What Is New in SUSE LINUX 9.1 ?

The new SUSE LINUX 9.1 features an enhanced product concept and many new, innovative technologies. Chris Schlaeger, Vice President Research & Development at SUSE LINUX, explains the most important new features in detail.

What do you consider the three most important technical improvements in SUSE LINUX 9.1?

Linux kernel 2.6, KDE 3.2.1, and GNOME 2.4.2. Once more, we are the first ones to make these milestones - kernel 2.6 and KDE 3.2 - available for a wide audience on CD and DVD.

What are the benefits of Linux kernel 2.6 for home users?

Simply stated, all audio and video applications run more smoothly, and reading and writing of CDs and DVDs is faster. The increased system performance also enables substantially improved streaming of video and audio data. Thanks to the DMA mode, burning CDs and DVDs in Linux has become faster. Additionally, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA), which is spearheaded by SUSE, is now an integral component of kernel 2.6, delivering audio and MIDI functions in Linux. ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) ensures efficient power management, for example by extending the battery operation time of laptops. For Linux veterans, the time has come to part with a Linux peculiarity many have become fond of: the mounting and unmounting of removable media. CDs and DVDs can now be ejected with a button click without having to unmount them manually.

KDE 3.2 has been keenly anticipated. What are the new features?

First, we would like to thank the KDE team for its excellent job: about 10,000 improvements have been integrated since the first version of KDE 3. SUSE LINUX 9.1 comes with KDE version 3.2.1, which boasts an impressive performance and a high stability of the individual applications. For example, the rendering engine of the browser and file manager Konqueror have been optimized in collaboration with the developers of the Apple browser Safari. One of the most conspicuous new features is the personal information manager Kontact, which provides a uniform interface for e-mail, calendar, address book, and notes. Another new feature is the integrated spellchecking for web forms and e-mail messages. The functionality of the file manager and web browser Konqueror has been expanded. With Konqueror, you can import Internet Explorer bookmarks, speedily browse through image directories, network folders, and services, rip audio CDs, and read the contents of digital cameras and USB sticks. Kwallet serves as a central storage for passwords and access information. The music manager JuK enables the smart and intuitive management of large music archives.

What are the new features of GNOME 2.4?

Version 2.4.2 of the desktop environment GNOME features eleven new applications and support of accessability aids for handicapped users, such as a screen reader with voice or Braille display output and the dynamic on-screen keyboard GOK. Since GNOME 2.2, the GNOME file manager Nautilus has been expanded by several important functions, and the stability and speed have been increased significantly. The user interface and stability of the web browser Epiphany have also been revised. gcalctool is a completely new GNOME calculator that offers a much wider functionality than its predecessor. The GNOME panel has been revised and its usability and flexibility have been improved.

What does version 9.1 offer in terms of new multimedia features?

Once again, SUSE LINUX 9.1 delivers the most comprehensive collection of free audio software. The synthesizer AlsaModularSynth has been expanded considerably and now supports polyphonic structures. Another highlight is the demo version of the professional video editing application MainActor 5.2 with DV I/O, MPEG I/O, and audio editing.

What are the most important new features for Linux experts?

Apart from kernel 2.6, Samba 3 is one of the most important new assets. Samba 3 enables operations such as the integration of Linux clients in Windows domains. Thanks to the "Active Directory" access and the possibility to configure virtual servers, Samba 3 greatly facilitates the consolidation of hardware.
Ambitious PC users will enjoy Quanta Plus, an HTML editor with WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) functionality. Developers will appreciate KDevelop 3.0 with C, C++, and Java support, customizable layout, freely selectable editor, separate class overview for C++, automatic code completion, syntax check, and integrated debuggers.

Windows and Linux on one machine - is this possible with SUSE LINUX?

Of course. Due to the current virus surge, Linux is highly recommended for e-mail and Internet operations. Since the last version, SUSE LINUX has been supporting the NTFS file system used by Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP. Thus, users of all Windows versions who have never used Linux before can install SUSE LINUX alongside Windows on their computers and migrate step by step without taking any risks. For those who want to do their office work in Linux, the enclosed OpenOffice.org 1.1 now offers even more functionality and comfort, such as the new macro recorder, the export of PDF files, the import and export of all kinds of XML formats, and the export of presentations in flash format. OpenOffice.org is now fully integrated in KDE 3.2.1. Therefore, the icons and the look correspond to the KDE theme.

The professional press praises SUSE LINUX for its excellent documentation. What is new in the manuals for version 9.1?

The instructions for the installation and configuration with YaST as well as the chapters on GIMP and KDE have been revised. The documentation for the instant messenger Kopete and the configuration of SPAMAssassin in KMail is new. The Administration Guide now covers Bluetooth, Apache 2, Samba 3, and printing with CUPS. The description of the powersave package and the YaST Power Management module as well as the extensive documentation of font handling in SUSE LINUX are also new.

SUSE has modified the prices. The Professional edition has gone up 10 Euros, the Personal edition has gone down 20 Euros. What is the reason for this???

In order to convince even more people of the advantages of using Linux, version 9.1 makes the migration easier than ever. The policy is to make it "lean and inexpensive". The condensed software range now offers the best for the Internet, e-mail, office, graphics, sound, and video on a single CD. The new live CD enables Linux newcomers without any previous experience to get to know SUSE LINUX without having to install it. The highly competitive price of EUR 29.95 for SUSE LINUX Personal is extremely attractive for those who would like to get a taste of this system without putting an undue burden on their personal pockets.

On the other hand, we have greatly expanded the software range of SUSE LINUX Professional: SUSE LINUX 9.1 Professional provides ambitious home users and developers with state-of-the-art Linux technology for standard 32-bit PC processors as well as for AMD Athlon64 and Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology in one box. The product includes more than 2,500 software packages on 5 CDs and 2 double-sided DVDs, together with more than 1,000 pages of topical documentation. Moreover, SUSE LINUX Professional can be deployed on an unlimited number of machines - all of this for only EUR 89.95.