5 ms·

OpenSUSE 13.1 Released

54 points by Tsiolkovsky 13y ago

andrewcooke 13y ago
Yay! When my laptop gets back from being fixed it's going on (now is a good time to get the ISO over bittorrent - there will be many, many seeders). Download link (wrong in article?!) - http://software.opensuse.org/131 http://software.opensuse.org/131 (Incidentally, do X series thinkpads still have the plug at the back? It switched from the side somewhere between X60 and X220, and if it's at the back it gets bent every time you pick the laptop up from the front - mine failed last week...)
- hennevogel 13y ago
  DOH! Fixed the download link. Thanks :-)
- loudmax 13y ago
  My X230 has the plug in the back. I'm careful when I pick up my laptop. It's a really stupid design decision, exacerbated by the shape of the plug. Otherwise I love my Thinkpad and it's Linux-friendly hardware.
  - andrewcooke 13y ago
    i thought i was careful too... fyi, when it fails you likely won't notice and the battery will run down. at that point it will appear completely dead. the way to test (obvious in retrospect) is to wiggle the plug and hold it at various angles - at some angle it will work. then, at least here in chile, a support centre can fix it.
- bluedino 13y ago
  Not sure why it's been 7 years since the Magsafe debuted on the MacBook Pro and every laptop doesn't use a similar power cord by now. So many laptops are broken (but fixable) by DC jacks breaking.
  - edoloughlin 13y ago
    Only another 13 to wait, then (assuming the patents were filed after 1998).
  - jamiek88 13y ago
    Yes, typical Apple really, one of those ideas that seem bloody obvious in hindsight, yet they are the only ones doing it. Prob got a patent of some sort on it. Looking forward to trying to get this running on my mid 2011 MBA, its currently running Ubuntu and works very well.
    - girvo 13y ago
      They did patent it, yeah.
  - selectodude 13y ago
    http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526 http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526 There you go.
- abrowne 13y ago
  The X240 has the charger port on the left side, since it has an Apple-style drop hinge so the display covers the back. http://laptoping.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X240.jpg http://laptoping.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lenovo-Think...
qwerta 13y ago
OpenSUSE seems like best KDE distro just after Kubuntu.
- pestaa 13y ago
  What do you like about Kubuntu more compared to openSUSE?
  - qwerta 13y ago
    Better font rendering, larger software selection, home folder encryption, WIFI firmware included on CD. I also think apt is better package manager. On other side SUSE has better installer. I am not sure Kubuntu will survive 14.04. Perhaps there will be replacement based on Debian. Perhaps it will be time to move to OpenSUSE.
    - andrewcooke 13y ago
      font rendering is just config. first thing i do with opensuse is install the mstttfonts and enable anti-aliasing (weak hints). [edit] the patent issues have long since died away - http://www.freetype.org/patents.html http://www.freetype.org/patents.html i'm pretty sure (no numbers) package selection isn't less on opensuse, it's just distributed over more repos. use http://software.opensuse.org/search http://software.opensuse.org/search you have more encryption options with opensuse - the yast installer (partition manager) is more flexible than the ubuntu one (i couldn't duplicate my opensuse install with ubuntu and had to go with something simpler). and home directory encryption is an option in yast under "details" for add new user. i have used both. ubuntu is the nicer "out of the box" (it feels more apple-ish). but opensuse allows you to fiddle more - as a developer i prefer opensuse because it's easier to poke around and change things. yast is a huge help when you want it and stays out of the way when you don't - for me it makes opensuse the sweet spot between ubuntu and distros like debian.
      - qwerta 13y ago
        > font rendering is just config. Not just config, but patents! There are patents which covers font rendering (thanks a lot apple), so freetype in most distributions is crippled. Ubuntu ships with those patches. I think on OpenSuse I could install patched freetype (or Infinality which think uses different algorithm). > but opensuse allows you to fiddle more I mostly do Debian, so creating a few symlinks is simple. I used Suse a lot 10 years ago.
izietto 13y ago
> YaST has been ported to Ruby !!!
- ht_th 13y ago
  From YaST's own language ...
- Mikeb85 13y ago
  Why not? Ruby's a great scripting language. Apparently alot of SUSE devs are also Rubyists...
