Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 05:10:51 -0500
From: Daniel Woodard <design@mindspring.com>
To: SuSE <suse-linux-e@suse.com>
Subject: [SLE] Comments on 6.3


I am really enjoying SuSE 6.3, the best yet.

I did not have too much going on so I did a clean install over 6.2, so I
don't know about how it upgrades over 6.2.

In my opinion, this is a "darn near" consumer version of Linux in the
sense that, assuming there are no complicated hardware scenarios, the
YAST2 install is well within the ability of a common user. It found my
hardware, video card and monitor withour fuss and basically installed
most everything and configured it well right from the start. Good job
folks!

The YAST2 install seems to want to install most everything, well over
1,000 packages for me. Under YAST2 I did not feel as in control as I did
under YAST. I would like to reinstall using YAST one day to see if I can
set-up a slightly less loaded configuration, but for now I will be happy
to explore all the stuff on my hard drive.

I kinda liked the way the old SuSE defaulted to a line mode interface
and I had to type startx. I know I could have configured a graphical
login but I never did and so that was what I was used to. Leary at
first, I now really like the graphical login. Tip- the password is
entered without the cursor moving or displaying ****** to symbolize
keystrokes. This caught me at fist as I though my keyboard was muffed in
such a way that I could no enter the password for some reason. But it
works fine.

The best is that there is a pull down for the other window managers.
This is great. I will finally explore the other window managers.
Enlightenment seemed very cool at first glance, though it really seems
that KDE is really the only useable choice for day-in day-out useage. I
may be wrong!

Another thing I've noticed is that SuSE linux has been responsive to
upgrades over the past several months. I started with a PII233 and a S3
4MB video card. X windows performance was sluggish and KDE 1.1.1 and
Netscape 4.61 were kinda buggy feeling and slow. I upgraded the S3 with
an ATI Xpert@work 8MB card that I hated under Windows and it turns out
to be a real decent card under the Mach 64 driver. Performance improved
quite a bit. Next I swapped the PI233 for a PII333 and performance was
again much better and smoother in most all respects. Now with SuSE 6.3,
KDE 1.1.2 and Netscape 4.7 performance is the best yet. I'm actually
using SuSE quite a bit now and will for sure make it may daily machine.
It finally feels like a "regular computer" and I mean that well.

Also, special mention for Netscape 4.7. It's completely better than 4.61
and has been responding great. It looks a little better and the default
fonts are actually useable. I switched from Times to Helvetica, but
otherwise, it's been go go go.

I had my network and my ipchains set-up and the whole computer was
running as before in maybe a tick less than two hours. Great!

Well, in summary, I've been merely messing with Linux since my first
copy of Red Hat 5.1. I still have to use my MacOS and WinNT machines for
my money work, but SuSE linux is here to stay for me in my personal
life. For December of the year 1999, this is quite a feeling and the
next millenium will be special indeed.

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