SMB IT | Curtis Franklin » Novell SUSE Linux Enteprise Desktop 10: Check It Out

August 17, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Novell SUSE Linux Enteprise Desktop 10: Check It Out

TAGS: SMB Linux

Got to give it to those Novell folks: They aren't giving up. These guys want to give Microsoft a kick in the lower regions when it comes to the corporate desktop, they've chosen Linux to do it, and they're not going to quit until they succeed.

I thought they were well on their way with version 9, but version 10 of their SUSE-based desktop product is definitely a step up. Haven't been playing with this long, but it's definitely worth a look for the SMB set--especially if you're not sure about Vista and its associated costs just yet.

First thing, it's still easy to install. They've added an AutoYAST feature that may or may not have been there before (hey, my memory sucks) but it's designed to let you roll this out to multiple desktops pretty easily.

It's also got all the graphic bells and whistles you want (as long as your vid card is pretty quick), including the ability to alt-tab between applications and tile apps, too:

and even a 3D rendering view designed to take some of the eye-envy out of what Microsoft is promising with Vista:

Again, just be sure your video card does 3D at an acceptable clip and that it's also on Novell's approved hardware list--hey, why take chances?

Novell has also updated the bundled applications with version 10. You get a desktop search tool, called Beagle and a Novell-only version of OpenOffice that not only supports all Microsoft file formats it also has support for Visual Basic for Application macros. That's pretty darn cool.

They've updated Evolution with a cool new look and new ways to manage and view email--pretty nice actually. And they gave it easy compatibility with Active Directory and Exchange. I had it talking to the SBS server I've got here after only a few Advil moments.

Downside? Not much in terms of basic functionality. You get all the OS things users want, the authentication and network tools that admins want and enough Microsoft compatibility that most basic SMB workers can get easily get by with this.

Only thing you don't seem to get--unless I screwed up my install--is CrossOver. I seem to remember this being part of the older SUSE app list, but it's not here now. So you can't simply offer users OpenOffice but promise them native Microsoft apps as a backup. This is OpenOffice only from what I can tell.

I've only just installed the thing, so I'll keep digging into it, but for now I'm impressed. Installation was actually shorter than XP and just as easy. Booting takes a bit, but after that, you're in a GUI environment that most any experienced Windows user should be able to navigate with relatively little trouble.

The OpenOffice, Firefox browser and Evolution clients are smooth and polished enough that I'd be surprised to get cranky user complaints.

And it's a money saver. Not just because the software is cheaper, but because you can roll it out on machines that are considered robust for XP. Those same machines will need to be upgraded or replaced to make Vista happy, but they run all of SUSE 10's bells and whistles just fine.

I'd think twice before offering this to serious Windows power users or folks dependent on loads of Win-only applications, but for basic office productivity workers this may be my favorite new platform.

Posted by Oliver Rist on August 17, 2006 09:32 PM

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