Slashdot Mirror
New Financing And Fewer Staff @ SuSE
jdfox writes: "According to this press release from SuSE, they have just received another 15 million Euros (about 14 million $US) venture capital, with some big names listed in the consortium's membership. They have also announced that a quarter of their 500 staff will be let go, following on from similar recent cuts. This excellent distro deserves to succeed: I hope this move will see them through the current slowdown." The upcoming release (needs babelfishing from German) of SuSE's version 7.3 promised for October 13th is loaded with a ton of goodies, too -- Kernel 2.4.10, KDE 2.2.1 and GNOME 1.4.1 beta2, among other things.
I'm more surprised that anyone is still willing to invest $14 million on a Linux distro...
We're all busy trying to beg, steal, beg, or borrow the new StarOffice beta 6.0 ;-)
If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
A distro that ships with beta versions of software. How about shipping a final stable build like the BSD's do?
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
I've run almost 10 different distros (counting the BSDs) and I always come back to SuSE. With the crypto now in the kernels by default and the firehose of apps, SuSE kicks it mack daddy fresh.
I hope they can pull out of the general slump and get profitable again or we'll all be running RedHat XP.
Good to see that some Linux firms are still managing to get new money after all the paranoia that's hounding the Tech industry these days. Sure, we've seen a lot of "We Can Do Linux Too!" chaff getting swept away lately (with a few really good companies getting taken out with them). Now it's time for the real companies to start delivering on the "Linux Rules" promises we all heard the last couple of years.
Your Servant, B. Baggins
No one 'deserves' to survive. It's capitalism, sell your product, make money, or go bankrupt.
It's sad that a great distro like that isn't used much... Everybody talk about Debian, Red Hat and Mandrake, but SuSE is as great as them, if not better for some purpose...
When SuSE goes, it will certainly be the end of *real* Linux distros (ever notice that no one says 'distro' anymore?). Redhat, Mandrake (Redhat), and *shudder* Debian are all that are left. Slackware will likely be around for a little while as the last remaining Linux hackers get pushed out of the picture by the "A PC on every desk, all of them running Linux" crowd becomes the primary force behind the movement.
Then the movement will die.
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons. SuSE is losing customers because Debian, Mandrake, and even Redhat have replaced it for all practical purposes. The only good thing about SuSE is that the company supports some very nice projects (such as ReiserFS) - and for that I will be sad to see it go.
-sting3r
While SuSE does have some good things going for it, whether or not it "deserves" to survive is a matter of natural selection in the marketplace. It might be the best damned Linux distro ever -- but if people don't buy it, it will go the way of other "deserving" but unsuccessful products.
Perhaps SuSE can persevere by gaining a rabid following that doggedly and vehemently defends "their" distribution in fora like Slashdot... zealotry can be a potent force for survival.
Me? I'm a distro agnostic; I've bought SuSE, and Red Hat, and Mandrake, and I've downloaded Debian, Slackware, and Mandrake (yes, again) for various projects. And that may be part of SuSE's problem: all distros have their good and bad points, but there isn't much in the way of overwhelming distinction.
For my stuff, I prefer Debian, Slackware, and Mandrake, depending on circumstances. Your mileage may vary -- and SuSE needs to get better mileage if it wants to be here in five years.
All about me
look at linuxweeklynews.com and visit their weekly roundup of distributions.
:)
Yes, a lot of them are small, and a lot are unmaintained. That there aren't hundreds of commercially successful distro makers isn't surprising -- what *would* be surprising is if no new ones emerged to take advantage of market openings when they become glaringly obvious
timothy
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
As often as I voice an opinion that M$ needs competition (which they really don't have in a Win* compatible format, which is why the OS is such a bloated, unstable mess) I like to seel SuSE as a strong alternative distribution to RedHat. In a few months I'll be building up another machine and would like to run them head to head.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
That announcement won't need babelfishing: It's the english version ;-)
SuSE is good. It would be better if they could get their finances right. If more people used SuSE that would help. Maybe SuSE could merge with Debian. That would make a lot of users. Best wishes to SuSE workers.
