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SuSE gets Mainstream Sales Distribution
An anonymous reader wrote in to tell us about a new
expanded distribution
for the SuSE distribution- it will now appear in places like
CompUSA, Fry's, Microcenter, Waldenbooks, Borders, and Best
Buy. Always nice to see those shrink wrapped boxes up on the
shelves.
Likewise here in Dallas. Red Hat (and all the Power Deluxe Extra Gold versions), Caldera, and SuSE have been regular shelf denizens in my local Borders' reasonably well-stocked Linux section for quite some time now (at least a year, in Red Hat and Caldera's cases). So has Applixware. Debian (2.0) and FreeBSD have been sighted from time to time as well. They occasionally put Red Hat on their 20% off monthly rotation, too, especially when a new release is imminent.
Now, if we could only get them to convert their in-store computer systems...and maybe make a terminal publicly accessible so you don't have to try to track down a bored college student to do a simple do-you-have-this-in-stock search for you.
CaptainTylor (who has not yet remembered to bring his password in to work)
P.S. This is the Borders on Lovers Lane and Greenville Ave. that I'm talking about, if any Dallasites are curious.
P.P.S. Oh, and Borders is online already.
Did SuSE set up all these relationships with the retailers itself? Or did it go through some kind of retail software distributor who gets it into all the stores? If so, who?
The employees at my local CompUSA were working a few months back to set up a whole GNU/Linux section, with just about everything a Linux user could want from life. Should check up to see if it's up yet.
Anyways, the SuSE thing is probably overall okay news, but we should still remember that SuSE is quite proprietary. Unlike Red Hat, their enhancements and extra utilities (Yast, etc.) are not released as free software and remain proprietary. Inspite of any advantages it may or may not have, I'll stick with fully free distributions like Red Hat and Debian. The thought of a proprietized Linux-based OS really scares me.
It's placed with the garbage software because it has about the same advertising budget as the garbage software. Shelf position is bought, not given.
... even if you know already perfectly well
where it is shelved. If the 100st person comes
and ask the same question, maybe they will wisen
up, and shelv it at a more prominent place.
At least the Borders around me (Albany, NY) has a great Linux selection. They carry the shrinkedwrapped versions of RedHat, Slackware, OpenLinux, SuSE and Applix. Good array of books too, including the FSF books (Emacs Manual, GCC, etc.). For those without a Borders nearby, I hear they're going online soon too.
----
Open mind, insert foot.
If all you are looking for is the stuff on the CD, downloading or cheapbytes are fine, but the boxed sets have their place. First off, you get a book, figure that's worth a good $20-$40. Secondly, some of the companies offer goodies or support services only available to those who purchase the box. Lastly, count about $5-$10 for saying "Thanks for the great distro, please stay in business so you can make more for me!".
----
Open mind, insert foot.
No, "Ich bin ein Berliner" does in fact mean "I am a citizen of Berlin". Whoever told you it means "I am a jelly donut" ist ein Dummkopf.
Its only unusual if you consider Redhat to be the "standard". I have yet to see 2 distros use the exact same layout. Mandrake/Redhat doesn't count....
Borders bookstore has Debian
Theres way more than 400 packages in SuSE. A full install is just over 4 gigs. Debian is great, but it's better if you have a T1.... I just checked, SuSE 6.0 has 1845 packages
Posted by Lord Kano-The Gangster Of Love:
>>Hmmm.... at the MicroCenter in Santa Clara, CA, Linux is displayed quite prominently. Slackware and FreeBSD may be near the porn. However, they're not in boxes, anyway. RedHat and SuSE have been sold in MC for a long time....
At the Best Buy near where I work the boxes for Redhat 5.2, 6.0 and Caldera distros are the first thing that you walk into when you enter the store.
I just need to find 3 friends to go in on RedHat 6.0 with me.
LK
Posted by Lord Kano-The Gangster Of Love:
I think that it can be a *GOOD* idea to put them near the porn. When I go to the local shows, or stores I always peer into the porn shelves to see what's nude er.. new. I say put a few copies of the distros there and see if they sell. If they do, keep it up, what does it hurt?
