When comparing OpenSUSE vs Windows 10, the Slant community recommends OpenSUSE for most people. In the question“What is the best laptop OS?” OpenSUSE is ranked 14th while Windows 10 is ranked 36th. The most important reason people chose OpenSUSE is:
The packaging team is dependable resulting in system updates that come in a timely fashion and systems which rarely, if ever, break due to packaging. The versions of software that are selected and the configuration of them is typically extremely high quality.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Extremely reliable
The packaging team is dependable resulting in system updates that come in a timely fashion and systems which rarely, if ever, break due to packaging. The versions of software that are selected and the configuration of them is typically extremely high quality.
Pro Easy installation and administration
openSUSE makes use of a GUI tool called YaST to install and setup an openSUSE system.
YaST is very easy to use and makes the process of installing and maintaining an openSUSE installation a breeze.
Pro Easily get packages from other sources
SUSE Build Service offers packages from the same sources as Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise and other distributions. This is the most underused package tool in Linux today.
Pro Probably the best KDE desktop experience
Both Gnome and KDE desktop options are well polished to fit with the opensuse theme and environement, so either desktop is a great choice.
Pro Very stable
Stable, reliable, rock solid.
Pro Amazing choice for both newbies and power users
OpenSUSE is very easy in terms of installing packages, administration and customization, yet very powerful in the same. Every user should find his own piece of cake in this OS.
Pro Supports RPM packages
Popular format shared with distros like Fedora, RHEL, Scientific Linux, Mageia etc.
Pro Built-in drivers
Does the job needed and has the hardware drivers for the application built-in by the H/W supplier.
Pro Dedicated professional community
Directions on other desktop Linux's often force you to use GUI packages or have steps that introduce security issues.
OpenSUSE has a professional community and directions are usually geared toward GUI and CLI with similar steps.
Pro Feature rich
It comes standard with a large number of pre-added applications that sort out your day-to-day use.
Pro "Tumbleweed" Rolling Release
Regular and easy upgrades to stable and well tested software.
Pro One-Click install
Much better system then other distros for installing any package. It is as simple as clicking on one button and typing in your password. Adds a repo to your system keeping everything updated at the same time.
Pro YaST
Best administration and setup tool.
Pro Fast
Applications feel fast.
Pro Convenient package management with Zypper
Fast, reliable, powerful and almost impossible to leave a broken system.
The Yast interface will also give you access to a Zypper GUI if you are uncomfortable with the command line.
Pro Outstanding community support
OpenSUSE has a VERY active user community. Questions on forums are generally answered in minutes.
Pro Latest version of Windows.
Pro DirectX 12
The newest version of Microsoft’s DirectX application programming interface, which handles visual and other multimedia tasks on Windows-based systems.
Pro Good compatibility with Windows 7 software
Both applications and drivers created for Windows 7 work well on Windows 10.
Pro Better than all the other Windows versions
Iv'e tried Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, Xp and I'll choose Windows 10 every time. It's better than all the previous versions (yes even Windows 7, which is overrated in my opinion).
Pro Returns to a more familiar style start bar unlike Windows 8
Pro Built-in support for VPNs
A VPN connection can be established from the "Change Virtual Private Network" panel. Quickest way to access the panel is by searching for "VPN" in the start menu.
Pro Built-in way to play DVDs
No third-party software is required to play DVDs.
Pro Tablet mode is a pain to use
The tablet mode of Windows 10 has many issues compared to other major tablet operating systems like Android, for example:
- 1.) In the tablet mode the desktop is replaced by the Windows 10 start menu
- 1.1.) As there is no Desktop there is no proper launcher to start your apps so you always have to open that windows 10 start menu...
- 2.) Virtual keyboard often don't come up automatically(you need to click on the keybord icon near the systray to bring it up)
- 2.1.) If the keyboard is docked and comes up it will lay over the window and if(like here on slant) the entry box is on the bottom of the page it will lay over that box so you have to manually undock the keyboard and move it to any other border which of course breaks other options like scrolling a page etc.
- 2.2.) Virtual keyboard and virtual touchpad have no customization options so you can't make them bigger or smaller etc.
Cons
Con Some clear differences from other Linux distros
This might be a systemd issue or OpenSUSE specific, but changing certain text files does not update things. They must be edited in YaST, or in /etc/sysconfig/
Con Old kernel by the Leap version
Kernel in Leap 42.3 is in version 4.4, that's pretty old.
Con Poor support for nVidia drivers in Tumbleweed
No native driver support and nouveau may be broken, especially for KDE, and not suitable for some GPUs.
Con Bloated and slow
Con Short lived distro
Every release lasts 18 months only before needing a major upgrade.
Con Updates
Not a huge problem, but Tumbleweed is better updated via the command line.
Con Massive ISO download
The base ISOs are over 4 gigs, so be prepared for a very long DL if you have slow internet. There's a network installer version, but that just delays the long DL.
Con Bad support to NTFS fotmat.
Con Limited community support
The community is fairly small, and there is no indication on the forums regarding when a issues will be solved.
Con Packman repository has to be added to have good software support
Con Startup takes a long time
Con Updates
Not a huge problem, but Tubleweed is better updated via the command line.
Con Complex permissions policy
Con Collects a lot of user data and sends it Microsoft by default
By default Windows 10 gathers information related to contacts, location, calendar and input (text and touch). The process for opting out of all data collection efforts is both time consuming and requires a reasonable amount of technical know-how.
Con Includes ads by default
Even in the Pro version.
Con Lacks polish
Many interface and functionality changes have not been finalized yet, creating an inconsistent user experience. For example, there are both simplified Windows 10 style settings menus as well as Windows 7 style settings menus that can easily create confusion.
Similarly, many of the bundled applications (People, Photos, Groove, Mail, Calendar, etc) lack functionality compared to their counterparts in previous Windows versions.
Con Forced updates to Home and Pro versions
Since Microsoft has a checkered past in regard to Windows updates, many people worry that a bad patch might break applications, drivers, peripherals or even brick their computers.
Con No guest accounts
Windows 10 lacks the ability to set up Guest accounts.
Con Installs bloatware
It installs many Windows Store apps by default. Moreover, it updates them automatically even after you uninstalled them, then they come back when you install a bigger update or service pack, eg: the creator's update.
Con Start menu lacks expected customization options
It's not possible to cascade menus, pin files, locations or apps to the list (it's possible to pin apps to the live tile section) or add custom menus.
Con Horrible stock performance on old hardware
Would recommend windows 7 (or even 8.1) on older (older than 5-6 years) hardware.
Con No built-in way to play DVDs
Third-party software is required to play DVDs.