Windows vs Linux

Windows and Linux are two operating systems (OSs) that started from different origins and have two development paths, so they differ in many aspects. From the point of view of a user, this article will highlight pros and cons of each OS, so it will bring to you some concepts about these differences of two most popular operating systems. We choose Windows 7 to be delegate for Windows and Ubuntu 12.04 from Linux. These two delegators are comparable on PC environment and proper because both had released in close points of time.

The origin of two OSs is really different with other. Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/) is free open source operating system with licensemainly is the GNU GPL and various other free software licenses. Ubuntu is managed and fund by Canonical.

 

Windows 7 (http://windows.microsoft.com/windows-7) is commercial software of Microsoft and cost between $50.00 - $150.00 US dollars per each license copy. The price also belongs to where you buy it.

 

Second point, let's look at hardware requirement. Windows 7 requires a minimum of 1000 Mhz processor, 1GB of RAM and at least 16 GB of free disk space, while Ubuntu requires a minimum of 700 Mhz processor, 384MB RAM and 5 gigabytes of hard drive space. While these are the official requirements, in practice, the requirements are considerably higher. From my experience, if we install both the operating systems on the same computer, Ubuntu will performance significantly higher than that of Windows 7.Moreover, the boot time of Ubuntu is often less than its Windows 7 counterpart.

Few years ago, when we buy a new PC, it always attached with a driver CD that includes many drivers for hardware component of PC that it accompany. Computer sellers often remind buyers keep this CD carefully because it's really a big trouble if user recognizes he lost this CD after re-install his operating system. But that is past, today if you won't see driver CD attached your new computer. With the development of operating system and hardware technology, nowadays user can easily get drivers for his computer from internet. Users only need to check the version of his operating system and model of his computer then click to download. After installed, Windows 7 can automatically searches for what drivers computer needs and installs. This is really an innovation point of Windows 7. Driver installing is not a difficult job that need support from technical staff anymore. At this point Ubuntu 12.04 also excels. Ubuntu users even can search for driver from Ubuntu Software Center. Personally, I had installed Ubuntu on many PC and server but rarely I need install additional driver after install. I ever install Ubuntu on one computer and move its hard disk to another computer and Ubuntu still start up with GNOME interface. So I will give Ubuntu one plus point about hardware compatible.

Normally A user of both Ubuntu and Windows 7 wants to install an application will follow the traditional ways: searching the software name on internet, download to hard disk then install or may be install software package from CD, DVD, etc. . Ubuntu had already done an innovation with its Ubuntu Software Center. By create a new way in deliver software to user, Ubuntu make installing software on PC become easy and simple as install an application on an Iphone from App Store or as on Android from Google Play. This innovative feature make Ubuntu become more friendly, easier to use and this explain why Ubuntu is most popular Linux distro.

 

Ubuntu and other Linux distros have a large store of application. Many of thesesoftware programs, utilities, and games available on Linux are freeware or open source. Even such complex programs such as Gimp, OpenOffice, StarOffice, and Wine are available for free or at a low cost. However, with a long development history and huge amount of user Windows has a much larger selection of available software. User can easily find windows version when they want install a software package. Although today many software development companies deliver its Windows version with free license but these are still minority. Majority of Windows application is not free license.

From different origin, Linux and Windows have two different kernels with two philosophies of design. Certainly, the reliability of one is different with another. Most of Linux distros and Linux firewall version are very reliable, both desktop version and server version can run smoothly week by week, month by month without need reboot except user do something wrong with system or upgrade system. In the opposite, Windows machine become slower respond after one day, then sometime suspending after some days or a week. Although in recent version, Microsoft has improved its Windows in reliability, but it still can't compare with the reliability of Linux system. If we let our Windows 7 run and sleep continuously after few days, we can feel it become heavy and slower, meanwhile Ubuntu can run smoothly over many weeks.

Sometime easy-to-use and security conflict together. The easier user would like to change everything as he wants, the more dangerous computer get. The Linux operating system doesn't give root permission as default when user logs in computer. When user wants to do any important change in his system or even he want to access outside his home folder, he will be asked for root permission.This security mechanism also implemented in Windows, but in a different way. 

 

Linux and Windows have different way in implement its security mechanism. And because of this difference, Windows users always need to protect his Windows 7 with anti-virus software while a Linux user have less worry about virus and malware attack his system. Easily, we can see companies develop security software for Windows is popular but a few of them support Linux. So Windows users have to pay more money for security problem than Linux users and Linux users also need spend more time to understand his system than Windows user.

This Article is written by Bobbin Zachariah, who is also associated with ExpertsLogIn. He is passionate lover of Linux and other opensource tools. Started career in IT and Linux in early 2000. Love travelling, Technology writer, Blogging, Music and Enjoy the company with friends and family.