OpenSuse, from what I have heard from those I know who have either experimented in trying Linux or use it, is perceived to be between the home user community that Ubunto has made such inroads in and Redhat that has a good reputation as a business system. Being in between the 2 markets, it needs to define its marketing goals and possibly have a dual marketing approach. Ubunto is think in the university community as is OS. I do not know why as I’m not in the computer or marketing field. My son uses Ubunto and will not move from it. His comments are that it works out of the box with little maintenance to get it going and easily loads needed applications to accomplish jobs.

I have tried Ubunto as well as other flavors of Linux and on trying OpenSuse, it seemed a more complete OS but as I used the DVD install. OpenSuse seemed to accomplish what Ubunto promises and delivers but OpenSuse delivers more easier. Yes, some stuff takes time to get used to such as the Yast system.

I am in the camp that believes that to be competitive with Windows with a broad audience it will need to have a broad GUI toolkit. However, let us not forget that Windows is also built for multiple levels of knowledged users. Yes, it has the uninstall program but most users do not have much knowledge as to the contents of the Control Panel and even fewer the use of MSCONFIG, and other line level commands. Even I, who grew up in a non-GUI world learning the command line existence, at this time of my life have more important things to do than figure out the underpinnings of Linux and the broader population not into computers such as Joe Average banker, lawyer, plumber, teacher, etc. also will not take the time.

I understand much of the community are more computer savvy than probably 98% of the world and those in that population that think that the other 98% think of a computer like you will not understand what makes a system that has popular acceptance. It needs to be easy to install, at least as easy as Vista, it is easy to install and get up and running. it needs to possibly change the default applications to provide more user selection, i.e. loading OpenOffice and FireFox by default, as well as other applications does sound like a great idea but it starts to get confusing with the multiple applications that load. Multiple mail clients, web browsers, address books, etc. gets confusing. Here is where a good installer can help. In Windows apps, Joe Average does not see a list of files and does not need to figure what to click and download. Why not have a high level application list: Evolution, OpenOffice, AbiWord, etc. without showing the multiple files that usually having little or no meaning as the community has this habit of using file names that have little descriptive information.

I started following Linux in the early ’90s and it has come a long way but, until it moves from an anti-MS, free UNIX like marketing approach and starts thinking in terms of the target market (remember even MS found 1 size does not fit all) and thinks marketing and not that people will simply rush to a better mouse trap or the world hates MS, it will be interesting but not a system for the average user. Also, there is an added challenge; equipment manufacturers need to make the needed drivers but this is a challenge for them as there are so many variants to deal with. It is possible that there need to be a universal GUI installer that all distro makers could incorporate so that hardware makers could write to one rather then the many. Yes, this may lead to application writers to write to it also but, that may not be such a bad thing. Lastly, UNIX created a standard file system and it was used by many of the Linux developers for some time but more recently the developers have gotten away from the standard. It is easier for end users to work with if a standard were set and adhered to as when one need to go into the file structures to find things it is just easier if all are the same as well as from a community support point of view.

Sorry to be long winded but this is my view of Linux from a user’s standpoint who is not an IT person and is also not Joe Average and has marketing under his belt as well as having followed Linux from near the beginning and grew up with what it was supposed to emulate.

I said -
Easier said than done, oh Wise One.
The “tools” are where?

Tell we, who are trying to learn the “tools”, where there is a single location where ALL the “tools” are listed and explains what they do, and the syntax for each command.
There is none.
Or rather, there are 5000 locations where, in each one, some of the “tools” are presented.
But nowhere is all the “tools” presented in a concise useful manner.

I have two 1200+ page books on linux, and there are still simple questions that they do not answer.
Finding the answer to rather basic questions sometimes takes hours.
Until Linux and its fifteen billion distributions is documented so someone can locate the basic “tools” and learn to use them, it will remain a techno-toy.

