Linux vs Windows

[Libertine]

As Linux gains more and more popularity, many people are starting to consider using it for their workstations because of benefits like low costs, high security and stability. Because I myself have used (and am using) both, I thought a little comparison might help some of you choose.
I'll be comparing win2k pro and linux redhat 8.0 (psyche) here, along with the software you are most likely to use with both. Since this is about workstations, I'll be talking about redhat with a graphical interface, since most people dislike the command line.


<b>Linux</b>
The first thing you'll run into if you decide to use Linux is a surprising lack of costs. You can download it for free if you don't need support, or buy a package suitable for the amount of support you need. This means large savings on software in comparison to Windows.
Besides the cost of the OS itself, there's also the matter of software. While applications for Windows will cost you up to thousands of dollars, almost everything for Linux can be gotten for free.

Here's a small comparison (prices taken from respective company sites):

Windows 2k Pro - $319
MS Office XP Pro - $579
Adobe Acrobat - $249
Jasc PSP - $99
WS FTP Pro - $39
--------------------------
$1285

RedHat 8.0 Pro - $149
OpenOffice.org - $0
pdf libs - $0
GIMP - $0
gFTP - $0
--------------------------
$149

Another major benefit of Linux is security. There are a number of things in which it's just better than Windows, like the strict root/users separation (although that can be achieved with Windows as well), the better protection of passwords and the lack of viruses for Linux. Ofcourse, idiots can fuck up security on Linux as well, it just takes a bit more stupidity than on Windows.

Stability is also a nice perk of using Linux. Blue screens of death are most definitely a thing of the past if you use Linux, and you really only need to reboot when you feel like it. Documents getting lost/corrupted/whatever is something everyone hates, and with Linux this won't happen quite as often (never happened to me while using Linux).

For experienced users, one of the best things about Linux is that it gives you much more control over what your pc does. Windows assumes you are a moron, and acts accordingly. A bit like a mother telling her child, "Eating too many cookies is bad for you, now keep your hands off the jar!". Linux, on the other hand, assumes some intelligence on the side of the user, and expects you to be able to decide for yourself if you want to eat more cookies (or screw with the kernel).

For newbies, the open source community is most often a nice surprise. There are literally thousands of people eager to help you out with problems. If you encounter a bump on the road, there's always a large group of people ready and willing to flatten it as quickly as possible.


<b>Windows</b>
I won't be talking about Windows versions like 95, 98 or ME here. Those, quite frankly, suck donkey balls, and should not be used by anyone who can get something else - anything will do.

Now, the first - obvious - advantage of Windows is that there is much, much more software for it. Although Linux is quickly gaining useful apps, Windows wins hands down in this respect, period.
A part of this is that while it is easy to find thousands of nice games for Windows, it is hard to find even a few good ones for Linux. That's slowly changing though, even games like UT3 now come with a Linux installer.

Another important benefit of Windows is compatibility. Windows is much bigger than Linux, and thus most sites and such are aimed at Windows/IE users. That shouldn't make a difference (because of standards and such), but it does. Furthermore, some things just won't work properly.

Userfriendliness is also very often mentioned as one of the good things about Windows. While this is partly true, Linux is rapidly improving in this aspect. For instance, installing RedHat can now be done through an easy-to-use graphical interface which is just as simple as a Windows installer. Still, there are some major things which can be really problematic, like installing software. While this can be often be done with simple rpms (clickable), it's also quite common that you have to do command line work to install an app, which can be quite tedious if you need to install a combo of libs and such first.


Conclusion
I myself dual-boot Windows and Linux. Linux is in my opinion superior as a workstation - low cost, high stability and security - but Windows is at this time still better equiped for things like surfing, playing games, watching movies and downloading mp3s.

[FuzzBuzz]

u got any tuts on linux, i wanna make a router with an old box, learn basic networking etc

[blazi]

it's about time people started catching on... this has only been a known fact for how long now?

I believe the success of windows is owed to the fact that any bum off the street can use it... properly - I don't know about anyone LOL, but overall it's simple to use whether or not it functions how an O/S should or not.

[ADL Colin]

PunkWorld,

I use Linux and have for quite a few years. Definitely, a PLUS virus/security-wise and I like it even for aesthetic reasons.

