Hi everybody.
I am a happy user of OpenSuse 10.3, KDE 3.59 with Compiz, running on a Dell Latitude D830 notebook, Intel 965 GM chipset.
Given my lack of experience in moving to a new major version, I am now wondering whether to switch to version 11.0, and in particular:
is it preferable to install a brand new system, by removing the current one, or to upgrade it?
I am currently using the 32 bit version: is it preferable to install the 64 bit one?
And finally, and more generally:
given the fact that my current system works perfectly, is it instead preferable to maintain it, and wait for the next minor release, or at least for a few months (and some possible bug fixing)?
IMHO you can happily install Gnome or KDE 3.5.x out of the three options. But don’t choose KDE4 – it’s only experimental. The other two are solid.
It’s preferable to install new for the root partition, and mount the old /home in the new /home. If you do that then back /home files up first.
I myself keep the old root and the old /home separate for security, for a while. Before installing new Suse I make the new /home and copy the old /home over to that. The I install and mount the new pre-loaded home.
Keeping your old 10.3 for a few months more before switching to 11.0?? I wouldn’t worry about the operating system except don’t touch KDE4. So no need to wait a few months.
Have taken a look at 11 with 3.5.9 and 4.1 beta2 last couple of days.
IF you feel the need of faster package management install 11 and 3.5.9 fresh, whilst preserving your data. Forget KDE 4 except for a look see, or if you want to report bugs! We appreciate the potential and the hard work by developers, but is not ready for you or me (with 3.5.9 expectations) for a long time yet.
My current system is exactly like yours - 10.3, 3.5.9, compiz, customised for my laptop hardware, etc - very stable. I am not going to upgrade for some time, as 11 and 3.5.9 from a functionality POV is not noticably different to 10.3, package management aside.
If you do upgrade, package management in 11 is fast and you will soon have things as you like them.
Personally I don’t use the same /home during upgrades. I backup my data then copy it to a “pristine” /home, then add or upgrade the apps that use my data.
Like swerdna I have no experience with 64 bit, but a very positive experience with 32 bit. From my reading any 64 bit performance improvement is marginal at best. I expect making the change is little more than another (reasonably easy) learning curve.
I think the package management improvements in openSUSE 11 alone are worth upgrading for.
As for KDE, I guess it’s preference. I’ve been using KDE 4.1 test builds for a while now, as my primary desktop, and have no complaints.
The biggest issue I have with openSUSE 11 is with knetworkmanager, which inexplicably crashes when I try to connect to my home AP after resuming suspend (though it connects just fine to the exact same model AP at my office when resuming from suspend… ), but since that is a KDE3 app, it has no bearing on KDE3 v KDE4.
If you’re comfortable and happy with KDE3, then there’s probably no need to switch. I’d maybe skip KDE 4.0 in that case, and wait until KDE 4.1 is finalized.
I have just installed openSUSE 11 and can concur that KDE 4 is not mature enough yet to use as a day-to-day desktop. (I wish I’d read this thread before choosing it over KDE 3.5.9 during installation). I often use the desktop directory for working files and images, and I’ve found that KDE 4 doesn’t seem to provide image previews on the desktop (although dolphin file manager does), and that I couldn’t drag files between the two interfaces. I had a look at the widgets available and I found it didn’t include a network monitoring tool yet, which was disappointing. Additionally, I noticed that after installing many of my favorite apps via yast, they were getting installed without appearing in the KDE 4 menu structure. So, for now I’m going back to KDE 3). I know, given time, these issues, (along with many others), will be addressed, so I’ll try it again at a later date.
I’m interested in reading the experiences of other suse users concerning KDE 4.
You should be able to upgrade no problem
I did, keeping my /home
At install I managed the install to add kde3 also, but you add it later or just install kde3 and not kde4
Personally I find kde4 just fine, some minor issues thats all.
I had similar feeling to yourself about moving, as my 10.3 was rock solid perfect.
But I’m happy.
), but since that is a KDE3 app, it has no bearing on KDE3 v KDE4.