This is getting too frustrating since Fry's will let me return the machine.
As I had already written the following and this is apparently a common
problem I am submitting the email.  I would still be interested in comments,
but don't waste time on it as I am ready to give up.

I may have found a solution to an issue I described in another post as:
Intel 82801G Sound:

   - Ubuntu 6.06 produces no sound.  It is a known issue but again the
   one source I found who had solved it AND gave a contact has not answered my
   email.
   - SUSE 10.1 does have a driver for the 82801G but it seems not to
   work.  Windows is still the only place I can hear sound.

The information I found is at:
  http://www.gidnetwork.com/b-106.html
  http://www.alsa-project.org/  (just the home page for:)

http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/doc-php/template.php?company=Intel&card=ICH+southbridge+HD-audio+and+modem.&chip=ICH6%2C+ICH6M%2C+ICH7%2C+ESB2&module=hda-intel

Shortest form is that the articles say I should have a module called
snd_seq_oss running and it appears do not but have a snd_seq_device
[instead?].  As this is SUSE 10.1 it is also possible that they renamed it
or incorporated the alsa stuff into their .._device version.

Long form is smart says that alsa, alsa-firmware, and alsa-tools version
1.0.13.0.pm are currently installed and 1.0.13 seems to be the latest on the
alsa site.  In addition,

lapdog2:/home/larry/download # lspci | grep Audio

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition
Audio Controller (rev 02)


lapdog2:/home/larry # modinfo soundcore

filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.16.21-0.25-smp/kernel/sound/soundcore.ko
description:    Core sound module
author:         Alan Cox
license:        GPL
alias:          char-major-14-*
vermagic:       2.6.16.21-0.25-smp SMP 586 REGPARM gcc-4.1
supported:      yes
depends:
srcversion:     DD426F1CCA2CC5F060F6F92

lapdog2:/home/larry/download # lsmod | grep snd

snd_pcm_oss            47104  0
snd_mixer_oss          20224  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq                53104  0
snd_seq_device         11916  1 snd_seq
snd_hda_intel          21652  2
snd_hda_codec         139136  1 snd_hda_intel
snd_pcm                86532  3 snd_pcm_oss,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_timer              25860  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd                    56708  12
snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore              13024  1 snd
snd_page_alloc         13576  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm


-- 
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind.  - Dr. Seuss