openSUSE-11.2 with the 1.0.21 version of alsa embedded with the 2.6.31 kernel is too good, when it comes to handling basic sound, and it appears now I am out of a volunteer support job! 
… ohhh no … alas … what to do ?
Until now, I’ve managed to lever 11 years of Linux head bashing experience of my own tribulations, into helping beleaguered new openSUSE users, as they struggled with BASIC sound problems. I emphasis BASIC, as BASIC is indeed the limit of my capability to help such users.
But the alsa developers (funded in part by Novell/SuSE-GmbH) have been hard at work, and have fixed many of the auto probe detection hiccups when Linux is started (in 1.0.21 of alsa) and with that 1.0.21 version of alsa now being included with the 11.2 version of openSUSE, I predict far fewer sound problems associated with an inappropriate auto probe. … < sigh > which means what can I do ?
Maybe I could discourage all from updating to 11.2 ? … Perhaps I could push a convincing hard line to prospective openSUSE users to ONLY use version 10.3 of openSUSE or bust !! … but then, I recall I no longer have any PCs running openSUSE-10.3 …. OK, so scrap that idea.
I suppose I could learn a bit about pulse audio, as it appears to still have a chance to be the nemesis of Linux sound problems, but even in pulse there is progress being made, either in the Pulse audio development side or in the Linux distribution side. For example on my sandbox PC (an ancient athlon-1100) I noted Pulse Audio was disabled by default upon 11.2 install.
I recall there was a time when users would write horrific rants about the evil state of a stone age SuSE, that did not support their 5.1 surround sound. So after years of many efforts and conversations, trying to convince the wife I needed 5.1 surround sound (which given our small apartment I do not really need) I finally had her blessing and I went out and purchased my self a 5.1 surround sound system thinking I could help them, only to discover: (a) very few users actually use 5.1 surround sound and (b) 90% of the surround sound problems were due to users NOT using their mixer properly. So that was wasted money on my part, as I really don’t need a surround sound system (when I turn up my computer’s sound, the neighbours bang on the wall in appreciation, let air out of my car tires so I don’t run away and turn off the sound, and put soap on my windows for some other reason I can not figure out !! ) … .
Now I note some users have problems with multiple sound devices, that they can not get multiple devices working simultaneous, and I suppose I could buy an extra sound card and an extra set of speakers to plug in and see if I can create a problem with multiple sound devices, and hence able to help such users with the problem. But given my surround sound experience, I anticipate either (1) it will be way too complex for me, or (2) it will “just work” and hence be a relatively simple mixer solution not making it worth my effort, or (4) buying the new sound card and speakers will bankrupt me, or (5) go back to school and learn how to count, in any case causing the wife to divorce me and force me to sell my PCs 
…
I suppose I could try to offer support on graphics setup, as I have PC’s with nVidia cards (FX5200, 8400GS, and GTX260) and one ATI (Radeon HD3450) but those tend to “just work” for me, and hence with my having no problems means I have not learned how to solve the problems of others. … Plus I like installing the “hardway” (which is not hard) and in today’s point and click repository world, users like me are considered cave men, who belong in museums and in the trenches digging ditches …. I don’t like ditches, so I think I’ll stay away from graphic card support.
I’ve given up the idea of trying to help with wireless. Too many different types of hardware, and I can’t even solve my own problems (without help). Fortunately we have experts on this forum who do understand wireless and who can provide support.
So where does that leave me ? …
I guess I could buy an organ grinder and a monkey, and try and selling versions of Windoze Vista on the street, distributing an OS that will cause more problems, and then hopefully create a large enough group that even ignorant Windoze users such as myself (with my having not having used Windoze as my main OS at home for 11+ years) can give bad advice. … But then comes the problem, how do I feed the monkey and maintain the organ grinder ??
… ahh … the trials and tribulations of a new 11.2 user
