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Linux vs. Windows Linux

Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds and runs on a variety of hardware, while Windows was first released in 1992 by Microsoft as a GUI-based OS. Linux is open source and used primarily by advanced users, while Windows enjoys broader popularity due to its focus on all users but has more compatibility issues. A key difference is that the open source nature of Linux allows users to examine and modify its code. While Windows has more applications available, Linux software is distributed freely under an open license. Linux also has advantages in its kernel, hardware support, security and reliability.

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114 views4 pages

Linux vs. Windows Linux

Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds and runs on a variety of hardware, while Windows was first released in 1992 by Microsoft as a GUI-based OS. Linux is open source and used primarily by advanced users, while Windows enjoys broader popularity due to its focus on all users but has more compatibility issues. A key difference is that the open source nature of Linux allows users to examine and modify its code. While Windows has more applications available, Linux software is distributed freely under an open license. Linux also has advantages in its kernel, hardware support, security and reliability.

Uploaded by

malumida
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Linux vs.

Windows

Linux
 Linux was originally built by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in
1991.

 Linux is a Unix-like, Kernal-based, fully memory-protected, multitasking


operating system

 It runs on a wide range of hardware from PCs to Macs.

Windows
 First version of Windows – Windows 3.1 released in 1992 by Microsoft.

 Windows is a GUI based operating system

 It has powerful networking capabilities, is multitasking, and extremely user


friendly

Computer Users
Computer Users
Many beginner users find Windows easer to use than other operating
systems

 Windows has been enjoying an overall advantage over Linux due to


Microsoft’s market success because of its broad focus aimed at all kinds of
users

 Linux has been primary used by advanced computer users – programmers


and developers

Fundamental Difference between Linux & Windows:


One fundamental difference between the two systems is the fact that Linux is
"open source".

This means that unlike Windows where you only get access to the
compiled programs that you run on your machine, with Linux you also get the
original computer code to examine and tweak (modify) at your leisure.

This also goes to show that Linux users are more advanced

Comparing Applications
 Linux falls short in the number of different applications available for it.

 There are much more various applications available for Microsoft since the
population of Window’s users is greater than Linux’s

 Since Microsoft is more popular, the Hardware products are aimed at the
biggest market – Windows, such that the product would be sold and used
widely

 Linux programs are distributes freely since they are not developed by
commercial software companies, but instead are created under the GNU
Public License, which makes the software free

 Linux software lacks the GUI and is therefore not “liked” by many users

 Windows has its own share of problems – the fact that some software is
not compliant for different versions of windows (i.e. Windows 95/98) and
that many times the GUI concept is overused such that command
arguments cannot be passed to the program
Cost Comparison
 Please look at the cost comparison PDF files on the site by Cybersource by
clicking on the links Bottom line and Price Comparison.

Comparing GUI
 Linux contains X-Windows with 2 interfaces – GDK & KDE

 Linux offers a choice of four desktops thus allowing the user to work in
different windows on different desktop for convenience

 Windows, on the other hand, is limited to the way the application windows
are laid out on the screen

 Windows GUI also has been known for its large memory requirements,
where it usually uses a huge chunk of RAM for visual components

Linux advantages in Kernel and the OS environment


 Linux requires 386 architecture to run. Thus, it is compatible with any
improved architecture such as 486, Pentium, Pentium Pro, etc

 There are drivers available for much many types of hardware devices

 Linux program installation seems to be easier since it only requires a


restart when hardware device has been changed

 Linux supports multiple copies of the Kernel on the system such that if an
error is encountered and the Kernel becomes corrupted, a different copy of
the Kernel can be used to boot up the system

Security
 Linux seems to be more prepared for protecting itself because of the
beginning developments of Linux, UNIX, and FreeBSD which were aimed at
top notch security

 Linux allows does not create registry keys in a way Windows does allowing
a user to browse installed components registry keys, which contain
important information
 Linux is more virus proof since viruses – malicious programs either cannot
be run automatically on the Linux machine, or simply are not capable of
being executed on a 386 architecture

 Windows is often known for a large amount of loop holes

Reliability
 OS it must not crash, even under extreme loads. OS should process
requests even if the operating system or hardware fails

 Windows seems to be less stable even though the latest versions of


Windows – 2000 and XP are far more improved than the incredibly buggy
Windows 95

 Not enough test benchmarks for Linux to compare it to Windows

 Linux technology is used wider ( example php scripts ), and software is


ported to Linux more often.

 User should be comfortable with the OS

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