  - izietto 13y ago
    It's just that it surprises me when applications are written in Ruby instead of Python, especially on Linux where Python seems to be the king of the high level languages
- maw 13y ago
  Yeah, kinda weird. Why didn't they port rails to ycp instead?
sharms 13y ago
I have been running this for a few months and it was worked well. For the curious I did use BTRFS as my default file system, and KDE4 desktop. A few things I do after installing: * Install proprietary nvidia driver * Install steam (this is a 1 click install from the Suse Wiki) * Install namtrac:subpixel for good looking fonts (zipper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/namtrac:/subpixel/openSUSE_13.1/home:namtrac:subpixel.repo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/namtrac:/sub...) * Install ksuperkey to use the windows key to open the menu Great release and nice to see the progress Linux is making!
- mikevm 13y ago
  Quick KDE question from a KDE noob: When you open the KDE Menu, is there any way to make it focus the search textbox by default? Or is there a faster way of searching an application or file other than opening the KDE menu?
  - qwerta 13y ago
    alt-f2 ?
    - rmk2 13y ago
      You can either hit ALT-F2 or you can just press ALT, hit the first letter of what you are looking for, release ALT, then continue typing. After hitting ALT-F2, you will see a little spanner on the left of the dialogue that opens. Click on that and you get additional options where to search for your term, including devices, bookmarks, applications, the calculator etc.
  - eeperson 13y ago
    On Debian (KDE 4.10) it does this by default. So, there must be a way to do it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what that configuration is. Maybe if you open it with your keyboard 'alt+f1'?
  - blisterpeanuts 13y ago
    Open a console window and (at the $ prompt) type: $ sudo zypper update findutils-locate (wait a couple of hours for the locatedb to build) $ locate fullOrPartialFileName (for case-insensitive search) $ locate -i fullOrPartialFileName
nathanb 13y ago
I used to be a die-hard OpenSUSE user. When 11.4 came out, I complained to my co-worker. "Man, another upgrade. Things always seem to go a little wonky after updating." He said "wait, what do you mean?" Turns out he was an Arch Linux user, and Arch uses a rolling release system. The idea of upgrading to a new version doesn't make sense; every system update gives you the newest tested version of everything. (So now instead of things going wonky every few months, they go wonky constantly :) OpenSUSE is a fine distro, especially if you're a KDE user. But if you're tired of a big bomb upgrade once every so often, consider a rolling release distro as well. On the other hand, if you want to run the same code and not worry about upgrading for years, 13.1 is a good choice because it's a longterm support release and will continue to receive bugfixes until 2016.
- rmk2 13y ago
  If you want rolling-release, use openSUSE-factory[1], i.e. the development branch (though this might sometimes break on you). If you want an inbetween thing between rolling release and standard, use Tumbleweed[2], which is curated by Greg K-H and brings you new versions of important software, i.e. KDE/Gnome, kernel, git, vim/emacs etc. Tumbleweed uses a set of repositories called *-current, which are always symlinked to the current version. As of today, my next update will bring me onto 13.1 standard for all packages, while Tumbleweed will be emptied soon. In a little while, Tumbleweed will be populated again with updates newer than the 13.1 version, as they appear. This cycle continues until 13.2 is released, and then starts anew. [1]: http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory [2]: http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed
- Swifty 13y ago
  Opensuse technically has two rolling models, The first being Factory which contains bleeding edge software that will is considered to be unstable. The second is Tumbleweed which just pushes updated Stable software. Factory is manly for developers to test on and isn't rely for day to day use. Tumbleweed can be used for day to day use, you just have to be aware that things can break.
xolve 13y ago
I moved from Kubuntu to openSuse. On big plus is easier administration and almost generic packages (except branding). openSuse's Yast is basically a neat GUI wrapper and it works fine even if when you change some config manually. You need to add Pacman repo to install the goodies. You can choose to remain with FLOSS software or install proprietary packages if you want. Besides, a distro doesn't matter much, what matters is what you do on that.

