Yast Software.... selection?

[temetvince]

I just installed opensuse, and I really like it! I think I may be finally ready to switch from windows to linux 100%, despite years (literally) of wanting to.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any good software. I’ve enabled the packman repositories, or at least I think I have (I used the graphical tool, not the command line). But when I do a search for some programs, nothing comes up. Google chrome didn’t even come up until I installed a repository special just for it.

No picasa, no nestopia, and formerly no chrome nor chromium. Is the software selection through packman just not as varied as ubuntu (which I barely played with before getting kernel panics out the whazoo)?

Also, I finally have a distribution where it isn’t difficult to install proprietary ati drivers! I loved arch, but it was a nightmare; even if you did manage to install the drivers, you had to do a whole bunch of stuff every single time the kernel was upgraded… and it was rolling release! (Which I love, but somewhere I read that I shouldn’t use the opensuse rolling distro version because of ati drivers, but I never really understood why.) However, ati catalyst didn’t get installed. Is it a separate package?

Finally, and this is simply a tack-on for completeness, my wireless card doesn’t work, and I followed the forums advice and it still failed, but I’m not worried because I’m ditching the broadcom and buying one better suited for linux. In the meantime, forwarding my wireless from my netbook to my desktop over an ethernet cable works miracles! I wish I had thought of this sooner; it would have saved me so much time lugging that desktop and monitor to the room with the router!

Hi all, and I have a feeling I’ll be around here for awhile!

[caf4926]

Packman is mostly multi-media and some games
But also has Broadcom drivers: Install Broadcom Drivers from Packman
Though you should really let use see the terminal result of:
/sbin/lspci -nnk

Software search: software.opensuse.org: Search Results

Remember to consider using Linux software and dump the windows stuff and the mentality that goes with it.

Be careful adding to many repositories. Or as part of a learning curve, you may end up re-installing

[Edward_Iii]

Hello temetvince,

@temetvince

Also, I finally have a distribution where it isn’t difficult to install proprietary ati drivers! I loved arch, but it was a nightmare; even if you did manage to install the drivers, you had to do a whole bunch of stuff every single time the kernel was upgraded… and it was rolling release! (Which I love, but somewhere I read that I shouldn’t use the opensuse rolling distro version because of ati drivers, but I never really understood why.) However, ati catalyst didn’t get installed. Is it a separate package?

How did you install the ati drivers? From a repository or from the ati site?
Anyway you can try running the **amdcccle **command.

Good luck!

[eng-int]

By default both Firefox and Konqueror web browsers have configurable search bars. If you click on the search engine icon you can select a different search engine. Choosing “openSUSE Software”/“openSUSE Build Service” will enable you to search the openSUSE repositories. Chromium, Picasa and Nestopia are all available for “one-click” installation in this manner.

The drivers delivered with the Linux kernel have improved greatly in the last few months and you may prefer to install a more recent stable kernel rather than taint it with proprietary drivers. Broadcom are in the process of submitting GPL code to Linux. The latest stable dekstop kernel is 3.0.4 and available from:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Kernel:/stable/standard/

[knurpht]

A warm welcome here !!!

Stick around, indeed. Post your questions, others benefit from proper questions as much as they do from decent answers. On the repos: you’ll get used to them, software.opensuse.org: Download openSUSE 11.4 is a good place for finding out in which repo what software to find. But, mind…to many repos often leads to undesired situations. Stick to the main four: OSS, NON-OSS, Update & Packman. Deactivate any other repo after installing from it. That will keep you on the safe side until you get the hack of it. And … you entered a friendly community, with a lot of knowledge, have fun.

Enjoy

[temetvince]

Thank you all for the help!

As for switching to open source linux software, I’m all for it. But, for example, the gimp doesn’t have hdr toning, and photoshop does. However, I’m going to be testing it out and perhaps I could make the switch. As for picasa… I’ve simply never found a program that “fits” me better. You know when you use a program that is just… you? Everything you want to do is perfect? It’s rare… but that is picasa for me, from the very first time I used it. I could always try out more software; it’s not that I’ve grown accustomed to picasas… it’s just that it fits me completely. I knew in the worst case scenario it would work under wine.

I’m not too worried about getting broadcom working atm. But are they really submitting open drivers?! No way! Any idea on how long it will take for that to “trickle down” to opensuse? A year?

I installed ati drivers from a repository. I’ll have to try that command edward_lii mentioned.

If I install a program using the “one-click” method, it won’t update automatically will it?

I know open source is better, but I’m unfortunately one of those horrible linux people who, while theoretically supporting open source in all it’s glory, believes free is free even if it’s not free. I need every last drop out of my card.

Thank you for the kind words, Kurnpht!

