openSUSE 10.3 Alpha 4 Remarks

This week openSUSE 10.3 Alpha 4 has been released. As previously announced it doesn't contain ZMD anymore. From my point of view the inclusion of first KDE4 packages and the installation of four KDE4 games in the default KDE selection is more exciting. :-) Another interesting application you may want to install and try is Dolphin/KDE4. With Alpha 5 we should have all KDE4 modules in Factory. Until then has the KDE:KDE4 build service project all modules available (and in atm two weeks newer version than included in Alpha 4).

Also interesting are the first-time inclusion of two community developments: Instlux allows you to start the installation of openSUSE under MS Windows and the YaST Meta Package Handler allows one-click installations of packages (bundles) and subscription to repositories. There is a Software Install Demo page available and Benjiman's Software Search can also provide "Install Now" information.

Unfortunately mainly due to the switch to TeX Live the download distribution version occupies now 6 CDs (still one DVD via Torrent) and there are no promises yet that certain selections require only the first X CDs for installation. At the opposite size end, the one KDE-Installation CD project (KDE3 only) missed the deadline of Alpha 4, but we will have it finally with openSUSE 10.3 Alpha 5. :-)