I have another computer that has Windows that I don't use so often (good for video games).

I will probably soon be switching to Windows for my primary computer though as I would like to go nuts at Circuit City and buy all the cool software.

Maybe I'll partition the harddrive and use both but probably not.

[phogirl69]

Not to sound retarded, but does Linux have folders and stuff like Windows and icons like "My Computer" and stuff? What does
a desktop for Linux look like? And how do you surf on Linux, do you use explorer or does Linux have its own browser? Just curious. All I know is Windows 98 and XP. I have never seen
or used a pc using Linux at all.

[ADL Colin]

Originally posted by blazi
it's about time people started catching on... this has only been a known fact for how long now?

I believe the success of windows is owed to the fact that any bum off the street can use it... properly - I don't know about anyone LOL, but overall it's simple to use whether or not it functions how an O/S should or not.

1. Windows is already installed.
2. There is more software available for Windows.
3. People can't see an advantage for Linux over Windows for the things that matter to them.

[ADL Colin]

Originally posted by phogirl69
how do you surf on Linux, do you use explorer or does Linux have its own browser?

I use Mozilla.

[Wilbo]

IMHO the only thing holding linux back is the lack of software for it. Linux already has a nice desktop. Once there are more apps linux is gonna skyrocket and leave Windows in the dust.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by phogirl69
Not to sound retarded, but does Linux have folders and stuff like Windows and icons like "My Computer" and stuff? What does
a desktop for Linux look like? And how do you surf on Linux, do you use explorer or does Linux have its own browser? Just curious. All I know is Windows 98 and XP. I have never seen
or used a pc using Linux at all.

In short, yes. If you use something like RedHat 8.0 or Mandrake 9.0 you will have a very normal-looking desktop (unless ofcourse you decide you don't want one).
You surf on Linux with mozilla, konqueror, galeon - just normal browsers. Not IE though, since IE is Microsoft, and they don't develop software for linux

[ADL Colin]

I personally don't think Linux is going to surpass Windows as an operating system (or ever get close). I think most people don't care about what operating system they use and don't care to make a decision regarding it.

Any change to Linux would have to occur at the
sales level - pre-installed on your PC as the default operating system.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Wilbo
IMHO the only thing holding linux back is the lack of software for it. Linux already has a nice desktop. Once there are more apps linux is gonna skyrocket and leave Windows in the dust.

Well, there are already many apps for it. In fact, apart from the games it has just about anything a normal user could possibly need.

ICQ/AIM => gAIM
MediaPlayer => Xine
Winamp => XMMS
Kazaa => eDonkey
IE => Mozilla
Office => OpenOffice
Outlook => Evolution
and the list goes on...

[phogirl69]

Originally posted by punkworld


In short, yes. If you use something like RedHat 8.0 or Mandrake 9.0 you will have a very normal-looking desktop (unless ofcourse you decide you don't want one).
You surf on Linux with mozilla, konqueror, galeon - just normal browsers. Not IE though, since IE is Microsoft, and they don't develop software for linux

Cool, I didn't know that.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Colin
I personally don't think Linux is going to surpass Windows as an operating system (or ever get close). I think most people don't care about what operating system they use and don't care to make a decision regarding it.

Any change to Linux would have to occur at the
sales level - pre-installed on your PC as the default operating system.

I'm not so sure on that one. The new generation of users is a lot better with computers than the older ones, Linux is getting more userfriendly every day, and - very important - you can get Linux for free.

[[Labret]]

Windows 2k Pro - $319
MS Office XP Pro - $579
Adobe Acrobat - $249
Jasc PSP - $99
WS FTP Pro - $39
--------------------------
$1285

Fuck that.

Windows 2k Pro Warez - FREE
MS Office XP Pro Warez - FREE
Adobe Acrobat Warez - FREE
Jasc PSP - FREE
WS FTP Pro Crack - FREE
--------------------------
Freeeeee

[Wilbo]

Originally posted by punkworld


Well, there are already many apps for it. In fact, apart from the games it has just about anything a normal user could possibly need.

ICQ/AIM => gAIM
MediaPlayer => Xine
Winamp => XMMS
Kazaa => eDonkey
IE => Mozilla
Office => OpenOffice
Outlook => Evolution
and the list goes on...