54 points by Tsiolkovsky 13y ago

Yay! When my laptop gets back from being fixed it's going on (now is a good time to get the ISO over bittorrent - there will be many, many seeders). Download link (wrong in article?!) - http://software.opensuse.org/131 http://software.opensuse.org/131 (Incidentally, do X series thinkpads still have the plug at the back? It switched from the side somewhere between X60 and X220, and if it's at the back it gets bent every time you pick the laptop up from the front - mine failed last week...)

hennevogel 13y ago
DOH! Fixed the download link. Thanks :-)
loudmax 13y ago
My X230 has the plug in the back. I'm careful when I pick up my laptop. It's a really stupid design decision, exacerbated by the shape of the plug. Otherwise I love my Thinkpad and it's Linux-friendly hardware.
- andrewcooke 13y ago
  i thought i was careful too... fyi, when it fails you likely won't notice and the battery will run down. at that point it will appear completely dead. the way to test (obvious in retrospect) is to wiggle the plug and hold it at various angles - at some angle it will work. then, at least here in chile, a support centre can fix it.
bluedino 13y ago
Not sure why it's been 7 years since the Magsafe debuted on the MacBook Pro and every laptop doesn't use a similar power cord by now. So many laptops are broken (but fixable) by DC jacks breaking.
- edoloughlin 13y ago
  Only another 13 to wait, then (assuming the patents were filed after 1998).
- jamiek88 13y ago
  Yes, typical Apple really, one of those ideas that seem bloody obvious in hindsight, yet they are the only ones doing it. Prob got a patent of some sort on it. Looking forward to trying to get this running on my mid 2011 MBA, its currently running Ubuntu and works very well.
  - girvo 13y ago
    They did patent it, yeah.
- selectodude 13y ago
  http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526 http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526 There you go.
abrowne 13y ago
The X240 has the charger port on the left side, since it has an Apple-style drop hinge so the display covers the back. http://laptoping.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X240.jpg http://laptoping.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lenovo-Think...

qwerta 13y ago

OpenSUSE seems like best KDE distro just after Kubuntu.

pestaa 13y ago
What do you like about Kubuntu more compared to openSUSE?
- qwerta 13y ago
  Better font rendering, larger software selection, home folder encryption, WIFI firmware included on CD. I also think apt is better package manager. On other side SUSE has better installer. I am not sure Kubuntu will survive 14.04. Perhaps there will be replacement based on Debian. Perhaps it will be time to move to OpenSUSE.
  - andrewcooke 13y ago
    font rendering is just config. first thing i do with opensuse is install the mstttfonts and enable anti-aliasing (weak hints). [edit] the patent issues have long since died away - http://www.freetype.org/patents.html http://www.freetype.org/patents.html i'm pretty sure (no numbers) package selection isn't less on opensuse, it's just distributed over more repos. use http://software.opensuse.org/search http://software.opensuse.org/search you have more encryption options with opensuse - the yast installer (partition manager) is more flexible than the ubuntu one (i couldn't duplicate my opensuse install with ubuntu and had to go with something simpler). and home directory encryption is an option in yast under "details" for add new user. i have used both. ubuntu is the nicer "out of the box" (it feels more apple-ish). but opensuse allows you to fiddle more - as a developer i prefer opensuse because it's easier to poke around and change things. yast is a huge help when you want it and stays out of the way when you don't - for me it makes opensuse the sweet spot between ubuntu and distros like debian.
    - qwerta 13y ago
      > font rendering is just config. Not just config, but patents! There are patents which covers font rendering (thanks a lot apple), so freetype in most distributions is crippled. Ubuntu ships with those patches. I think on OpenSuse I could install patched freetype (or Infinality which think uses different algorithm). > but opensuse allows you to fiddle more I mostly do Debian, so creating a few symlinks is simple. I used Suse a lot 10 years ago.

izietto 13y ago

> YaST has been ported to Ruby !!!

