First version created in full partnership with open source community

Novell yesterday unveiled SuSE Linux 10.1, the latest version of the US vendor's community Linux distribution.

SuSE Linux 10.1 is the first version of SuSE Linux created in full partnership with the open source community, and is available for free download or in a packaged retail edition.

"Novell and the openSuSE community have created a Linux product that will interest new Linux users as well as the most technically savvy," said Holger Dyroff, vice president of SuSE Linux product management at Novell.

"SuSE Linux 10.1 is the only retail offering that delivers the latest that Linux has to offer, from the most recent advancements in desktop search and graphic user interfaces to interoperability with the most popular Windows applications.

"Whether they're using Linux to power a personal web server, as their personal application development environment or just for basic computing, customers will find what they need in SuSE Linux 10.1."

The software features the new OpenOffice.org productivity suite, Firefox web browser, Gaim instant messaging client, multimedia tools and graphical software.

SuSE Linux 10.1 is not intended for business deployments but provides corporate evaluators with a first look at technologies like Xen, OpenOffice.org 2.0, Beagle desktop search and the Mono open source development environment.

The software is now available for free download at Opensuse.org.

The retail edition will be available in stores in approximately two weeks, delivering the same packages as the downloadable version on an installable DVD and CDs, along with a comprehensive user manual and 90 days of installation support for a suggested $59.95.