What is the best operating system to use Linux or Windows?

Answer 1

Windows without a doubt - when was the last time your school said we need to learn to use Linux...

Answer 2

Depends what you mean by "best". Any particular criteria?

On cost Linux wins hands down. Linux £0.00. Windows Vista Ultimate £399.99

On security, Linux wins again. Windows is plagued with adware, spyware, trojans and such like. Linux isn't.

For stability Linux wins. You can keep a Linux system up and running for years before needing to reboot. You can even install security patches on the fly. You'll be lucky if you can last a week without Windows rebooting.

For games, Windows wins as there are many games. It may crash all the time, sure, so save lots. There are only a few games for Linux.

Answer 3

That’s a difficult question to answer, as it really depends on the intended uses of your computer, and perhaps, your general computer-related techno-savvy.

Most of what others are saying here is correct, and I would like to add that Linux is not for the uninitiated. That is not to say that it's unusable, but it is a leap into an area that is different if you are used to Windows, but if you move over to it for the right reasons, and choose the right version (or distribution), then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be happy.

There's only one company that produces Windows, but many that produce different versions of Linux (distributions), so you will need to do a little research. Distributions broadly fall into Server and Desktop types (like Windows), and come in varying flavours, with some being easer to install than others; even for the novice.
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If the benefits of Linux interest you, then I'd encourage you to play around with Linux, but there are certain prerequisites to cover before doing so. Don't jump blindly if you've been a Windows user for as long as you can remember. Another thing, you can introduce yourself to Linux without installing it on your computer by getting what’s called a ‘Live CD’. This is a CD with a particular version of Linux on it that you boot up from your CD/DVD Rom drive. It’s a safe way to play about with it, as it leaves your existing setup alone. Try to get a Live CD of a version that sounds like you’d like to end up using. Bear in mind though, that it may not be full featured, but hopefully have enough to give you a taste.

Even then, if you want to dip your toes in a bit more, but not fully commit, you may also be able to install Linux on a computer that has Windows on it already. There are Linux distributions that are very user friendly when it comes to this. There are some considerations, like having enough space on your hard drive, for instance. If you do take that route, you’ll end up with what’s called a ‘dual-booting system’. Basically, when switch on your machine from cold, a menu give you the choice of booting into Windows or Linux. If after that you don’t like it, you can always uninstall it.

If you are curious about using a low or nil-cost operating system, that is a stable workhorse for general productivity (documents, picture storage & editing, internet browsing, and then some) then Linux may be for you. I agree with what someone mentioned earlier about the lack of games support. However, if that's not your leaning, then Linux certainly does provide a plethora of very good software, e.g. OpenOffice, Firefox, The Gimp, et al.

Good luck,
RB

Answer 4

If you know your way around a computer, and you aren't too interested in playing games, Linux is the way to go. It has a fairly steep learning curve, but it's definitely worth it. You can find Linux programs that do most things, and more often than not they're free. You can also run many Windows programs (such as MS Office) directly in Linux using programs such as WINE and CrossOver Office. You can install both Linux and Windows on the same PC, so you can always use both and see what you prefer.

Or, you could always just buy an Apple Mac and use OS X, Windows, and Linux on it!

Answer 5

For most people Windows, as there's a lot of manual configuration that has to be done in Linux (even if you use KDE or Kubuntu). Also as someone above said, there aren't many games available for it yet, plus a lot of software that you might have may not run under linux. However that said, there's no reason to dual boot (install both Linux and Windows on) your computer so that you can pick which one you want when you want it! Kubuntu is a good one for that purpose as it takes care of the hard work (i.e. formatting drives etc.).

Answer 6

Hi robfishuk,

I know that it's not on your list, but the Macintosh OS X is a better option worth considering. OS X uses a Unix kernel. That's what makes it computer virus safe. Apple has become the number one seller of Unix distributions since OS X came out.

OS X has X-Windows, so you can run Unix programs directly on your Mac, but you can also use the great Mac programs, as well as Windows programs using BootCamp on an Intel-based Mac, or VirtualPC if you have a PowerPC Macintosh. It sounds like a win-win situation.

But perhaps you want to use your PC hardware. I've got to tell you, I've visited a Linux users group meeting and I met some highly intelligent people, scratching their heads, trying to get Linux to work on their computer configurations. If that's the case, you might be better off with Windows.

Best of luck to you.

--Rick

Answer 7

To make a rough distinction, Linux is good for power users, and Windows is good for regular users. Linux gives you complete control and a load of options, Windows gives you simplicity and ease of use. If you just want to browse the web and play games, Windows is definitely the way to go. But if you often find yourself wishing you could just make this tiny adjustement, or have tools that just give you control over what it does instead of doing everything automatically, Linux's what you want.

Answer 8

i have both linux and windows , ill try and point out the diffrences so its easy for you

1 - Windows is a easy to use OS , which means the windows GUI ) Graphic User Interphase ) allows users to navigate easily through the system where as linux is more advanced , and requires a significant knowledge about Linux OS in order to navigate it .

2 - Windows is more power and space consuming , windows requires atleast 4 gb space and a good processor in order to run it , where as a linux OS can run on 200 mhz processor with ease .
3 - Windows is for basic home use , linux is more advanced and is preferred by network desginers and pc professionals as it gives them more freedom .

In short windows is a amateur OS , and Linux is a advanced computer user OS

Answer 9

Depends. For home or office use, if you want advanced features, go with Windows. For server use (multiple users can use at one time) go with Linux. Linux is a bit more reliable and pretty much like Windows.

If you are still having trouble, I can be reached at [e-mail].

Answer 10

You are comparing apples to oranges here. Linux is a basic program, that can be fairly simple, and it is easy on your hardware, but because it is not a priority to many production companies, the software compatability is minimal. Windows, on the other hand, usues a lot of system memory, has more bugs, and can be more confusing, but it is compatible with the most software and hardware, so if you like games and most other software out there, then go with windows, or even mac osx.