SuSE puts out a very nice mail server product (I'm running our 40 user office on it) using Cyrus IMAP, LDAP and IMP web access. So easy, all our netscape users get LDAP access via their netscape address book so our mail lists are centrally administrated and current. Upon ordering their server, I got a quick call from Suse customer support asking for input about things I'd like to see in their future products and asking for feedback regarding any problems I may have. Very responsive. Their linux distro is current and top notch. I've been using it exclusively for 6 months. The Yast utilities can make things VERY easy for newbies, but you can stick to the CLI and completely forego the Suse utilities entirely. I believe that they're getting major funding from IBM and Intel so those outfits can get into the server room on the IA-64 cpu's. Here's hoping this distro has legs...
Check it out here in English.
There aren't any pictures in the folders.
"I hope this move will see them through the current slowdown"
I hope you don't have the idea that it's temporary?
Many companies (dotcoms, open source etc) gave away their products for free or charged insuffient for them. They still got huge amount of $$$ from VC's and the public and what is best described as gambling.
This is gone and will hopefully never come back.
I realize this is way offtopic, but can someone tell me WTF is going on with Gimp.org? Can't get to any gimp.org site and I've been trying to get Gimp32 for two days.
Why is it that SuSE gets a relatively large amount of money for a smaller company, and then they slash more employees. I understand they want to "stay in the game" and want to save alot of that money, but are we going to notice the quality of their output lessen as more and more workers get slashed, and yet they get more financial support from other companies? Cutting 500 jobs from a company such as SuSE sounds like quote a bit. Does anyone know how many people are currently employed with SuSE?
void women (int money, time_t time);
how do you pronounce SuSE? sue-see? sue-zee? sooz?
SuSE Linux 7,3 - entering and driving off
Available starting from 13 October
The new SuSE Linux - simply, independently, stably, surely!
Select between the personnel edition - Linux for the whole family and the Professional edition - Linux without boundaries . The new SuSE Linux 7,3 in the overview .
With its function abundance, its proverbial stability and its efficient protective mechanisms against bad accesses SuSE Linux 7,3 is the umfassendeste, most stable and safest operating system, which was developed ever for the privatgebrauch.
SuSE Linux 7,3 - fast and simply like never before!
Within minutes you operate with an operating system to serve that very easy are and at it stably and safe like no different one. Look forward to a system, which makes the work with its graphic surface so comfortable and simple that it is a true joy. Profited from the new A riser over the experienced home user up to the system administrator, everyone from the new features , the life with Linux becomes still simpler - for all! With SuSE Linux 7,3 applies now finally:
Linux - now everyone understands!
Linux and Windows on a PC? - naturally!
The best is: They do not have to transfer at all , you must only enter ! They do not need to do without your used Windows *. SuSE Linux 7,3 can be installed fast and problem-free beside other operating systems on your computer. None is impaired by the other one!
Fall and viruses? - not under Linux!
Perhaps they know that:
Blue display with incomprehensible messages over protection violations , which request for the restart of the computer?
Overruns by viruses , which happened to you by Mail?
Attacks by hackers on your computer?
All things, about which you can smile only tired from now on, if to you your acquaintance ensureful on it report.
Linux only for Freaks? - the times are past! From now on applies:
Linux for the whole family!
SuSE Linux 7,3 is an operating system for the whole family . Linux in the hands of your children? No problem:
very easy : SuSE Linux 7,3 is to be served with its surface KDE very easy.
: No system file can be damaged by mistake or in the case of doubt intentionally.
playful : SuSE Linux 7,3 contains a large number of plays, the play series was strongly extended and improved. Likewise Multimedia applications were improved, like television under Linux and sound applications substantially extended and.
multimedially : DS burn, videos see and processing, sound to mix, cut schnittstudio, Synthesizer are only some the many Multimedia possibilities.
privately : Each user has his own private environment, which no different one sees when desired, let alone to change or delete may.
interlaced : Do not create your own family network, with SuSE Linux, to the network operating system par excellence, a problem.
A riser or old hare? - for everyone the correct version!
