New Releases for Debian and SUSE

linuxbeta writes "With the recent SUSE LINUX 9.3 Live DVD ISO released, we get a sneak peek. (screenshots) of this much anticipated OS update. Cool updates in 9.3 includes Firefox 1.0, OpenOffice.org 2.0, Gimp 2.2, Beagle. Xen, VoIP client, and more." And while Debian's Sarge isn't here yet (give Branden Robinson a chance to find his plush new office!), wrochal points out that the fifth update to Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 ("Woody" ) has arrived. 3.0 (r5) "mainly adds security updates to the stable release, along with a few corrections to serious problems." Also, four packages were removed, three for license violations.

Comments

Grr.

[Sexy Bern]

It's "peek", not "peak", ffs.

Multimedia

[spineboy]

Getting multimedia to work with Suse is still somewhat of a pain. Yes mplayer does a fairly good job, but there are still tons of files/formats that just don't play right off the bat. I'm a fairly advanced user and have been using Linux for six years now. I actually bought COdeweavers and have installed mplayer. I still get plenty of problems with various formats, but eventually get it to play.

This strategy will not "draw" in the crowds - most people give up before tinkering with the system. It has to work smoothly right out of the install (mostly).

I generally think Suse is one of the most polished distros out there, but it still has a way to go with multimedia, to get it to appeal to joe-computer user and Grandma who are scared of "breaking" things on the computer.

Linux is on the cusp from going from "hacker" OS to main-stream, but still has some catching up to Windows in certain things - mainly multimedia. Yes I know there are plenty of programs that work great - but the average user, I think, would not have the expertise to get it to work easily right off the DVD.

Re:Multimedia

[Anonymous Coward]

This is what's frustrating me especially now as linux draws ever closer to working just how an OS should. I'm getting old too, and the constant poking at ever changing (but almost there!) systems is wearing thin.

At times, I feel we're always taking another step half way to completion. 5 years ago it was 50% there, later, 75%. Wasn't long until 87.5%... then 92%... the closer we get, the slower the refining a good desktop OS. the SuSE multimedia isn't too bad a problem all up, but as an oldbie I'm tired of fiddling. Ubuntu, Debian Sarge, Sid, Gentoo, FC3, Mandrake. None with show stopping bugs, but always something that doesn't work right and I have to chase down. A Graphics card not supported at full native LCD resolution. Sound not working how it should. Good, but not perfect. Five out of ten common media formats playing OK on one distro, 7 out of 10 on another, and a different 6 out of 10 on yet another. All work, but only across 3 distros and I just can't be bothered chasing down the exact reasons why to fix them, because I know they'll break (just a little bit, not even a great deal) in the next release.

What you've read are the rantings of a unix oldbie who is so frustrated with linux creeping ever so close to complete usability in my eyes, but never-quite-getting-there. My son in law uses OS X, and allows me to use his powerbook as I need. Never thought I'd say it, but I'm considering using a mac. Might even delete that terminal and sit in my rocking chair listening to DRM music and relax.

Hell, I can always come back to Linux when it's 'there' for me, right?

Re:Multimedia

[xanadu-xtroot.com]

Great another Gentoo zealot showing us Gentoo commands.

Survey says?!? BZZZZT
I am, buy far and large, NOT a "Gentoo zealot". It just happens to be the distro of MY choice. I usually reccomend MDK or SuSE to people.

it's really freaking easy to run "apt-get install MPlayer"?

Can't the same be said for

1. urpmi mplayer
2. emerge xine-ui
3. apt-get install xine

etc.....

1+1=2

[CygnusXII]

So we have the recent crying session, over ubuntu and kubuntu being harmful to debian,when actually it comes to be a concern over "Release" dates and Press. Smells fishy to me.

Re:Word usuage..

[michelcultivo]

Screenshots is not valid to see if the distribution is well developed and is in a solid state to use.
I can't see in screenshots if a application is the best to use, if it haven't bugs. Any search in google brings me a lot of screenshots.

rats

[mortonda]

I just downloaded 9.2.

what about people without DVD?

[protomala]

I don't have money to pay for a DVD recorder drive, or even a reader, I just have this nice CD-RW 52X from LG and I'm happy with it. So how can I install suse 9.3 by downloading cd isos to burn? (no ftp install, thanks). I supose I'll have to wait it to appear on torrent sites or emule?

Re:Why screenshots?

[WebHostingGuy]

Stop making sense and move along.

I too think screenshots don't do anything. How about a review of performance for the new apps rather than a change of the color of the title bar to the application?