LK
I cancelled my subscription and picked up 6.1 at CompUSA for $30, which is $5 cheaper than the subscription price.
I never did get 6.0 working. I couldn't run Sax without crashing, and using XF86Setup produced a configuration that would hang X 5 minutes into a session. This was strange, considering COL 1.3 and RH 5.2 were working with the same hardware. I gave up after about 4 hours, but then I saw 6.1 for $30 and decided to take another run at it. :-)
TedC
>The thought of a proprietized Linux-based OS
>really scares me.
I certainly see the problems with *a* proprietized linux distribution. HOwever, I think the risks evaporate with *multiple* such distributios, especially free distribuions out there. As long as there are multiple distributions, and as long as thare is no task which *requires* proprietary software, I don't see a threat.
My most recent install, I simply choose EVERY PACKAGE which is over
400!
Not to knock on SuSE, I'm sure they're a wonderful distro for you, but if you think 400 packages is a lot you're sadly misinformed. Debian has somewhere around 2000 packages (is it 3000 now?) and I believe RedHat has nearly as many. Of course, this being Linux, if your distributor doesn't ship a program you can compile it yourself but it's still a lot easier to be able to do an automatic installation (or compile) of a program rather than manually fetching and compiling it...
Daniel
Hurry up and jump on the individualist bandwagon!
Not everyone that is a coder in Cambridge is
an MIT geek... The rest work for startups
spun off from some MIT project or another...
Wisp
*)
Hmm.. I'm going to have to head over there after work someday. I work over on Broadway in Cambridge. Not too bad of a walk over to Microcenter. It's been at least a year since I've been there.
I had a somewhat similar experience with SuSE...
I had part of an SuSE order backordered (No. Calif office) and it was left unfilled until I finally called them about it over two months later. Appeared they had the stock, just lacked follow through. It was a big suprise to me, I expected they'd be shipping asap, since it was a completed sale and their payment was awaiting fulfillment.
I ended up cancelling the remaining order (except the t-shirt, which showed up in two days after the call).
While I wasn't impressed with the failure to follow through, I have been more than satisfied with the SuSE 5.3 product itself.
Being able to upgrade from a local retailer will be a good thing.
Linux doesn't get the shelf space because it's all bought up by Microsoft...
Most stores reserve most of their shelf space for producers who pay for that shelf space. The rest of the stuff, consignments, sales, whatever, get put where they can.
I won't be happy until linux apps also appear on retail shelves. (ok ok linux distros come with lots of stuff but the OS should be just the beginning)
---
Debian unstable (US and non-US main, contrib, and non-free) total to 3389 packages. Regardless of differences in what is packaged, I do think that Debian has a simply amazing selection of packages to choose from.
--
Ian Peters
I count 1355 distict binary rpms in the ftp-version (no crypto (those lamers have their server in the US) and some commercial stuff missing) of SuSE 6.1. SuSE packages are also rather big, while RedHat rpms tend to be fine-grained (both philosophies have their advantages and drawbacks).
If you really want to compare the amount of software, you better stick with the total size or the number of CDs. But after all, the only relevant benchmark is the number of programms you have to install manually either because they are not part of the distribution or because the package is miconfigured, buggy or out of date.
Great idea about the in-store demo machine, man! I know that many of my friends were always curious about Linux and had heard a lot of good things about it, but had no idea what the heck it was/did/looked like. A demo machine would allow people to peek and prod and just basically see that Linux isn't just for geeks and would sell a lot of copies of Linux...
To say I'd been grappling with Redhat is an understatement - too many issues to list, and I spent most of my time trying to maintain a semi-stable system rather than anything fun.
YAST is a joy to use, the install procedure very easy, SaX is fantastic, it all just *worked*, first time, no tinkering or gotchas! The quality of the documentation is fabulous.