ht_th 13y ago
From YaST's own language ...
Mikeb85 13y ago
Why not? Ruby's a great scripting language. Apparently alot of SUSE devs are also Rubyists...
- izietto 13y ago
  It's just that it surprises me when applications are written in Ruby instead of Python, especially on Linux where Python seems to be the king of the high level languages
maw 13y ago
Yeah, kinda weird. Why didn't they port rails to ycp instead?

sharms 13y ago

I have been running this for a few months and it was worked well. For the curious I did use BTRFS as my default file system, and KDE4 desktop. A few things I do after installing: * Install proprietary nvidia driver * Install steam (this is a 1 click install from the Suse Wiki) * Install namtrac:subpixel for good looking fonts (zipper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/namtrac:/subpixel/openSUSE_13.1/home:namtrac:subpixel.repo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/namtrac:/sub...) * Install ksuperkey to use the windows key to open the menu Great release and nice to see the progress Linux is making!

mikevm 13y ago
Quick KDE question from a KDE noob: When you open the KDE Menu, is there any way to make it focus the search textbox by default? Or is there a faster way of searching an application or file other than opening the KDE menu?
- qwerta 13y ago
  alt-f2 ?
  - rmk2 13y ago
    You can either hit ALT-F2 or you can just press ALT, hit the first letter of what you are looking for, release ALT, then continue typing. After hitting ALT-F2, you will see a little spanner on the left of the dialogue that opens. Click on that and you get additional options where to search for your term, including devices, bookmarks, applications, the calculator etc.
- eeperson 13y ago
  On Debian (KDE 4.10) it does this by default. So, there must be a way to do it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what that configuration is. Maybe if you open it with your keyboard 'alt+f1'?
- blisterpeanuts 13y ago
  Open a console window and (at the $ prompt) type: $ sudo zypper update findutils-locate (wait a couple of hours for the locatedb to build) $ locate fullOrPartialFileName (for case-insensitive search) $ locate -i fullOrPartialFileName

nathanb 13y ago

I used to be a die-hard OpenSUSE user. When 11.4 came out, I complained to my co-worker. "Man, another upgrade. Things always seem to go a little wonky after updating." He said "wait, what do you mean?" Turns out he was an Arch Linux user, and Arch uses a rolling release system. The idea of upgrading to a new version doesn't make sense; every system update gives you the newest tested version of everything. (So now instead of things going wonky every few months, they go wonky constantly :) OpenSUSE is a fine distro, especially if you're a KDE user. But if you're tired of a big bomb upgrade once every so often, consider a rolling release distro as well. On the other hand, if you want to run the same code and not worry about upgrading for years, 13.1 is a good choice because it's a longterm support release and will continue to receive bugfixes until 2016.

rmk2 13y ago
If you want rolling-release, use openSUSE-factory[1], i.e. the development branch (though this might sometimes break on you). If you want an inbetween thing between rolling release and standard, use Tumbleweed[2], which is curated by Greg K-H and brings you new versions of important software, i.e. KDE/Gnome, kernel, git, vim/emacs etc. Tumbleweed uses a set of repositories called *-current, which are always symlinked to the current version. As of today, my next update will bring me onto 13.1 standard for all packages, while Tumbleweed will be emptied soon. In a little while, Tumbleweed will be populated again with updates newer than the 13.1 version, as they appear. This cycle continues until 13.2 is released, and then starts anew. [1]: http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory [2]: http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed
Swifty 13y ago
Opensuse technically has two rolling models, The first being Factory which contains bleeding edge software that will is considered to be unstable. The second is Tumbleweed which just pushes updated Stable software. Factory is manly for developers to test on and isn't rely for day to day use. Tumbleweed can be used for day to day use, you just have to be aware that things can break.

xolve 13y ago

I moved from Kubuntu to openSuse. On big plus is easier administration and almost generic packages (except branding). openSuse's Yast is basically a neat GUI wrapper and it works fine even if when you change some config manually. You need to add Pacman repo to install the goodies. You can choose to remain with FLOSS software or install proprietary packages if you want. Besides, a distro doesn't matter much, what matters is what you do on that.