“To investigate SuSE’s Linux Desktop, which is based on the company’s Linux Enterprise Server technology, we ran it alongside a number of Windows systems in a ‘live’ editorial production environment for around two weeks. The idea was to see how well this business-oriented operating system/application software bundle worked for a moderately technical user working in a Windows-dominated world.” Read the review at ZDNet.
SuSE Linux Desktop Review
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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About 70% of a newly built RR consist of custom BMW-parts… so in fact, this SuSE must be pretty beefy… 😉
The story is dead on with the way I feel about using linux in a business environment. It’s almost there though, and a lot of companies can use it now with minimal training, especially with OO coming along.
Almost forgot to add that the IT guys will have to make sure that they don’t install Lbreakout2 or no one will get any work done!
Why can’t windows include a great breakout game like that one? ;o)
“In a large organisation, the administrator will tend to install whatever software is needed by users, but the existence of tools such as YaST2 Online Update, APT and Red Carpet mean that users can do some of the work of updating themselves, if need be.”
I highly doubt that — it would mean all users (read: st00pid secretaries) would know the root password… *lol*
… ever since + unpredictibly as well:
“However, this also presented some mysteries: for example, the shared Linux machine was not visible on the network, and could only be found by performing a search.
“
It’s a daft article. They are assuming that a system administrator would be unable to update Gaim or set up samba properly. Windows is also difficult to set up if you don’t know what you’re doing.
I use linux (+ crossover office) exclusively at work in an otherwise windows-only environment. It works fine. Outlook connects to Exchange without a hitch. I can mount various protected Windows shares seamlessly. It was not at all difficult to configure. I use Mandrake though, I haven’t tried SuSE.
truly the best&realist review i’ve read about linux… unlike other review saying ‘better than windows’.. ‘linux is ready for desktop’ ‘ready for office’.. etc
straight to the point. congratulations
This is the way I feel : Linux is ready for the prime time but some hassles still exist.
SuSE Linux Desktop is a very convenient, well designed and cheap solution compared to the Microsoft Solutions. But the Open Source applications such as Samba or Apache still need to be improved.
Can someone inform us if his company have switched to this product or is going to think about SuSE Linux Desktop ?
It’d be really neat if they now switched and tried another distro for two weeks to see how it went.. Maybe they wouldn’t have so many problems.
Well, If they went with the total package, linux servers, It might resolve that problem with samba. But I do have to say I am happy I am a Mac person, and Can’t wait for Panther, dynamic network browsing, got to get that. And once linux can do that well like they want it do in the article, Linux will become the desktop OS. There would be no reason why it shouldn’t.
Good article, looks like they used it for more than an hour 🙂
The only thing I didn’t like was the last sentence, where he said “However, the problems we did come across (particularly the apparent limitations of Samba)” …not knowing how to set up Samba corretly doesn’t mean it has limitations. Instead, he should have said Samba needed to be easier to set up.
eh..sorry for the nitpicking 🙂
Overall, though, good article.
… ever since + unpredictibly as well:
“However, this also presented some mysteries: for example, the shared Linux machine was not visible on the network, and could only be found by performing a search.
“
Yeah but the windows network seems to slowly learn about it. When I first set up my Linux departmental skunkworks Samba server, you had to search for it – now it shows up straight away.
linux is ready for the desktop. try mandrake or suse….i am running YDL and i don’t miss my OS X.
good job, SUSE.
-2501
It’s not a good article if it gives a misleading impression. And the impression it gives is that SuSE is functionally deficient when it comes to working nicely in a windows environment. That’s already been debunked.
totothemacho: Just out of interest, what specifically would you say are the deficiencies in apache and samba?
The main issue of why they didn’t whole heartidly recommend Linux for office is because it has a couple of odd behavours. Though, the thing is you get this with Windows (and Macs) but we’re so used to them we take them in our stride. Once you’ve learnt them then you’re sorted and you’ll never worry about them.
On the other hand, our IT department has been struggling for weeks trying to iron out all of XPs odd little behavours (roaming profile problems galore) and comapared to the time and money they’ve put in SuSe looks like a much easier option.
As far I am concerned, I get lot of pain configuring and integrating Apache and Samba in a heterogeneous Network.
For instance, configuring Samba to share Linux printers to be used by a Windows computer requires good skills, that I have, but some of other administrators (particulary my two Windows administrators fellows) don’t have.
Why not working on a simple, intuitive and effective GUI to configure Samba and Apache ? (I know about Webmin, but this tool is insecure)
Why not working on a simple, intuitive and effective GUI to configure Samba and Apache ? (I know about Webmin, but this tool is insecure)
Tried SWAT for Samba? (Samba Web Admin Tool)
Hum, I have already heard about this tools. I will have a quick look at this, thanks