Basically, I've still got a massive grin on my face! 8)
Read my online journal: http://chris.carline.org
Just two days after ordering and recieving SuSE Linux 6.1 from LinuxMall for $39.95, I step out to CompUSA to pick up a couple games for the Windows box, and lo! What do I see but the same austere white box with a price 10 dollars less than I payed! I wanted to cry. but I didn't. Oh well. I still love it! :)
-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon? :P)
(If you can't figure out how to E-Mail me, Don't.
"...their enhancements and extra utilities (Yast, etc.) are not released as free software and remain proprietary."
Of course, this means that you cannot sell _any_ media that contains the modified version. This means popular outlets that sell cheapo CD's can't produce distribution discs.
This is an example of the classic "non-commerical" clause and thus does not meet the OSD.
If Red Hat had put portions of their installer under a similar license, then we would not have Mandrake Linux, which has graduated from "Redhat + KDE" to become a testbed distribution for developing ease-of-use technologies. And Mandrake Linux has not cut into Red Hat's sales at all.
That's why people bitch about Yast so much. SuSE is a great product otherwise, and could be adapted and customized for use in markets that require specialization. But instead, we are stuck with a paranoid, monolithic company.
Get real, SuSE. People are going to buy your distro because its so well polished in the first place. There's no need to continue to stifle innovation.
Unless, of course, you are afraid that a bunch of people working together over the Internet can produce and market a product that is better than yours using your own technology as a basis. If that is the case, then not only are you grossly missing the point of free software, you are going against the very heart of the community that buys your products.
P.S.- As for the person you hired to work on X, you are to be commended. Still, it makes understanding of the Yast license even more difficult. I guess maybe you support Free Software when it's "convenient".
no kidding.
I was just a little pissed to see it drop to zero.
...and now it's -1.
Good god, people, I thought it was somewhat funny. What is this, some sort of attempted backlash at anything slightly resembling aryanism?
It was at least somewhat on topic... who pissed in their wheaties?
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!
:-)
...A view of the Universe functioning...
Now all we need is Debian and Slackware up on
the shelves... Then those people can see that
there really is more than Red Hat and Caldera
in the linux world.
----------------------------------------
I think that the definition of a package is not the same when SuSE and Debain define certain things as packages... From my understanding, Debian includes *everything* in their 2k-3k packages...- ---
...A view of the Universe functioning...
------------------------------------
belbo
--
"Just believe everything I tell you, and it will all be very, very simple."
A "berliner" still is something like a Danish.
So you could translate it right into english - "I am a Dane" versus "I am a Danish".
--
Business. Numbers. Money. People. Computer World.
Oh you really learned me a good lesson, oh master.
A "Berliner" is still also a pastry, btw.
--
Business. Numbers. Money. People. Computer World.
Indeed it does! I was running RH 5.1 and planning to upgrade to 6.0 until I saw that Draconian price jump. SuSE 6.1 works wonders, and WindowMaker w/ wmakerconf is changing my perception of X tools.
..and I also can't get the grin off my face.. :-) ]
[
It has been in some of the Borders here in the Northern Va aera for months, where have you been?
Only 'flamers' flame!
Best Buy had Red Hat 6.0, 5.2 and OpenLinux on an endcap when I stopped in this weekend. Very nice placement. That $75 for RedHat 6.0 kinda made my brain hurt though.
Jarod
I still can't get the taste of $78 for RedHat out of my mouth.
Heh, at a Hastings in College Station, they have a small display in the center of the store with Redhat 6.0 (at a whopping $88) and immediately below it, Suse 6.1 ($29). Hmm.. wonder which one I'm going to buy (well, if I was planning on buying either of them.)
Hmmm.... at the MicroCenter in Santa Clara, CA, Linux is displayed quite prominently. Slackware and FreeBSD may be near the porn. However, they're not in boxes, anyway. RedHat and SuSE have been sold in MC for a long time....
I still can't get the taste of $78 for RedHat out of my mouth.
Who do they think they are--Caldera? (another longtime MicroCenter resident...)