For the average user there are enough apps. But an experienced webmaster needs more than that. I have little apps that I use every day that linux has no equal for ( yet ) . Try switching over to linux completely for a week and you'll see what I'm talking about. You never know what you'll miss until it's gone.

Colin is probably correct about people not caring what OS they use. Until linux starts to come pre-loaded on machines it'll never catch up to Windows.

[genomega]

1. Windows is already installed. 2. There is more software available for Windows. 3. People can't see an advantage for Linux over Windows for the things that matter to them.

Walmart sell computers with linux installed 299.99
There are thousands of programs for linux - all free
Linux never crashes or locks up
No security problems
Apache server included
Open Office - Free
You can run win programs under linux
etc.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by [Labret]


Fuck that.

Windows 2k Pro Warez - FREE
MS Office XP Pro Warez - FREE
Adobe Acrobat Warez - FREE
Jasc PSP - FREE
WS FTP Pro Crack - FREE
--------------------------
Freeeeee

Lawsuit - $$$
Full pension at a penitentiary institution - FREE
Getting assfucked by Bubba - FREE
Fines - $$$

(for company use it wouldn't be a very good idea to use warez, although for personal use it's a different matter)

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Wilbo


For the average user there are enough apps. But an experienced webmaster needs more than that. I have little apps that I use every day that linux has no equal for ( yet ) . Try switching over to linux completely for a week and you'll see what I'm talking about. You never know what you'll miss until it's gone.

Colin is probably correct about people not caring what OS they use. Until linux starts to come pre-loaded on machines it'll never catch up to Windows.

Actually, I have used Linux exclusively for quite a while. The reason I now use both is that there are more games and such for Windows, but for the rest, I could easily find/make whatever I needed.

[gothweb]

Let's not forget Mac OS X. Take a solid BSD distro, add a slick GUI, and the advanced features of a professional/consumer OS. You get the cool interface of a pro OS, the stability of a Geek OS, and all the programs that run on either of them.

http://www.apple.com/switch/

[Wilbo]

Originally posted by genomega


Linux never crashes or locks up
No security problems
Apache server included
Open Office - Free
You can run win programs under linux
etc.

Linux crashes, not as often, but it does crash.
There are lotsa security problems, get on the Red Hat mailing list and see the new ones they discover every day.
Apache is free to download for windows also.
You can run win programs under linux, but it is a pain in the ass and a newbie would have a very dificult time with it. I assume you're talking about WINE?

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Wilbo


Linux crashes, not as often, but it does crash.
There are lotsa security problems, get on the Red Hat mailing list and see the new ones they discover every day.
Apache is free to download for windows also.
You can run win programs under linux, but it is a pain in the ass and a newbie would have a very dificult time with it. I assume you're talking about WINE?

Getting Linux to crash really takes a bit of effort, I actually have never experienced a single unexpected crash with it in years of using it (ofcourse, when trying out new stuff things can go wrong, but that's far from the random bsod you can get in windows).
While there are security problems, security for Linux simply is much better than it is for Windows, and you know it.
Now, you can get Apache for Windows, but there isn't much point in using it. If you develop server apps for Apache, you'll use Linux anyway.

[Wilbo]

Wow, rereading all my post it looks like I'm anti-linux, which is far from the truth. I have a dual boot machine, but I rarely boot to linux. I guess I'm so used to doing everything in Windows that it would just take me too long to do it in Linux. I would like to see linux become more mainstream instead of just being thought of as a server OS.

[lil2rich4u2]

im on win2k pro, i have tried everything and this to me is the absolute best.

I get 1.5-2.5 month uptime with no problem. (yes i know linux runs for 30yrs streight, lol)


I tried a few *nix flavors a while back when i was big on IRC. For some reason nix always handled chan floods with ease, like i was a human eggdrop, lol

I mean i coded my own scripts to manage it in MIrc, but they would always lock up on derious floods.

Also nix systems seemed to be more stable when having a d0s war with bud's, lol

This was quite a few years ago, but the reason i stopped using it?

#1 too hard to get my hardware installed.
#2 too lazt to learn how to everything again, lol
#3 took me 3 days to get my internet installed
#4 lack of software at my local store, i didnt have high bandwidth to d/l it


What did i like about it?

