I've been using SuSE 10.0 for about 2 years now. I've learned a lot, even how to install some software from source. Now, however, I have hit a "roadblock": Dependency libraries and end of the "life" of a version. It seems that you are forced to upgrade every TWO years. For some, it's 18 MONTHS!
Novell has stopped support for SuSE 10.0 in favor of the newer 10.2 and 10.3. So, as a result, I can't get any .rpm's for the newer libraries. Installing some of these from source can be rather complicated as you have to work out all dependency problems yourself. Some of them require expert handling which is not something a n00b can take on.
Windows XP does not seem to have this problem. I can upgrade any software on Windows anytime to any newest version I want, but on Linux, if you don't have the latest and greatest dependent libraries, you're out of luck! I know that Windows has its "dll hell" but that does not come up that often. This is the Linux version of it.
Linux is great and all but when you pick a distro, be prepared to upgrade every 18 months or so, even if your system is working nicely for you. Otherwise, be prepared to use only older software (except for wine, k3b, SeaMonkey (Mozilla Suite) and others that don't seem to depend on the newest library versions). I didn't know this when I first installed SuSE 10.0.