--Al
It's called co-op. Believe it or not, companies actually pay to get their products in prominent positions.
--- "If a man speaks in a forest, and no woman hears him, is he still wrong?"
I was at Micro-Center the other day and went looking for the Linux software section. Gee, it is intermixed with such useful software as "All Nude Girls" and "Swimsuit Babes Spectacular". Linux is not getting the retail shelf space like Microsoft. Micro-Center just placed it willy-nilly along side the garbase software. We should complain until Linux gets its own section away from the nudey-cdrom garbage.
Whow - as a german Linux-enthusiast it is nice to see that so many people love the SuSE in the outer world 8o). Because it is a german distribution it is the most used distri here - I often get flamed, because I use it and not RH or DEB -- the usual distri-war ;-). Nice to see that it is the other way round in the US...
-- *SIGh*
I went into Comp USA Friday to pick up Red Hat 6.0, and found Caldera OpenLinux 2.2 and Suse 6.1 right next to it, as well as ApplixWare and WordPerfect 8 Personal Edition. I thought that was impressive, until I brought my *shudder* $80 purchase to the cash register... Lo and behold, Red Hat 6.0 was on the display shelf right next to the registers! (Still no Civ:CTP, though) *sigh*
I have to say that this distribution (6.1) is one of the best I've bought yet. As a current RH 4, RH 5.2, and Caldera 1.3 owner as well, SuSE 6.1 tops them all. The package is WELL WORTH the $30 when you get 5 CD's jam packed with goodies and a nice book.
I have installed it 4 times (just for practice *grin*) and I have yet to be able to get enough time to actually go through all the available packages. My most recent install, I simply choose EVERY PACKAGE which is over 400!
A great value for anyone looking to add SuSE to their distro collection.
I expect my Caldera 2.2 in the mail sometime soon and I'll get RH 6.0 at the expo this week so we'll see how they compare.
I was completely guessing at the number of packages available. The SuSE site says the 5 CD's have over 900 packages.
Most people are familiar with the term
Ich Bin Ein
I am a...
from JFK's famous speech (Even though he called himself a jelly donut).
He was mentioning that he uses SuSE. (SuSer)
Since SuSE is from germany.... Sorta fits
RB
Of course there's dust on the NT boxes. Cambridge, MA is the neighborhood where X and Kerberos were born. And I hope Cambridge stays that way!
Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
by Anonymous Coward on 18/05/99 9:35 EDT
... even if you know already perfectly well where it is shelved. If the 100st person comes and ask the same question, maybe they will wisen up, and shelve it at a more prominent place.
Right on, Good call!
Many businesses seem to be managed by zombies, who don't care (much) what customers want, so long as the store generates enough custom to pay their bills. "Conservative" in the pejorative sense, rather than the positive sense. However, even smart / smarter managers don't know what you want unless asked.
In the past couple of years, I have grown increasingly bold about asking / suggesting / requesting products I'd like to see when visiting retail places (not just computer stuff), and it feels good because it puts the shoe on the other foot. Much better than whining that "They don't carry it!" even though I still do that occasionally too.
Same goes for on-line comments for any software house etc. Ask for Linux / other Free OS stuff, indicate your interest in seeing a good selection.
Ask, ask, ask! Since I not a coder, but I like the idea of free / Free software, this seems to be one thing that people like me can do. Join in!
If you make it a point each time you go into a software shop (esp. the giant national chains, where hopefully there is some central accounting) and asking for a specific piece of Linux or other Free OS software that you don't see on the shelf, filling out a request form if one is available, then soon the avalanche of software availability will grow stronger! Maybe also specifically thank the manager if you do find a piece of software you want, mention that you will refer some friends there.
Point is, the mindset that "Nobody uses / buys Free OS software" is circular
Tim
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
They've had Linux for quite awhile now, and be ye surprised to find out they stick all the OS software in one section. Win98 Downgrade on the right shelf, Linux distros including linux powertools on the left shelf. Too bad their slow asses haven't gotten Redhat 6.o expert pack yet. It's supposed to be the affordable one with just 2 cds and installation docs.
well... not relly from the side of german grammer...