Unfortunately, I may have to uninstall opensuse on my desktop (but I’m thinking about sticking it on my netbook). I have a small handful of games that I need to get to work, and they don’t really work under wine. I have a lot less than most windows users, as I’m an xbox fan.

x3:terran conflict, chessmaster 11 grandmaster edition (which wine supports reasonably well), and playchess version 5/fritz 12 (a nightmare). And those last two could technically be accomplished in virtual box; no biggie. So that leaves one game that’s keeping me from linux completely. I guess I could always dual boot, but yuck. And this game means a lot to me And when it comes to wine… well I feel like I’ve had 50 glasses any time I try to configure anything with it.

[temetvince]

Sorry, I couldn’t find an edit button, so here’s a double post.

I didn’t mention, but I’m running the 64bit gnome version. Would it be better to run the kde version? Less bugs?
Finally, why is running the rolling release distro of opensuse bad if you use proprietary drivers?

[Edward_Iii]

Hello temetvince,

@temetvince

If I install a program using the “one-click” method, it won’t update automatically will it?

AFAIK the program will be updated when there is a security update available, as long as you have the repository enabled where it comes from.
And you can always look if there’s an update through YaST -> Software -> Software Management.

@temetvince

x3:terran conflict, chessmaster 11 grandmaster edition (which wine supports reasonably well), and playchess version 5/fritz 12 (a nightmare). And those last two could technically be accomplished in virtual box; no biggie. So that leaves one game that’s keeping me from linux completely. I guess I could always dual boot, but yuck. And this game means a lot to me And when it comes to wine… well I feel like I’ve had 50 glasses any time I try to configure anything with it.

I looked up x3:Terran Conflict in the Wine AppDB: WineHQ - X3:Terran Conflict
As far as I can see later versions are quite well supported, so it should be able to get it running under wine.
I recommend you look around there, try to get it to run and if it fails create a thread in the Games sub-forum.

@temetvince

I didn’t mention, but I’m running the gnome version. Would it be better to run the kde version? Less bugs?

I don’t know if KDE has less bugs than GNOME, what kind of bugs do you encounter?

@temetvince

Finally, why is running the rolling release distro of opensuse bad if you use proprietary drivers?

Every time a kernel update is done the drivers need to be recompiled against the running kernel.

Best of luck!

[temetvince]

@Edward_Iii

Hello temetvince,

AFAIK the program will be updated when there is a security update available, as long as you have the repository enabled where it comes from.
And you can always look if there’s an update through YaST -> Software -> Software Management.

Does the one click method install repositories automatically? And will software management find updates without repositories?

@Edward_Iii

I looked up x3:Terran Conflict in the Wine AppDB: WineHQ - X3:Terran Conflict
As far as I can see later versions are quite well supported, so it should be able to get it running under wine.
I recommend you look around there, try to get it to run and if it fails create a thread in the Games sub-forum.

I’ll try that. I found a very detailed working option on the crossover forums, I may fiddle with that (it was really a wine solution, so I won’t need to be a paying subscriber). I’ll keep everyone posted if it works or not. Afaik, all versions worked great until the latest update (I’m running steam, and I’ll have to do a fresh install, which will be the latest updated version.)

@Edward_Iii

I don’t know if KDE has less bugs than GNOME, what kind of bugs do you encounter?

Just little bugs here or there. Nothing really worth mentioning, nor remembering actually.

@Edward_Iii

Every time a kernel update is done the drivers need to be recompiled against the running kernel.

Best of luck!

Will the ati drivers do this automatically, or will I need to manually do it?

Thank you for the help and for looking the stuff up on wine.

[Edward_Iii]

Hello temetvince,

@temetvince

Does the one click method install repositories automatically? And will software management find updates without repositories?

When using the one-click install method you’ll encounter a check box “Remain subscribed to these repositories after installation”.
If you keep it checked the repositories will be added, the updates need to come from these repositories so you’ll need them.

Remember that this are (AFAIK) only security updates, and some recommended updates, nothing more.
So for some updates you’ll need to install them by hand (YaST -> Software -> Software Management).

@temetvince

I’ll try that. I found a very detailed working option on the crossover forums, I may fiddle with that (it was really a wine solution, so I won’t need to be a paying subscriber). I’ll keep everyone posted if it works or not. Afaik, all versions worked great until the latest update (I’m running steam, and I’ll have to do a fresh install, which will be the latest updated version.)

I hope you’ll get it running!

@temetvince

Will the ati drivers do this automatically, or will I need to manually do it?

I’m not 100% sure but I think the problem of proprietary divers and rolling releases is that it won’t be done automatically.
Maybe there’s a workaround/solution?

Good luck!

[robin_listas]

On 2011-09-15 17:16, temetvince wrote:
> Finally, why is running the rolling release distro of opensuse bad if
> you use proprietary drivers?

Because the necessary proprietary software for the card has to be installed
manually, and the procedure repeated everytime the kernel is upgraded. So
you are repeating the procedure too often for comfort.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)