Are you already a new A riser or an old Linux hare? - you have the selection: Personal or Professional . Decide, what you need! As a risers you will likewise estimate the high comfort of the operation the personnel edition as as an expert the many Client and server applications in the Professional edition .
Hey, look! A flamebait troll by an AOL user! Haven't seen these since the demise of the USENET in '94!
With its function abundance, its proverbial stability and its efficient protective mechanisms against bad accesses SuSE Linux 7,3 is the umfassendeste, most stable and safest operating system, which was developed ever for the privatgebrauch.
Linux only for Freaks? - the times are past! From now on applies: Linux for the whole family!
Now before I get modded down, I be to remind whoever might read this that what I am saying is FACT. - bogaboga
The popularity of SuSe is great in Europe and it wouldn't be as great of a challenge to convert users and organizations to Linux.
If they gave corporations and govt. incentives to purchase SuSe, like deals w/the OEMs to make systems that were preinstalled and came w/loads of Tech Support, they could throw a monky wrench in the Software licensing scheme.
Say for instance the incentives that companies had with Compaq 7 years ago. My dad got a 386/sx with windows 3x for about 1500 - a cost that was footed by the company.The same thing could be done for Linux today. Get a significant cash incentive, install some killer apps, along with a smooth game (Quake) for after hours and a internet connection and you can hook the average consumer on Linux. Next time they go out to buy a box, the consumer will most likely stick with SuSe.
Worked for MS, should work for SuSe.
All I'm saying is that you already have a product that is good, it's time to put it on display. Let it sink or float according to its merits.
Don't spend too much more time on a near perfect product. It's time to let it out to play with the big boys.
http://cincyboys.blogspot.com/ Everything Cincinnati. Including the word 'Finnih'
Why can't someone say. "these guys are doing it right, they deserve the rewards of their labor," without an economic Darwinist coming up with this scrap of useless dogma?
Regardless of economic point of view, one can truthfully say, "I like these guys, I like what they are doing, it's right for the market -- they deserve success." I don't see where this violates the cutthroat principles you seem to hold so dear.
I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
No iso. They only have that pitiful eval crap. Now I know you don't have to have an iso to install it but thats the only way its getting on one of my machines. And I am certainly not buying it without having it on machine first.
I am not sure what goes on in that suse brain, not sure if I want to, either.
http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?11@40.Gtc0am2 Yw5j^3671433@.f1ca8c8
My, my, my.... Well son, do you feel better now that you've vented your spleen all over the planet?
Blue display with incomprehensible messages over protection violations , which request for the restart of the computer?
This is the most wonderful thing I've read today!!! Almost should be from a bad translation of Japanese, not German.... Picture Mojo Jojo saying this instead, for a laugh!
I love SuSE.
I've been using it for years and it just keeps getting better and better. As much as I like the distro though, the main user mailing list (suse-linux-e) just rocks, it's probably the nicest online community that I have ever participated in except perhaps ISCA in it's day.
~~ What's stopping you?
Installation was insanely easy, and even the low cost Personal edition came with everything I could possibly want (don't like the 6?7? cd Professional edition? then don't buy it!). More impressive too was the fact that it by default found and configured what is (imho) some rather unique hardware.
While I agree that they need to work on their product offerings (why does the Professional version come with more games than the Personal edition???), I hate to see folks here knock what is in my opinion the best distro on the market (from the perspective of ma and pa user). In fact, rather than cutting them down, perhaps we should applaud (at least recognize) that they are the best selling (most popular) distro in Europe (there is something outside the US???)
Having used SuSe when it was bad (5.3 sucked!), RedHat, Slackware, and Debian, I can say with certainty that this is the first distro I think has actually reached a truely "useable" state for the masses. Do I think the masses are ready for it? Maybe, given how restrictive and invasive WinXP is going to be. For that matter, when I can get SuSe 7.2 Person for $39, why would I pay the $200 it would cost me to buy WinXP? Likewise, when StarOffice (which is a lot better than given credit for here) is free, why look a gift horse in the mouth?
In other words, SuSe is a great company, a solid (if misguided) distribution, and the bitching here should really be channeled into improving it as a product, since (for the first time) I actually see a real competition to the legions in Redmond.
