When it comes to operating systems for most computers, except for people who like their Macintosh, according to most people, Windows is the only operating system that exists. A free system, called Linux, can be downloaded and used by anyone, without any charge, and it is liked by a lot of people. There are various ways, we will be comparing Linux to Windows by looking at Linux closer.
Linux is a very good OS and is very easy to use if you are a techie. However, this does not mean that the average person can jump right in. Anyone that is used to Windows will have difficulty with Linux simply because it was made for people that do programming opposed to those that surf the Web. The main difference between the two operating systems is that Windows is geared for those that want to use programs, whereas Linux is made for those who want to understand how they work. New versions of Linux are released consistently year after year. Windows can be installed by clicking a few icons whereas Linux is a little more help getting started. Unless you do a little bit of research, you still will not know if Linux is for you. It’ll take a little bit of time, but if you are willing, you can probably learn Linux very easily. One of the primary advantages of Linux is that it is available as open source, which means that it is free of cost. Windows, on the other hand, is not exactly easily affordable. If you want to buy the most recent version of Windows 7, to use one example, you can plan on spending about a hundred dollars. Even though most new PCs will have Windows already installed on them, you can be absolutely sure that you are still paying for it. With Linux, however, you only have to download it and you can begin using it. Open source also means that you are free to copy and distribute the software without worrying about any copyright issues. Of course, the main advantage might not be so obvious to people who are trying to buy a new computer that comes with an operating system installed in them. If you want to save money, you can always buy a computer that doesn’t cost as much that doesn’t come with Windows and then download Linux cost free.
One of the biggest advantages Linux has over Windows is in the area of security. Windows is by far the least secure of the operating systems you can find, compared to either Macintosh of Linux. Part of this is the way it’s designed, and part of it is due to its massive popularity. Windows is the target of most problems, such as malware, viruses and spyware. Linux users almost never have to deal with either malware or viruses, but 100% security won’t be found on any computer. With Windows you are always updating your anti-virus and worrying about privacy, but with Linux you won’t have that. When you use a computer, you need to use common sense, no matter what operating system you are using. You need to consider a lot of things when you are trying to pick out your operating system. Whether you like Linux or Windows better depends quite a bit on whether you want Windows’ compatibility with all of the software programs that are out there or the flexibility that is offered to you through Linux. The things we’ve talked about here are just a few of the reasons that you should choose Linux or Windows for your computer.
For more information consult Mark Glatman