Thursday, December 15, 2011

OS Comparisons, The Windows VS Linux Wars

Comparison of Windows and Linux operating systems is akin to the Pepsi-Coca Cola war – each product has its own strengths, weaknesses and identity and deciding which is better is often a near-impossible task. Windows or Linux is a question which haunts every computer professional and the task of choosing is made even more difficult by equal popularity enjoyed by both.

One of the major points of difference between Windows and Linux is that while the former is a closed-source OS, the latter is an open-source OS. This implies that Windows as an OS is not prone to modifications and is meant to function in the way as intended by software engineers at Microsoft whereas Linux can be customized by the user as per his individual preferences and hence does not belong to anyone.

The natural consequence of this difference is the dissimilarity in the graphical user interface of the two operating systems. In this regard, while Windows can function only in the graphical mode, Linux can operate in both graphical as well as non-graphical mode. Many of the compatibility issues of Linux arise due to this reason as it becomes imperative for the user to be aware of how to modify the program in accordance to his needs.

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After having installed an operating system, its viability is tested by the amount of maintenance and management required to keep it running. Linux scores more than Windows in this case as once it is configured properly, it need not be maintained or managed unlike Windows which is often in need of restarts.

Some of the other differences between the two pertain to the cost factor, stability of the system and technical superiority. As compared to Windows, Linux is more cost effective, considered to be more stable and technically superior which is why it is preferred by many multinational organizations.   

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