05.19.07
Do-No-Evil Saturday: Opensuse Gets Windows Installer, Better Booting Time
Every once in a while, Novell does something positive, usually in terms of technical merits. Every now and then we also wish to show that we are not evil (and neither is Novell). So, here are a couple of nice new developments from Novell.
OpenSuse plans to massively improve boot time
Like other distributions, OpenSuse has a group of people working at a faster boot system. Atm there is no discussion about a new init system but about improvements on all fronts: kernel, init scripts, unnecessary system calls, etc.
The second takes SUSE Linux installer right into your Windows desktop. *GASP* 
If you’ve been pushing off on installing Linux due to a lack of CDs or DVDs, OpenSuSE 10.3 Alpha 4 features InstLinux, which allows you to install the Linux distribution (in this instance, OpenSuSE 10.3) while staying inside of Windows.
Debian, Ubuntu, and perhaps a few other distributions have something similar, which is even mature.
If only Novell was able to combine its technical strengths with some business sense. As Jeremy Allison told us:
“I’m sad [about the deal with Microsoft] because I don’t think we needed to do this. We were gaining a lot of traction with SuSE Linux desktop, and from my perspective (admittedly not high up in the company hierarchy with views on revenue) we were winning. We had a good product, I was always extremely busy with new customer requirements, and was personally involved in winning new customers for SLED and SLES. It just feels to me like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.“
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
Francis said,
May 19, 2007 at 9:04 am
> The second takes SUSE Linux installer right into your Windows desktop. *GASP*
(i) it’s not a SUSE Linux installer, it’s an openSUSE one. Are you not aware of the difference?
(ii) what exactly is the deal now? You’re trying to condenscend and demoralise openSUSE developers and users by complaining about the new features they’re adding?
At least if you were you could get your facts re-adjusted here. Yeah, instlinux (or similar programs) may work for Debian or Ubuntu, but these distributions do _not_ support them and do _not_ provide it on their media. Not exactly the same as openSUSE’s plan, is it?
Shane Coyle said,
May 19, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I like the instlux idea, face it - most PCs are Windows - any method of ingress is A Good Thing
I have a Live CD project, and for some folks (college-educated professionals and teachers) ‘burn these isos, reboot your system with the CD in it - maybe adjust BIOS Boot Order’ is too abstract and complicated.
Even stepping through a Windows software setup routine is too much for some of them, but this can at least help the ones in the middle…
Roy Schestowitz said,
May 19, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Tuxmachines tried it as well. Same concerns, with regards to this installer.
http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/16484
Roy Schestowitz said,
May 19, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Just published:
Highlights of openSUSE 10.3 Alpha 4
The following are some highlights of Alpha4 compared to Alpha3:
* Inclusion of YaST Meta Packages handler
* InstLux allows users to start the Linux installation from Windows
* We have removed zmd from the distribution and concentrate now on the
tools opensuse-updater and zypper.
* TeX Live replaces teTex
* First parts of KDE4svn entered Factory, its games are installed
* OpenOffice.org 2.2
* GNOME 2.18.1
* Improvements to our init script starter startpar to reduce boottime
* First changes to support Sony PS3. The PowerPC installation media
do not yet support the installation on PS3, this is planned for
Alpha5.
* Linux 2.6.21 with an updated AppArmor patchset
* Reduced size and cleaned up dependencies of some packages
* Initial support for installation in Afrikaans, Gurajati, Hindi,
Marathi, Tamil, Xhosa, Zulu.
A more detailed list of changes is available via http://en.opensuse.org/Factory/News 
To download media, please use the links provided at http://en.opensuse.org/Development_Version#Downloads
The next Alpha is planned for Thu, June 14
Roy Schestowitz said,
May 20, 2007 at 6:26 am
Here. Another praise for Novell and SUSE (while it’s still the weekend).
http://linux.wordpress.com/2007/05/20/new-looks-for-opensuseorg-website/
As I said in the comments, it’s a fine job (even if it’s in the mockups stage).