LINUX  vs.

Windows
 Flavors
Windows
• Older flavors(Win9x): - Windows 95, 98, 98SE and Me.
• Newer flavors(NT class): - Windows NT3, NT4, 2000, XP
and Vista.
Linux
Linux distributions(distros).
They use the same kernel (the guts of the Operating
System).
They differ in the
• Add-on software provided,
• GUI,
• Install process,
• Price,
• Documentation
• Technical support.
 Graphical User Interface
Windows
• GUI and a command line interface.
Drasticall Slightl
Windows 3.1 y Windows 95 y Windows 2000
Fairly Windows XP
large
Linux
• GUI and a command line interface
It provides double
1) GUIs
2) KDE
3) Gnome.
 Multiple Users
Windows
• Non-multi user system.
Databases running under
Windows operating System is designed to
deal with a single human being at a time.
Linux
• Multi user system.
It is designed to handle
multiple concurrent users.
 Hard Disk Partitions
Windows
 It must be installed to and boot from a
primary partition.
Linux
 It can be installed to and boot from either
a primary partition or a logical partition.
Logical partitions reside inside a special
type of primary partition called an
extended partition.
Hardware the OS runs on
Windows
 It does not runs on many different hardware
platforms. Windows NT used to run on,
 MIPS CPUs
 Alpha CPUs
Linux
• It runs on many different hardware platforms. It
runs on a very wide range of computers, from the
lowest of the low to the highest of the high.
 Customization
Windows
By default, Windows only offers customization of size
and color of the graphical elements, and it is
typically not possible to change how the interface
reacts to user input.
Linux
Linux offers dozens of different user interfaces to
choose from through numerous desktop
environments and window managers. Different
environment offers various levels of customizability,
ranging from the basic colors and size to extreme
customizability of user input, actions, and display.
 Downtime
Windows
Reboots are usually required after system and
driver updates. Microsoft has its
hotpatching technology, designed to reduce
downtimes.
Linux
Linux itself needs to restart only for kernel
updates. a special utility can be used to load the
new kernel and execute it without a hardware
reset and hence can stay up for years without
rebooting.
 Pre-installed software
Windows
Some multimedia and home use software (IE,
Media player, Notepad, WordPad, Paint)
plus OEM bundled software. Windows Vista
Includes IE7, Windows mail, Windows media
centre, etc. depending on which edition is
purchased.
Linux
All main distributions contain numerous
programs: multimedia, graphics, internet, office
suites, games, system utilities and alternative
desktop environments. Some distributions
specialise in education, games, or security.
 Security
Windows
The vast majority of malicious software
runs on Windows (approx 98%). Windows
users are burdened with the need for anti-
virus and anti-spyware software.
Linux
Linux users are free from malicious
software. Only the desktop users can run
the software on the system.
 Cost
Windows
Windows is expensive. Microsoft allows a
single copy of Windows to be used on only
one computer. Starting with Windows XP,
they use software to enforce this rule.
Linux
For desktop or home use and server use
Linux is very cheap or free when compared
to Windows. Once you have purchased
Linux, you can run it on any number of
computers for no additional charge.