Over the years I have been through a few different Linux distributions. I ran Mandrake (hey, I was really a n00b) for a bit. Then I caught the Gentoo bug (no, I was not a ricer, but I did really like their helpful forums and wiki pages) and did that for quite a few years. Then something went wrong with my system, and I lost the drive. I didn't have time to fiddle with restoring everything, so I slapped Fedora 11 on it. It was the Fedora install that got me thinking that I kind of enjoyed it when everything seemed to work, right out of the box. In fact, I was so pleased with the way it all worked so well, that I installed it on both of my computers. I liked the fact that I didn't have to spend hours trying to make things work. Someone once said, "Linux is only free if your time is worth nothing." Stated by someone embittered against Linux, to be sure, but there is a grain of truth there. I want to do my work -- NOT fight with getting things working. Fedora was showing me that this could happen. But there were a few things I was not happy with, so I started thinking about a different distro. I decided to try OpenSUSE, and boy am I ever glad I did. Say what you will about Novell being in bed with Microsoft, but they have put together one heck of a distribution. Hence, the reason for this post.
I recently bought a new box store computer. Nothing fancy, but a better processor that the old one that just kacked on me. I put OpenSUSE 11.2 on it, and everything worked correctly. Just turn it on, and it works. Now I also got Windows 7 with the new machine. When I went to install Dragon Naturally Speaking, I was informed that the onboard sound on my machine was not suitable. No problem, as I have an old Creative SoundBlaster X-FI card to put in it. (Of course this card has history with Linux, and none of it good. More about that later). I installed it today and, after a bit of prodding, Windows 7 found the right drivers and installed them. Presto - sound card working nicely. Now I mention this because when I was playing around with the beta and RC versions of Win 7, I was very impressed with the facilities for finding and installing drivers. Microsoft has done well with this. Because of my previous experience, I was little surprised that the driver installation was not a little smoother today. So much for Windows, but what about Linux?
To be honest, I was hopeful my experience would be better this time than previous attempts. Creative has not been kind to the Linux community with its X-FI cards. They have offered zero support for the longest time. Apparently they have changed their ways a little, and now there is reasonable support for that line of cards. While OpenSUSE was booting up, I was thinking I would probably have to fire up YAST, and do something to get the card installed, but before I did that, I figured I might as well see if there was any sound. I fired up GnR, and I was completely blown away. The sound worked. Immediately. Without any intervention by me. Even Windows 7 (which I am by no means bashing here) did not do this.
To any and all OpenSUSE people who happen to read this: Thank you. Thank you for making my Linux Experience so pleasant. I am long tired of fighting with things that should just work. You have made the Linux that I have been waiting for a reality.
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