Beginners Guide to Operating Systems: How Linux Differs from Windows
What Makes Linux Distributions like Ubuntu Different from Windows Systems like Vista?
How Linux Differs From Windows: Cost and Licensing
Linux operating systems are published under open source licenses that make the source code available to everyone. Microsoft products, including Windows Vista and XP, are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. As for cost, most Linux distributions are free and can be used on an unlimited number of computers. Windows operating systems are expensive, and legally each license can only be used on one computer.
How Linux Differs From Windows: Distributions and Versions
There are many different distributions of Linux. A few of the more popular Linux flavors include Ubuntu, SimplyMEPIS, PCLinuxOS, RedHat, Knoppix, and OpenSUSE. Windows operating systems are distributed only by Microsoft, and include Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Me, NT3, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista and their latest offering, Windows 7.
How Linux Differs From Windows: Programs, Applications and Games
While there are Linux alternatives to nearly every major Windows program out there, more applications and games are developed for Windows than for Linux. Installing programs in Linux is usually done through a package management system like Synaptic in Ubuntu, which allows users to easily download and install free games and applications. In Windows, the software must be purchased/downloaded from a local or online retailer, and then installed in a separate process.
How Linux Differs From Windows: Resource Requirements and Appearance
Linux distributions are highly customizable and typically require less system resources than Windows operating systems. Desktop appearance varies in Linux from distribution to distribution, but they all function in a similar way. Most versions of Windows only have a few customization options (themes) and are typically very resource intensive. Vista for example requires at least 2GB of RAM to run smoothly. With Linux, there are modern distributions that are specifically designed to run on older, slower computers.
How Linux Differs From Windows: Security and Privacy
Since the majority of computer security threats are created to attack Windows, Linux operating systems are much more secure. Linux systems are not completely immune to things like viruses and keyloggers, but system security is definitely better on a Linux machine. Even if attacked, the Linux file system is designed in such a way that it makes it difficult for viruses to do much damage.
How Linux Differs From Windows: Ease of Use
Since many computer users start with Windows, it's often difficult for them to switch to Linux. Once again, Windows and Linux do basically the same things, but in different ways. The major difference for most users is the way the window manager organizes and displays icons and other components that make up the desktop experience.
Want to Try Linux?
Check out Ubuntu's live CD. You can request a CD from their website (they will mail it to you for free), or you can download Ubuntu and burn it to a disk yourself. Your computer needs at least 384MB of RAM to run the live CD. Put the disk in your optical drive, restart your computer, then choose to boot from the CD when prompted. Ubuntu runs directly off the CD, so there's no worry that you might harm your Windows installation.
Sources:
O'reilly: What is Open Source?, http://onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/09/15/what-is-opensource.html
Get Ubuntu, http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu
Official Ubuntu Documentation, https://help.ubuntu.com/
Published by Kim Linton
Kim Linton began her writing career in 2001 as a contributor for Ministrymaker Magazine. Kim's work has since been published on a variety of websites including Woman's Day and Intel, and featured on several... View profile
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31 Comments
Post a CommentFreedom to tinker with the machines that we own to make them do EXACTLY what we want them do. Not what someone else thinks we should be able to do with them.
Fast and efficient, Less hardware hungry with plus eye pleasing desktop effects.
Kim this is a really good article. You have mapped out in a nutshell some of the wonderful things about linux in way that even a non-technical person can understand. I currently run Kubuntu and love it.
Linux is a REAL operating system. Windows is a virus.
Good general information article. I have been using Kubuntu for years now and love it. My wife and mother-in-law are using OSX so they are at least in the *nix world whether they will admit it or not. I will share this article with people who want a good layman's overview of the differences.
Thank you! My husband does computer stuff and we have windows on one computer and linux on our media center pc (he does home automation). I don't quite understand the operating difference because I'm one of those people that breaks a computer by sitting at it, but I do know that we seem to have less trouble with Linux. I appreciate your article and will look for more in my endeavors to somewhat understand cyber stuff.
This is very clear and informative; many thanks! My son, a software developer with yahoo, has never used MS, and tries very hard to convert me to Linux! Thanks too for your appreciative comment on my article!
Love this article, Linux really is getting a lot more user friendly, and is a superb and FREE alternative to Windows. I am an Ubuntu user myself, and see no reason to pay for a lesser OS. Look forward to reading more of your linux/ubuntu articles
Sorry...but it's all greek to me.
I like the fact that it's more secure and requires less resources. Very helpful article, Kim. :-)
We love Ubuntu.