#1 multi desktop was sweet
#2 stability
#3 not using windows made me feel like a rebel, LOL!
#4 developers suite was awsome, back then i was still in school for web development, had some fun in there.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by lil2rich4u2
This was quite a few years ago, but the reason i stopped using it?

#1 too hard to get my hardware installed.
#2 too lazt to learn how to everything again, lol
#3 took me 3 days to get my internet installed
#4 lack of software at my local store, i didnt have high bandwidth to d/l it

Right now:
#1 takes 2 minutes
#2 you still have to learn, so that point still holds
#3 takes 2 minutes
#4 not much software at stores, but much to download - and I assume you now do have high bandwidth

[lil2rich4u2]

ok ok ok!!!


/run fdisk

[lil2rich4u2]

Originally posted by lil2rich4u2
ok ok ok!!!


/run fdisk

does linux have fdisk?


lol id be so lost, like a complete newbie, heh

[burn]

Linux takes some time to learn this is why it will never be as big as windows. It took me 1 full day to install my geforce drivers for linux. Another full day to install samba and I had to do things twice to get them to work right.

[Theo]

nice post punkworld

[candyflip]

Originally posted by gothweb
Let's not forget Mac OS X. Take a solid BSD distro, add a slick GUI, and the advanced features of a professional/consumer OS. You get the cool interface of a pro OS, the stability of a Geek OS, and all the programs that run on either of them.

http://www.apple.com/switch/

I'm using all three, and the updated MacOSX is the top of the heap. Now if they'd only come up with a computer for the masses that's under $1000 and they might have something.

The average consumer looks at price, and in that respect the Windows and Linux based options are more attractive.

[iroc409]

Originally posted by gothweb
Let's not forget Mac OS X. Take a solid BSD distro, add a slick GUI, and the advanced features of a professional/consumer OS. You get the cool interface of a pro OS, the stability of a Geek OS, and all the programs that run on either of them.

http://www.apple.com/switch/

i'd agree that macs are fairly cool, especially in the multimedia sector. i would have one if a decent g4 didn't cost me 6 pcs. that's going the opposite direction of the $ debate.


get yourself some FreeBSD and some windowmaker, install the linux compat and wine, and you've got some cross-platform goodness.

i'd like to contest that anyone can use redhat. well, except advanced users who want to do anything with their box.

i hate redhat.

[gothweb]

Originally posted by candyflip


I'm using all three, and the updated MacOSX is the top of the heap. Now if they'd only come up with a computer for the masses that's under $1000 and they might have something.

The average consumer looks at price, and in that respect the Windows and Linux based options are more attractive.

http://www.apple.com/store/

Out of seven basic lines of computers, I see three that start under $1000 for a complete system. The eMac, the CRT iMac, and the iBook. Compare the features and software they come with to low-price PCs.

[keyDet79]

I need Windows for my software. So why would I use linux at home? I'm no server

[Validus]

Maya runs a lot better on a Linux box. But I like PS over Gimp. Also... I like Premiere... and illustrator... actually.. all adobe products...

[iroc409]

Originally posted by keyDet79
I need Windows for my software. So why would I use linux at home? I'm no server

wine.. or one of hte many other successful WINdows Emulators.

[stocktrader23]

What exactly does it feel like when you pass up main street and enter nerdville?

[Validus]

I really don´t know.. hhaahaha... it has been so long!

[keyDet79]

Originally posted by iroc409


wine.. or one of hte many other successful WINdows Emulators.

Wine can't emulate photoshop.

[buran]

for phogirl,

<img src="http://webdev.aig4.com/desktop.jpg">

here is one of my 4 virtual desktops. alt-f1 through alt-f4 are the hot keys to flip between them. this screen has irc, aim/icq, and the winamp-clone, also a terminal session (raised window) and GIMP the graphics and image manipulation progarm running to do the screenshot. the icon at the lower left is a menu just like windows, and the black xmms block are controls for the winamp clone on any window view.

aaron@particle:~> uptime
3:16PM up 442 days, 21:19, 8 users, load averages: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00

I wouldn't say that Linux on the desktop is right for everyone. However I think a lot of people have old machine laying around, and that grabbing and installing a copy of Linux, FreeBSD, or OpenBSD can be very educational. Start learning on a machine which isn't critical to you, because you will make mistakes. But how else could you learn?

buran