... :-)
Ich bin *ein* Berliner.
would really mean Im a donut. JFK should have said
Ich bin Berliner.
But since most Germans even dont know this difference
First to say, that I am a SuSE user since several Years, because for me it is best....
... but....
I was very unhappy installing version 6.1! After upgrading from version 6.0 lots of things on my machine do not work anymore:
- Apache is not coming up after reboot.
- MySQL too
- MySQL-Perl modules vanished and I had to reinstall by hand
- ISDN is not working anymore, because they forgot to add the masquerading kernel modules
If You look at there bugfixsite http://www.suse.de/patches/61_update.html this did not wonder me anymore.
Hey guys, SuSE is good, but is it best? Do I have the time and money to download about 10Megs of bugfixes and get a not working internethost after upgrading?
I think we all should think about how fast and often an upgrade-version should be issued. I know, the development of free software lives from early publishing software and its code, but if I buy a Linux distribution, my system should stay stable after (down-) up-grading.
First to say, that I am a SuSE user since several Years, because for me it is best.... ... but.... I was very unhappy installing version 6.1! After upgrading from version 6.0 lots of things on my machine do not work anymore: - Apache is not coming up after reboot. - MySQL too - MySQL-Perl modules vanished and I had to reinstall by hand - ISDN is not working anymore, because they forgot to add the masquerading kernel modules If You look at there bugfixsite http://www.suse.de/patches/61_update.html this did not wonder me anymore. Hey guys, SuSE is good, but is it best? Do I have the time and money to download about 10Megs of bugfixes and get a not working internethost after upgrading? I think we all should think about how fast and often an upgrade-version should be issued. I know, the development of free software lives from early publishing software and its code, but if I buy a Linux distribution, my system should stay stable after (down-) up-grading.
The one here in Boca Raton and Coconut Creek (FL) carries a large selection also.
Even better they have all the
Episode I "the Phantom Annoyance" stuff at 20% off. I stood there and read the comic book, now I don't "have" to make to premier, I already know the ending.
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
No,
"ein Berliner" refers to a member of a group which calls themselves "Berliner", whereas "Berliner" by itself means someone from Berlin.
So JFK said he was with the Berlin people instead of simply saying he was from Berlin. It's a subtle difference, it's difficult to explaii, but he chose the right words, even though there would be this ambiguity, if you looked at it context-free.
SuSE has not done well by their subscribers. When I signed up for a subscription I thought I would be the first kid on the block with the new distro. Not so. Apparently retailers got it first.
bummer...
(whiner mode = off)
Like alternative OS's? try an alternative bicycle:
http://www.recumbents.com
Like an alternative OS? Try an alternative bicycle: http://www.recumbents.com
Interesting. I bought the same distro about a week ago and installed it--with some problems. Actually, I wiped my hard drive twice. *sigh*
The supplied manual, while not bad, doesn't go into enough detail for new users about a few things. "Run FIPS or forget running Winblows" might be a good start. Also, there's at least one spot where the typesetting got mangled in the middle of a series of commands that should be typed exactly as written. *oops*
Good tech support, though, and YaST is easy to mess around with. Guess I'll have a better point of comparison when/if I ever try RedHat.
Give a monkey a brain and he'll swear he's the center of the universe.
Read the news, tripped down to the local Waldenbooks and asked - they didn't have a clue. But then, since Barnes & Noble opened their superstore next door, this has been a pretty depressed group of people.
Funny thing. I never thought to read about this here (:
In German a "Berliner" is person living in berlin _or_ a donut except in berlin. When you try to buy a donut in berlin you should use the word "Pfannkuchen" instead otherwise people will look a little bit confused.
I agree , Suse 6.1 is the best linux on the market today, i have used Redhat, Debian. But the best part of Suse is how easy it is to install..
i give suse 9 out of 10 possible....