AC, because I enjoy anonymity.
Let's just hope that the guys over at Suse don't end up like these guys. :)
That's easy, because you're arguing from a total miscomprehension of what the market is and what Darwinism means. The market judges what's "right for the market" and the idea that "good" products "deserve" success is such a massive misnomer it's difficult to know where one begins in trying to correct it. You might as well say the dinosaurs "deserved" to survive because they were "cool".
suse works just fine for us. but then so does rhat, etc..., ITs great to have choices. fud is dead.
The management from SuSE and Mandrake are actually competing to see who can manage a company worse.
Mandrake:
(1) Hand over control of operations to an American group who decide that Mandrake is now all about E-Learning. Later, fire said group when it becomes obvious that MandrakeExpert won't be bringing in the bacon.
(2) Hire an elementry school child to design the Mandrake logo and graphics.
SuSE:
(1) Waste and overspend existing investment dollars by building a consultancy group that is about 1/3 larger than the market can support.
(2) Original school child who designed logo and marketing material is stolen away by rival distro.
tired of the stories on slashdot? want to get out of the open-source "machine"? tired of the "back-alley" agendas held by members of the 'OS' community? visit the lame at http://techienews.utropicmedia.com and let us know how we can make it more so!
The "Burcha" is also worn in some areas as an "advertisement" that the woman has been brutally circumcised according to ancient tribal customs. Her intimate "private zone" has become a flat featureless area like a "porcelain doll" with just a pen-size orifice comparable to reptiles or birds "cloacae". She is "less filth" with no remaining "pubic scalp" left after being circumcised and therefore eligible for traditional marriage .
The GNU/Linux Desktop Service once provided by
Workspot?
Thank you and have a nice weekend.
IMHO you all keep talking about the wrong issues. The thing is simply you cannot really make money with an OS for the simple reason no-one works with an OS. It is the applications that do the work and this is where S.u.S.E. is going to go. Sooner or later IBM or HP or whoever is going to sell computers with Linux installed the same way you get your new car with petrol in the tank and this is not going to leave much room for distributors. Other services do not really cut it either, as someone who can handle, say Solaris, does not need support for Linux and if the distribution is what you have to care most about, then you are on the wrong track already as obviously you are not using a computer to get the job done but to use a computer.
I picked up a copy of 6.1(?) many many months ago, as a possible alternative to Windows (which I despised). Ended up buying a Mac (needed a reliable comp for school), and never really used it. Trashed that particular PC, pieced together a new one from Frys, and picked up a copy of Mandrake 7.0 'cause it was on sale. Gotta admit, I really like Mandrakes setup app. PartionMagic is pretty slick, IMHO. However, whenever Mandrake would try to 'query' any of the expansion slots (PCI and ISA), it'd lock up. Windows 98SE has similar problems (won't shut down, sees things that aren't there, and doesn't see stuff that is). Think I got mainboard problems. But I have NONE of these problems with SuSE. Not a one. And while yast may be kinda clumsy, it works. I look forward to SuSE's latest offering. They will be getting my $$$.
-Peter
"We don't inherit the land from our ancestors"
"We borrow it from our children"
Ignorance and prejudice and fear
Walk hand in hand
My problem with SuSe is that I have not yet found a way to download ISOs of it's full installation.
Because of this I am not prepared to leave the distribution that I have worked with for nearly seven years (here).
I've heard a lot of good things about SuSe, but as Linux can be a finneckety thing to get used to I am not prepared to spend money on it until I know what it's like, including exactly what packages come with it. (I'm a bit stubborn when it comes to console text editors... hear that, Patrick?)
I'm not a Linux freeloader - I've pumped more money into Slackware than I have Windows, and I'm proud of it.
But until SuSe join the Open Source Revolution it's unlikely that they'll be seeing my $
AC, look up the word "misnomer," first of all. An idea cannot be a "misnomer," only a word can.
Secondly, markets don't determine shit by themselves. For the market to be the true arbiter you would need an ideally free market, and a "frictionless" system. We don't have that.
