openSUSE 10.3 for PowerPC
Size: 1 DVD (4.0 GiB)Linux Kernel: 2.6.22
Default User Interface: Gnome 2.20.0
Source of Documentation: en.opensuse.org
Download Link: openSUSE-10.3-GM-DVD-ppc.iso
This is the only one of the three distributions with no separate PS3 install disc (as opposed to the other two which have distinct PowerPC and PS3 CDs). The PS3's Cell CPU is actually a PowerPC chip, so there's no enormous reason to have different CDs - as long as the disc contains the boot loader file, and the installer knows how to deal with the PS3's eccentricities, that is. And how well does it deal with them?
Click for larger imageWow! Pretty well! Graphical boot menu, with an option at the bottom of the screen to use a different resolution - and the ability to hit a key to boot the PS3 OS instead. The installer remains just as slick, maintaining the high resolution all the way. Unfortunately the same lockup-on-reboot bug as Xubuntu appears to be present in openSUSE 10.3, which is unfortunately a sign of things to come.
Whilst this distribution held so much promise, the installed system falls miles short. There's no sound at all (the only distribution on test to fail here), the UDF 2.50 driver is missing (meaning Blu-Ray discs cannot be opened), there seems to be no hope for the wireless support, and the documentation is a little thin on the ground to say the least. Even the basics aren't there - I was unable to test whether my media worked, for example, as the default music player app (Banshee) crashes as soon as I ask it to load, probably because it can't see the sound card. Worse yet, for some unknown reason, I'm unable to browse to my media server and try a file manually. The YAST setup tool shows no signs of allowing me to use the wireless (though it may simply be possible-yet-undocumented), and the whole system runs very slowly.
Click for larger imageThe documentation is sparse at best (with enormous sections of text explaining how to do the same basic thing over and over for obsolete beta versions of the OS), giving vague instructions on setting a different resolution but never going into sufficient detail to be useful to anyone but a seasoned openSUSE and PS3 Linux expert.
HD Resolution: 720p (Others Poorly Documented)
Sound: No
Networking (Wired): Yes
Networking (Wireless): No
Blu-Ray (UDF 2.50): No
Memory Card Reader: Yes
Documentation: Poor
Overall Rating: Poor
Click for larger imageThe biggest number of "No" answers, after the best of starts. openSUSE 10.3 is a massive let down, and shows a real missed opportunity. Easy to install, this distribution simply fails to deliver on its early good signs.