SuSE 8.1 Desktop

Do you plan on reviewing this product? I was thinking of buying it but I can only find the review of the beta product.

Anyone know of a good review? :?:

[gabbman]

The comparison I'd like to see, is how it stacks up against Xandros, the other desktop contender offering codeweaver.

Here is an excellent review. BTW...all I use is SuSE and 8.1 is by far the best distro Ive ever used.

http://www.ratedpc.com/review.asp?id=66

[TRN]

To the Flightless guest who provided the link to a review -- I believe that you misunderstood the topic. SuSE Linux Office Desktop is a new product recently announced and I suspect that the question was about whether or not there was a review for that product.

Bird is usually the first one knocking on the door about SuSE products. I'm sure she'll be asking soon. However, it will have to wait until the paycheck at the end of February or March. I have to save for a trip to the east coast at the end of March, NSTA meeting. Sorry. I suppose that I could beg SuSE -- but really -- I dislike asking for product. Icepack and Libranet were kind enough to provide product and we still do not have decent text to publish about these excellent distributions.

[TRN]

Besides the beta review done on the day of the product, here is another review.

http://imafish.com/index.php?a=articles&p=index&pg=1&num=20&ord=desc&by=date&view=146

Thats my bad, the topic didnt say "office desktop" . Anyway SuSE8.1 Office Desktop is the same as SuSE8.1 with the addition of Acronis OS selector, Codeweavers Crossover Office, and Sun Star Office. All said....its SuSE8.1 pro with the ability to resize and manage windows partitions, run office2000, lotus notes, and quicken, and have db functionality with star office. Yawn. This is great for the corporate space, but Im more interested in the next SuSE pro release with things like kernel 2.4.20+, xfree 4.3, and KDE 3.1 :P

[robbie_n]

Personally, I think that Office Desktop is peculiar. It follows the SuSE model of bundling everyting imaginable to try to create a "one size fits all" solution. Even though it runs contrary to my personal tastes, such an approach is OK with open source software, because they're adding value for very little additional expense.

However, with Office Desktop it's a different story. It's almost as if SuSE can't decide who's interested in their product. They include StarOffice 6.0, but also throw in CrossOver Office. They're selling a "Windows replacement", but also bundle Acronis OS Selector to allow a dual-boot system to be created.

What makes this a poor strategy is the extra cost that it adds. By choosing to bundle so much commercial software, SuSE have bumped up the price considerably. The cost-savvy system administrator would be better advised to simply purchase a single copy from SuSE and then start buying StarOffice or CrossOver licenses as appropriate. The single copy of Acronis OS Selector could be carried around on CD much as admins often carry PartitionMagic around on floppies.

SuSE would be better off offering a "tailored solutions" system, whereby larger companies could order the base Office Desktop package with some, all or none of the commercial software as appropriate, thus keeping down their costs by eliminating unwanted software.

[muskrat]

The comparison I'd like to see, is how it stacks up against Xandros, the other desktop contender offering codeweaver.

I don't think you can compair Xandros with SuSe of any kind.

My brother bought Xandros and I tried it out, I was very disappointed in it. I bought SuSe 8.1 Pro and am very pleased with the purchase.

My Brother paid 100.00 dollars for Xandros it came with 2 cds, I paid 89.00 dollars for SuSe it came with 7 cds and a DVD.

As for cross over apps, Xandros included both crossover office and open office.org, SuSe just has open office.org. But that seems to be good enough for our needs.

[Davepet]

What were you disappointed about in Xandros?

I tried suse 7.3 last year, & spent all my time trying to get everything working, instead of USING it.

Xandros required just a (simple) soundcard config & everything worked.

Having 1000 + apps sounds good, until you try to figure out which ones you actualy want to use...

I actually USE Xandros for the same things I used to do in windoze, maybe suse has improved.. but I have all I need now, so I I'll never know.

Dave

[gabbman]

I don't think you can compair Xandros with SuSe of any kind

I think that Xandros, and SuSE have undertaken a different approach to thier target market, and included some software (codeweavers) and other distiguishing marks to their respective install, setup, and usefullness.
The comparison between the two pioneers of this aproach would be very helpfull to those considering that particular setup for thier own needs.
It seems your comparison was based on dollars spent for cd's reciecved.
I was thinking more along the lines of factual usefullness of the finished install, and the ease of use for each and how they compare in that respect.