Windows vs. Linux

Since Windows and Linux are operating systems, comparing one from the other is inevitable. Although comparisons may differ since Windows and Linux both generally refer to operating systems that may have different versions and editions. And in the same manner, comparisons between the two operating systems can only be made from a general point of view.

Open Source vs. Proprietary Software

A clear comparison between Windows and Linux can made by how they are distributed or licensed. Windows is known as a proprietary software while Linux is open source. Windows can only be used in a computer system in exchange for a fee while Linux can be installed and used free of charge.

Windows may also require proprietary permission before any part of it can be modified or redistributed while Linux, under its GPL license, can be freely modified or redistributed by anyone provided that the codes remain open sourced.

Market Usage

Currently, Windows continues to be the market leader in terms of popularity and the number of people using it. The Windows OS captures more than ninety percent of the total desktop OS market while Linux only accounts for less than a percent of total desktop usage around the world.

A certain advantage that Windows has over Linux is that it is pre-installed by default in almost all desktop PC's in the market. But Linux has slowly been getting other vendors from pre-installing its OS. There has been an increasing number of low-end consumer laptops and sub-notebooks that are now being pre-installed with Linux OS.

OS Usage

Windows is generally known to be more user friendly than Linux, mainly because of its experience advantage in terms of more years of development than Linux. Although this might be generally true, there are also different versions of Linux being distributed that may be considered as fairly easy to use even by ordinary PC users.

Installation

Installation on computer systems generally is similar for both Windows and Linux in terms of the amount of time used. Both operating systems can take from 20 minutes to an hour for installation which can also depend on what other actions are being included upon installation.

A difference seen between the two operating systems may be the installation options available. Linux offers different installation options for its users while Windows only offers installation by means of GUI. Linux can be installed with a CD or GUI installer just like Windows.

But Linux also offers a menu-driven installation, installation requiring the copy and compiling of the source code, as well as an installation of the OS completely from scratch directly from the source code.