Inferior products vanquish superior ones thanks to superior market positioning and distribution all the time. To say that these superior products "deserved" better postitioning, "deserved" better distribution, is fine. To say they "deserved" to win, therefore, is fine.
Unless, of course, one is in love with the Darwinist (I understand what it means, it's you that apparently do not) mantra.
"this is capitalism, nothing deserves to win except what the market says wins" totally bankrupts the meaning of the word "deserves." Deserves refers to merit -- ANY kind of merit. There are kinds of merit that exist apart from the market.
So, when someone says this or that "deserves" to win, it would be nice if the keepers of the mantra would butt out.
I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
A complete miscomprehension of the market also ignores the fact that true free markets don't exist in real life. That's why we have 'monopolies' and 'price fixing' and 'shitty products for high prices' - because companies that could compete under a strict free market model are snuffed out by more powerful competitors, *regardless of the quality of product*, on a regular basis.
Max
My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
no text
They took away the ftp sites pretty darn fast! In a few months, you won't be able to find the packages that you would've downloaded if you could. That's my main problem with this SusE, which I have used for three years.
Not that the guys don't deserve the money for putting together a wonderful distro, but after the double the price I see no reason to break the bank and support them.
Replace the .de with .com and the /de/ with /en/ and bingo! You have the English version of this link. No Babelfish needed.
http://www.suse.com/en/produkte/susesoft/linux/ind ex.html
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The story is a dupe, the topic is boring, the facts weren't checked. WE GET IT!!
This "Open Source Revolution" you are talking about is not the "Free Software Revolution". You seem to be confused.
SuSE has done some absolutely brilliant work in porting the Linux kernel to AMD's x86-64 architecture, and in doing so they ported binutils, gcc etc.
Hopefull any business restructuring they do will help them survive in the long term. There is a recession going on, after all, and cut-backs are to be expected.
Their distro is very good (I don't use it personally, I'm a Slackware man through and through) but at work we make heavy use of SuSE.
Good luck to SuSE. This is one great Linux company that deserves sucess.
I'm out of my tree just now but please feel free to leave a banana.
I just bought the latest Suse, yes I actually pay for linux distros these days, And I have to admit, it's pretty sweet. I also purchased the latest RH(as of 6 months ago) and between those two, Suse was the easiest to install, and Yast was very nice and easy.
I would love to see there accounting sheets, because I would like to know the details. they sure have recieved a lot of money recently.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Have you looked ever actually looked at ftp.suse.com? Distros back to version 6.3 on seven architectures are all there. Here's 7.2 for x86.
Everyone talking about Windows XP or MacOS X 10.1 is linux important anymore??
well...with Redhack copying code from FreeBSD and Suse cutting out programmers there will be little space for what used to be development in linux. Whatever hackers miught be left will end up in a jail..for patent infrigment or terrorism.
In addition to the german and general engliush info, there's UK specific info here.
Listening for the sound of the coming rain...
1. It's - what ever Anti-YaST-FUD(TM) may say - very well organized. Even if you havn't got a DVD drive you won't get a stiff arm from changing CDs for a normal install. If you do have a DVD, you can use that all-on-one disk. (iirc that was SuSEs idea)
:-) )
:-), got me to ditch Mickeysoft for good)
2. It's transparent! Again, that Anti-SuSE talk is nothing but FUD. They come great lengths to tell people what they do and change and why - much unlike lots of other people who tend to spread their apps across tons of directories and seem to have no sense for tidyness. The X-Window desaster has a nice remark on this somewhere in the middle. (Allthough it's not quite up to date
3. It has top-of-the-pops documentation. Half of my Linux-specific bookshelf are made up of those books that come with that heavy box. And they are the ones I go for the most, because they offer answers fast!
4. Since 7.2 you can update with a couple of mouseclicks. YOU (YaST Online Update) implements that buisnessmodel that Mickeysoft thries to achieve with XP, to the full extent. And for once, it makes sense to do a speedy update of of an app or system component inbetween. Even third partys are starting to make dowloads YOU compliant (nVidia for an instance).
