The Debate Over Windows Vs Linux – Which One Is Best?
Computer users all have their opinions when it comes to operating systems such as Windows and Linux. While the average consumer of PCs may only be familiar with Windows based systems, the more technically minded will have at least some familiarity with Linux. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about both of these operating systems.
One area that you may have to choose between Windows and Linux is with your web host. Although this has nothing to do with the OS that you are using, it can be a bit confusing. Linux hosting services are very flexible in that you can use both Windows and Macintosh on the system.
The fact is, for the average user, there probably isn’t going to be any noticeable difference between the two. Although running Linux on your own computer is more secure than running Windows, the same can’t be said for Linux servers; since so many servers are run on this platform, it’s often a target for attacks. At the end of the day, it comes down to the features that you want for web hosting that make the difference. Perhaps the main benefit of Linux is that it is open-source which means that it is free to download and use. Windows, though, is very expensive. The latest version of Windows 7, for example, will cost almost a hundred dollars. While most modern PCs come with a recent version of Windows installed, you can be sure you’re paying for it. With Linux, you can simply download it and start using it. When something is open source you can also copy and distribute it without worrying about copyright issues. Obviously, though, this is not an advantage that is obvious to those who are buying new computers that come with their operating systems already installed. Yet, if you would like to use Linux, you can always purchase a lower cost computer that does not come with Windows and then download Linux cost free and save yourself some money.
A good benefit of Linux is that it can be installed on older computers. This is what sets it apart from the other operating systems. It’s well known that computers become obsolete after a few years, and this certainly holds true for any computer that runs on Windows or Macintosh. If you tried to install Windows 7, for example, on a five year old computer or older, it would overload the system due to the high memory requirements of Windows. By today’s standards, however, Linux’s needs (like the Ubuntu Feisty Fawn system) are incredibly tiny–all it needs is a 300mHz processor and 64MB of RAM. So you are able to unearth an old computer or buy one for a few dollars, download Linux and have everything up and running without any real problems. If you want to choose an operating system there are a lot of factors that you need to keep in mind. Whether you should choose Windows or Linux is dependent upon whether you want the flexibility involved in Linux or the compatibility that Windows offers with all of the software programs you might want to use. These are just a few of the reasons that Linux and Windows are great operating system choices.
For more information consult Mark Glatman