This article will not attempt to recommend the use of Linux over Windows or vice versa. I will try to present the differences and similarities between Linux and Windows fairly.
General description:
Both Linux and Windows (2000, NT, XP, Vista) are operating systems. Linux was inspired by Unix while Windows was inspired by VMS.
While no company “owns” Linux, Windows is owned by Microsoft. Various distributions (often referred to as “distros”) of Linux come from different companies (for example, Red Hat, Novell SuSE, Mandrake, etc.), while all versions of Windows (95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista) come from Microsoft.
Both Linux and Windows come in desktop and server editions.
Cost:
As for the cost, Linux is very cheap or free. I used the word “very cheap” for business users. While anyone can download, install, and use Linux, distribution companies often charge for technical support.
Windows is expensive. You pay for the copy of the software first, and then again for technical support if you ever want it.
However, there is another catch; Windows forces you to use a single copy on a single computer. However, this is not the case with Linux, once you buy Linux you can run it on an unlimited number of computers.
MISTLETOE:
Both Windows and Linux are GUI-based operating systems.
I’m afraid Windows has a better GUI than Linux and it will get much better with the next release of Windows Vista. Linux has two GUIs: Gnome and KDE. Linux is catching up fast and evolving from a server operating system to a desktop operating system.
Command line:
Both Windows and Linux come with a command line interface. Windows calls it the “DOS prompt,” while Linux refers to it as the “shell.” The Linux shell is far superior to the Windows DOS prompt. You can do many things that are not possible in Windows. Linux supports various command line shells like BASH, Bourne, Korn, C shell and many others.
Third Party Application Software Availability:
Both Windows and Linux run third-party applications. Windows, compared to Linux, has a much larger number of third-party applications available for you to use. A program written for Windows will not run on Linux (although it can be emulated, but it will be very annoying and therefore not recommended).
However, the Linux application base is tripling. On closer examination, the average computer user uses the following applications 90% of the time: Word processor (Office suite), email client, web browser, media software, and instant messenger. Linux has all of these applications, and actually has many flavors for each one.
Like Linux, all third-party applications are very cheap or free. Whereas, Windows apps can cost a leg and a limb.
Safety:
Just put it this way, Windows is not secure. If you are using Windows and do not have Antivirus, Anti Spyware and firewall (applications that consume memory and resources), your computer can be affected by a virus in less than 10 minutes. I remember restoring a fresh copy of Windows XP to my Toshiba A40 laptop. I was browsing the Internet with Microsoft Internet Explorer and my machine got infected with a bunch of spyware in less than 15 minutes!
Microsoft came up with Firewall and Anti Spyware products, but these programs run in the background and consume precious memory on your computer.
Linux, on the other hand, does not have these problems. I am not aware of any spyware for Linux. One can safely run a Linux distribution without having to worry about installing Anitvirus or Anti-Spywares.
Windows also has more security flaws than Linux. By security breach, I mean that a hacker can compromise Windows operating system, break into your machine and destroy your files. However, bugs in Windows are fixed quickly and patches are often available almost instantly after the bug is reported.
Supported hardware:
Windows was originally designed for Intel-based machines. The previous version of Windows NT also ran on RISC and Alpha architectures, but no longer.
Linux runs on a wide variety of hardware. And it can support very old legacy hardware. I have seen a linux distribution running on a 486 based machine.
Availability of divers:
As one author once said, “Windows is a bag of drivers.” I think that is quite true. Installing a new hardware device is a piece of cake on Windows, while it can be a hassle on Linux, especially for the average Joe. Not in my wildest dreams can I imagine my father successfully installing a sound card on Linux.
However, things will not stay the same for long. Manufacturers also offer Linux drivers for their hardware, which will simplify the process.
Network support:
Linux outperforms Windows in this area. Windows was never designed for the Internet. Unix, on which Linux is based, was designed for the Internet (or network) and is much more efficient compared to Windows. A senior network administrator who works for a Fortune-500 company recently pointed out to me that if we monitor the traffic between the Exchange Server and the Windows-based Exchange client, we can see hundreds of packets coming and going even when both are idle. He said that’s not the case with Linux.
However, our average Joe will never see or feel any difference. Windows Internet is good enough for him.
File System:
Windows Vista will use a new file system called WinFS. The previous version used FAT (FAT16 and FAT32) and NTFS file systems, with NTFS being the preferred option. Linux supports ext2 and ext3 file systems.
FAT file systems were mediocre, but NTFS can be compared to Linux file systems.
Both file systems allow us to create directories, subdirectories, and files. Linux file systems are case sensitive, while NTFS is not.
Normally, Linux systems cannot access NTFS file systems, but with the help of additional software, you can.
Help and Documentation:
Linux help and documentation are pretty good, accurate and to the point by comparison.
I have been using Windows for over 8 years. Frankly speaking, I almost never went through the accompanying documentation or the help file because everything is so simple that no one needs to venture into the help file.
What should I buy?
WELL. The truth hurts, but let it be. If you’re your average Joe, it’s worth spending that extra $300 on Windows. If you’re looking for an operating system for your server, never think about Windows. Buy Linux.