Thanks :)

With regard to marketing, reaching educational and research is a major objective for example if your power uses Suse maybe you bring your home Suse besides free distribution in schools is a good idea and even more so if in Where are taught computer (plus more partners ;)

No advertising their is little or in the media, newspapers, magazines and more, also outside the field of technology and computers. Everything in its time perhaps shortly and will be in Fortune, The Simpsons and Playboy :P Calendar Suse with celebrities, rich and famous, beautiful boys and girls :P

The important thing is that your distribution does not lose its Ser, we do not lose their identity and yours to be part of this community, we do not lose our Suse and becomes a Ubuntu or other distribution, we have our philosophy, our ideals, one of our differences is that Suse is a product of high quality, we have a distribution and a community with high quality, for example can be seen from the security, stability and artistic work. I think that is one of the greatest fears of those who contributed directly and indirectly in Suse,

Here also leave them a bit of my mood, I write with dictionaries and translator, I’m sorry for the mistakes, good luck.

1. I came to linux because I grew very tired of Windows “telling” me how to use my computer. I enjoy the different ways that tasks can ve acheived in linux as it makes me think, but also learn.

2. Is linux difficult for newbies?? – I believe it depends on the users mindset. I learnt everything I know now by being part of the linux community, and of course I am still learning. I dual booted for about 2 weeks and will never go back. It doesn’t help that schools use Windows, so children grow up thinking computer = MS

3 Yast – has greatly improved especially in the speed dept in OpenSuse 11, and I don’t think its that difficult to use. Of course, there are other options like smart package manager.

I believe that everyone uses their computers in different ways. Some people just want to click an icon, and let the computer do the rest. I enjoy using my computer (if something does not work, its not a disaster, it is an opportunity to learn)

OpenSuse is great. Many thanks for the continued effort.

If women do not come to Suse, their approaches to them;) let the chameleon not bite;) and changes color: P

Friends invite you to take a stroll through the website:

Webs Sites:
http://www.linux.com/feature/119488
http://women.debian.org/home/
http://women.kde.org/
http://www.linuxchix.org/
http://www.chicaslinux.org/
http://www.linux-girl.com/
…………………………….

Perhaps a bit of advertising aimed at women and in the right places

By the time Suse Woman?

For those hackers who want to experience, those seeking ideas and more

The latest news is of 2008-09-11, the project is active and has progressed according to those who have informed me.

Link:
http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/whatsnew.html

He left the latest version of PC-BSD to try: P
Link:
http://www.pcbsd.org

If you need something contactame for this or previous email that will give them

I do not lack motivation :D, when you have more suggestions they do get :P

Good luck team!.

Dux, JP.

in this case Benjamin and Stephan… Thank you so much!! That was a real mess and you fixed it up!! :D Thanks

For some YES! (not everyone born whit a computer in his hands and another on their head, you know…)

““humankind are curios by nature…”

So, there shouldn’t be any reason not to find out how one can uninstall software and find alternatives already present in the OS.”

I actually meant they are curious about simple software’s like video players, software to convert files, and s-m-a-l-l things like that… and not searching for more advanced OS management tecnics… Are you thinking about put a bunch of kids that don’t even know what a library is, managing their software in Yast??? you should try that, specially where i am!!!

“Then we get a Windows’ Control Panel “Install/Remove Software”-alike. Which doesn’t do much in some cases,as I must clean the damn registry (thank god for the registry cleaners) and get rid of the folders that are “randomly” created in my system.”

Why not do even better??? for example, as far as i know, Linspire’s/Xandro’s CNR does not work that bad!!!

“Mate,you don’t know half of the people who come from wormholes and appear in my MSN contact list…”

Then if you got this too, you should see my point of view as well :S

Honestly, i’m beginning to became very tired about speaking of this issue and trying to get people see what i see… it actually seems i want something that will make the OS crash twice a minute… everyone tries to kill me everytime i speak about it (i understand those who already read (a LOT of) other articles about this made by me… like Benjamin… but not the other ones that came whit “Knifes and guns trying to shoot me”) :(