Enterprise open source Toolkit

Novell ships latest SuSE Professional

Matt Hines CNET News

Published: 21 Apr 2005 09:40 BST

Novell has shipped its latest bundle of Linux software for home PC owners.

The SuSE Linux Professional 9.3 package includes an operating system, desktop applications and networking tools, Novell said on Wednesday. Designed for experienced home computer users, the release promises deeper functionality, improved security and easier installation than its predecessors.

In the bundle are several of the best-known Linux products, including the OpenOffice desktop software, from OpenOffice.org, and the Firefox Web browser, made by the Mozilla Foundation. The package includes email software and instant messaging tools, photo editors, multimedia viewers, mobile device support and basic networking capabilities.

In addition, the Linux package gives more advanced users better resources for setting up home networks, running Web servers and developing their own applications, Novell said. SuSE Linux Professional 9.3 also brings newer open source community efforts into the fold, incorporating virtualisation technology made by Xen, the Beagle desktop search tool and VoIP applications made by Linphone.

The package will retail for £64.95 in the UK, said Novell.

The launch is the latest in a string of new product announcements from Novell in the past month. Last week, the company took the wraps off of its Point of Service 9 Linux package, which is aimed at retailers. In late March, Novell released a collection of Linux-based products geared for small business.