5. Even though it IS transparent and easy to modify for expierienced users, it's extremly easy to handle for anybody who is used to a GUI based OS. I consider SuSE the most likely candidate to get Windozers to see the advantage fo using a modern and professional OS. (After all, they, along with E and Loki
Just my observations, but I think they make some points. If you're considering to purchase a distro or have a friend who is, get SuSE, you'll like it.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
Glad to see the "Stephen King is dead" troll isn't dead. It makes a welcome return in the post-WTC era.
SuSE is the cat's ass and all that but WTF do they make a distro which is the bowlegged whore of all distros from a security standpoint? SuSE is unique in that almost everything is turned on by default and hardening an installation is very time consuming and error prone. Once we have a standard build locked down we are loathe to change anything because of all the handwork involved. If SuSE could do one thing I would ask that they change their policies so that the default install is locked down at least as tightly as RH.
I agree. Suse is the most bloated Linux distro I ever saw.
What is worse, its whole look, think and feel is so incredibly 'microsoftian' it really hurts. Config change ? Fire up Yast, change settings, reboot.
I live in Geramny, Suse is kinda 'default' Linux here - everyone has it. Every now and then i get asked for help with someone's Suse - both in the office and privately. The empty stare of those Suse users when you tell them something utterly simple is so incredibly frustrating.
These are people administrating Suse Linux systems (even professionally) who have never ever heard of a route command, don't know netstat or ifconfig, you name it. Recently one of these guys actually aked me how to reset a password for one of his users on his multiuser Suse box - he didnt find that function in Yast. I showed him passwd - he was mightily impressed.
Then, there's Yast. When you get called to do something on a Suse box, just refuse. Whatever changes you make, be confident that Yast will erase them immediately after. Yast overwrites essential config files on a whim, run piles of unecessary scripts at random and will just generally behave badly. Yes, I know there are arcane settings in obscure config files that can prevent Yast from touching certain areas of the system - but if you aren't a Suse buff, you don't know them - and the Suse buff who called you for help surely doesn't know them as well. He usually doesn't even know they exist, and probably doesn't even understand what you are talking about when you ask for them.
To sum it up, Suse is founder, chief sponsor and president of the League For The Dumbing Down Of The Linux Using Masses. And they are successfull there.
f.
I'm not talking about Free Software... SuSe either don't know how to make ISOs or they intentionally want to avoid the traditional distribution methods that all the other distributions use.
you, sir, are confused, as is the idiot of a moderator who thought that my original post was "flamebait"...
Well; if opinions other than the accepted norm for a discussion are not tolerated then I'm obviously wasting my time.
After all, without a difference of opinion, there is nothing to discuss.
Don't change files which say "DO NOT CHANGE THIS FILE MANUALLY, ALL CHANGES WILL BE LOST" at the top. Edit /etc/rc.config and run yast to implement the changes (e.g. reconfiguring interfaces or nameserver settings).
Edit /etc/rc.config and disable generating the file you want to edit manually. yast does not overwrite files, if you adjust the configuration properly.
I professionally have been using SuSE since version 4.4.1 and while I am not a big friend of any configuration tool on all kind of Unix boxes (ever used smit on AIX?), SuSE excells at providing all facilities to make newbies and skilled admins happy. That truly differentiates SuSE from other systems.
same press release, only on the us site. most've probably found it, but here 'tis. http://www.suse.com/us/products/susesoft/suse73/in dex.html
as an option during the install just as Redhat 7.1
Pro. I WOULD PAY for a version of SuSE that had this feature.
Our company bought the new datbase server product.To my dismay, there were only about 3 pages of a cd-cover leavlet explaining the database on suse.
PHP was not configured, odbc not installed, apache was at level 3.12, mod_sll is not working.
Worst of all we have already made around 30 phone calls to get the product delivered - so far the IBM DB2 license is still not here nearly two month later!!!
My urgent requests to the business and install support have not been answered yet despite being marked urgent. I will probably see the 30 days free support period expire without getting a reply.
In conclusion I think that they now start to work like M$, by making new press releases and new products every week that are not finished yet...
At 3000 Euro I think I would not go for SUSE anymore, but instead settle for RedHat despite my dislike for their distro. or buy from IBM direct, putting db2 on a free download.