Linux v/s Windows Key differences
Linux v/windows
It can be tricky to compare Linux v/windows
as they are very different systems. Linux supports entirely different
operations—Linux OS can be used on servers and lightweight devices, whereas
Windows OS lends itself more readily to end-user machines. Still, the
difference between the two systems can also make a Linux vs. Windows comparison
easier. Depending on your situation, it may be immediately obvious which
operating system is better for you. Let’s take a deeper look. Linux is an
open-source operating system that was first released in 1991. Linus Torvalds, a
university student in Finland, developed it as an alternative to the
then-popular Unix operating system. Linux has always been free and open-source;
everyone has access to the source and can use it however they please. The Linux
Foundation now supports it.
To be specific, Linux isn’t an operating system in and of
itself. Rather, Torvalds created what is known as the Linux kernel. The Linux
kernel is what Linux operating systems are built on. Each version of Linux is called a
“distribution.”
The benefits of Linux:
·
Linux is swift and lightweight, making it a popular
choice for servers and other devices that need to be optimized for performance.
·
Linux is very secure and stable, making it a popular
choice for businesses and other organizations that require tight security.
·
Linux is highly customizable so that users can tailor it
to their specific needs.
·
The drawbacks of Linux:
·
Linux can be difficult to use for beginners.
·
Linux is not as popular as Windows, so there may be fewer
software options available—particularly video games.
Linux is based on the Linux kernel,
whereas Unix is based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) kernel. They
are very similar file systems, and most users will be able to move almost
seamlessly between both environments. But Linux is much more popular than Unix.
Linux is not an operating system. It is based on the Linux kernel, which Linux
operating systems are built on. Each version of Linux is called a
“distribution.” There are many different distributions of Linux, each with its
own set of features and benefits. The most popular Linux distributions are
Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint. There are many others, but these are the most
commonly used. Primarily, the differences are how the systems are configured
and what software is pre-installed. The most popular Linux distributions are
Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint. There are many others, but these are the most
commonly used. Primarily, the differences are how the systems are configured
and what software is pre-installed.
Key Differences
·
Linux is an open source operating system so user can
change source code as per requirement whereas Windows OS is a commercial
operating system so user doesn’t have access to source code.
·
Linux is very well secure as it is easy to detect bugs
and fix whereas Windows has a huge user base, so it becomes a target of hackers
to attack windows system.
·
Comparing Windows file system vs Linux file system, Linux
runs faster even with older hardware whereas Windows are slower compared to
Linux.
·
Linux peripherals like hard drives, CD-ROMs, printers are
considered files whereas Windows, hard drives, CD-ROMs, printers are considered
as devices
·
Linux files are ordered in a tree structure starting with
the root directory whereas in Windows, files are stored in folders on different
data drives like C: D: E:
·
In Linux you can have 2 files with the same name in the
same directory while in Windows, you cannot have 2 files with the same name in
the same folder.
·
In Linux you would find the system and program files in
different directories whereas in Windows, system and program files are usually
saved in C: drive.
Windows was
first released in 1985 by Microsoft. It was designed as an alternative to the
then-popular DOS operating system. Windows has always been a proprietary
system—Microsoft has always held the copyright and charged users for
licenses.
In recent
years, versions of Microsoft Windows have been released for free. The cost may
not be obvious to a Windows user because many computers sold come with Windows
out of the box. Windows offers an operating system experience more similar to
macOS than Linux.
The benefits of
Windows:
- Windows is
very user-friendly and easy to learn.
- Windows is
the most popular operating system in the world, so there is a wealth of
software available for it.
- Windows is
very stable and secure.
The drawbacks
of Windows:
- Windows
can be slow and bloated, making it a poor choice for devices that need to
be optimized for performance.
- Windows is
not as customizable as Linux.
- Windows is
a proprietary system, which means Microsoft holds the copyright and
charges users for licenses.
Historically,
it’s been common knowledge that Linux is for servers and Windows is for users.
But in the last decade, Windows has made significant leaps in its server
technology, and it’s quickly gaining popularity and supremacy in that arena.
Windows has many features that make it a good choice for servers, although Linux
servers are still generally more reliable. If reliability and stability in a
system aren’t absolutely essential, then many companies find that Windows
systems are easier to use and administer. There is also an advantage to using
Windows for a business server because so many employees rely upon the Microsoft
ecosystem.
The
most popular versions of Windows are Windows 10 and Windows 7. Windows 11 is
the newest version but has not yet reached widespread adoption. It likely will
as it continues to roll out. Microsoft has been moving toward a continuous
release paradigm, through which new releases are automatically rolled out to
current customers without cost. This not only keeps the systems safer but
encourages adoption.
Before,
a notable difference between Windows and Linux was that Windows was never free.
There are still licenses for most Windows products, but you can get Windows 11
for free. It is a free upgrade from Windows 10 and can be downloaded via the
Microsoft website.
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