Why to use openSUSE

From openSUSE

There is a lot of discussions over advantages of one operating system over another. This is an attempt to create place for users to list their reasons to use one or the other. The major advantage of openSUSE is that it is Linux.

General

The most common reasons among users.

Preloaded software

Preloaded means that openSUSE comes with a lot of software. Some of the most used programs will be installed during installation from CD or DVD and user will get usable computer out of the box. This is a big difference to some other systems that offer basic operating system and few programs as evaluation versions, which means they will stop working in a few weeks, or have limited functionality. Your openSUSE box will work as long as you want, getting regular security updates for whole 2 years.

OpenSUSE, and as such, Linux, comes with many useful components in just one package, and out-of-the-box. Having to download software from different places on the Internet is a remnant of the (mostly Windows-centric) past. Using only very few so-called repositories, you already get access to a vast amount of hardware drivers, essential components (e.g. text and file manipulation/shell utilities) and end-user applications at the cost of only a few clicks^W keyboard strokes.

• End-user applications (e.g. Office suite, Vector/Raster imaging, DVD/BluRay disc writing, Internet communications, but also scientific and various other programs)
• Multimedia components (media player with codec support)
• Software Development (Compilers, etc.)
• System tools (e.g. Antivirus, Firewall)

The software is included in packages that will install all components necessary for program to function properly. YaST Software, the RPM package manager based system, as used in openSUSE provides a centralized and unified way of installing and removing software. No more mixing between MSI, InstallShield and obscure Never-Uninstallables that sometimes install obsolete components, break the system and force reinstallation.

Why openSUSE, Why not some other distro??

We use it because it allows us to get our things done faster. (I do hope so ;-) This does not mean to jump on the Linux bandwagon leaving everything else behind — many users run Windows or programs designed for it in virtual machines (you can think of it as a computer in a computer) or interface layers (WINE) — and they can pick the best of both worlds.

Few more are:-

• Crashes are very rare even in kde. Many kde distros exists which crashes often taking away the interest of users from linux.
• Huge Repositories, including third party repositories. There is hardly any tool which you will not find.
• Large community support. People are helpful here.
• Large wiki-base which helps in finding solutions of the problems more quickly.
• IRC help is always available.
• BuildService and one-click installation of software.

To be sorted

Here you can place your reasons that are not so common, or at least appear not to be at the moment you are adding them. You can also vote for some reason by adding comment "+1".

Individual Reasons

Please sign your entries with ~~~~ (four tilde).

Why_to_use_openSUSE/cyberorg Cyberorg 18:01, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

Picked up from online messages

"Andreas van dem Helge" opensuse mail list:

The default KDE setup (except the menu I prefer "KDE" style) is much nicer than any other distros. That's why I use openSUSE.

Passed QA check: --Shayon 19:10, 19 October 2009 (UTC)