many bug fixes, as the packagers make an effort to fix the many newly discovered 11.2 bugs.