Difference between linux and windows

Chris Hoffman Editor-in-Chief Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He's written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times and Reader's Digest, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami's NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read more than one billion times---and that's just here at How-To Geek. If you’ve heard anything at all about Linux, you’ve probably heard of Linux distributions – often shortened to “Linux distros.” When deciding to use Linux – on a desktop computer or server – you’ll first need to choose a distro. For many people, Ubuntu has become synonymous with Linux. But Ubuntu is one of many distros, and you have a lot of choice when it comes to Linux. What Is a Linux Distro, Anyway? Linux isn’t like Windows or Mac OS X. Microsoft combines all the bits of Windows internally to produce each new release of Windows and distributes it as a single package. If you want Windows, you’ll need to choose one of the versions Microsoft is offering. Linux works differently. The Linux operating system isn’t produced by a single organization. Different organizations and people work on different parts. There’s the Linux kernel (the core of the operating system), the GNU shell utilities (the terminal interface and many of the commands you use), the X server...

• Home • How-To • Website & App Building Tools • Web Hosting Linux vs. Windows: How to Pick the Best Server OS for Your Website Every website needs a web server, and every web server runs on an operating system. Linux and Windows Server are your choices, and our guide will help you pick the right OS. There are many The Operating System Basics Not all web hosting services, or their service tiers, offer a choice between the Linux and Windows Server operating systems. For example, if you choose a Please note that your choice of a Linux- or Windows-based server does not hinge on your PC's operating system. If you own a Decide How Much Money You Want to Spend Linux is a free, open-source OS that comes in many flavors. It's also simpler to maintain, requiring less upkeep and fewer man-hours. Windows Server, on the other hand, is owned by Microsoft, so web hosting services license it from Redmond. Hosting providers tend to pass those additional costs onto users. Take Know the Software You Want to Use As mentioned earlier, your operating system selection determines the software you'll use to build and update a website. For example, In contrast, Windows Server runs services created and maintained by Microsoft. If you’re developing web applications, you’ll want to use the .NET framework that only available on Windows Server. If your website will be built using ASP.NET or Microsoft’s version of SQL, you’ll need Windows Servers, too. The other Windows Server-only programs that you mig...

May 16, 2018 | The Linux vs Windows debate typically circles around cost and functionality. Although Linux is often considered inexpensive and Windows costly. A number of factors can alter the equation not the least of which is the advent of cloud computing. Perhaps no organization has done more to spur Linux adoption than Amazon’s AWS, which By any measure Linux is a technical tour de force. Plus cost is certainly another driving factor. However, as Enterprises further embrace and rely on Linux the “free” moniker is quickly evaporating in favor of paid subscriptions. In addition, Microsoft’s change to core based pricing for Windows Server alters the equation as well. Let’s take a closer look at the cost considerations for both platforms. Infrastructure Costs: The main consideration whether it be on-premises or cloud – what kind of hardware resources are needed to provision applications? All things being equal, if we look strictly at the operating systems themselves Linux is lighter weight and more tunable and can handle more of a given workload. How much? That will depend on the attributes of the application, but in general you can expect 20% or so more throughput on Linux. A Wintel centric organization in all likelihood won’t find the increased efficiencies all that compelling, however a greenfield deployment may feel differently. License Costs: Linux Linux for all intents and purposes can be had for no license fee at all (i.e. Windows Commercial organizations know all t...

Hi everyone! In this handbook I'm going to give a brief introduction to operating systems and compare the three main OSs that are out there nowadays. First we're going to review what an OS is and little history about them. Then, we'll review the main features and differences of the most popular operating systems (Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linux). The idea here is to explore their history, how and by whom they were developed, their business models, and their pros and cons. This will give you a better idea of how they work and which one to choose. I'm going to share facts as well as my personal opinions about this subject. So keep in mind some of the things I mention here will be based on my own experience and analysis of the topic. I'll also provide a lot of additional articles/videos you can take a look at in case you'd like to dive into a particular subject. Without further ado, let's go! Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • What is an Operating System? According to "An operating system (OS) is software system that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs". You can think about an OS as an "intermediary" program that stands between your computer and all other programs you run on it. It will manage crucial basic tasks such as file management, memory management, process management, input-output management, and controlling peripheral devices. OSs were created to simplify the use of computers. Nowa...

Microsoft Windows is defined as an operating system that features a graphical user interface and compatibility with a wide range of hardware and software, primarily for personal computers. UNIX is a multitasking, multi-user operating system developed for use on workstations, servers, and other devices for numerous applications, including database management, software development, and running networked applications. Linux is defined as an open-source operating system based on UNIX and is widely leveraged across various devices for its security, flexibility, and stability. This article compares these three operating systems. Table of Contents • • • • • Microsoft Windows is an operating system that features a graphical user interface and compatibility with a wide range of hardware and software, primarily for personal computers. UNIX is a multitasking, multi-user operating system developed for workstations, servers, and other devices. Its numerous applications include database management, software development, and networked applications. Systems equipped with UNIX are preferred for their security, flexibility, and stability. This operating system is the basis for numerous others, including macOS and Linux. Linux is an open-source operating system available free of cost and based on UNIX. It is widely leveraged across various devices for stability, flexibility, and security. UNIX was initially developed in the 1970s and was one of the first operating systems written using the C...

Linux’s file system has quite a few differences from the Windows file system. You won’t find any drive letters or backslashes, but you will find an alien-looking layout where files can have the same name, differing only in capitalization. This isn’t an exhaustive list. It is intended for new Linux users who aren’t aware of all the differences between Linux and Windows. There are many more differences that apply. Directory Structure You won’t find any Windows, Program Files, or Users folders if you start browsing around the file system on your Linux computer. (Although the /home/ directory is very similar to the Users folder.) The Linux directory structure doesn’t just use different names for folders, it uses an entirely different layout. For example, on Windows, an application might store all its files in C:\Program Files\Application. On Linux, its files would be split between multiple locations – its binaries in /usr/bin, its libraries in /usr/lib, and its configuration files in /etc/. Case Sensitivity On Windows, you can’t have a file named file and another file named FILE in the same folder. The Windows file system isn’t case sensitive, so it treats these names as the same file. On Linux, the file system is case sensitive. This means that you could have files named file, File, and FILE in the same folder. Each file would have different contents – Linux treats capitalized letters and lower-case letters as different characters. No Drive Letters – It’s Al...

In 2022, most people have a favorite operating system choice – and, most likely, it’s either Windows or Linux. There seems to be a battle in the computer world: Linux users against Windows users. And, we get it. When you’re used to one operating system, you might not even consider using a different one – even if you could be getting better features. But if you’re upgrading from an older computer, now is a great time to re-evaluate your choices and see if switching to a different OS is right for you. To help you make this decision, we’ll take a look at the key differences between Windows and Linux in 2022 When examining Linux vs. Windows, we’ll look at each operating system from three perspectives: for users, for professionals, and for businesses. So, read on to learn how each operating system stacks up regarding security, pricing, features, updates, and more! Market Shares and History Before we dive into the detailed differences between Linux and Windows, we’d like to give you a brief history of both operating systems. While there are several available OS, the one that dominates the market is Microsoft Windows Operating System. macOS comes in 2nd place, with Linux coming in at a distant 3rd. According to the recent data (April 2021), Windows has 74.96% of the market share, macOS has 16.02%, and Linux has 2.18%. Yet, Window’s popularity doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better than Linux – but it is certainly more well-known and what the average consumer is comfortable wit...

Linux’s file system has quite a few differences from the Windows file system. You won’t find any drive letters or backslashes, but you will find an alien-looking layout where files can have the same name, differing only in capitalization. This isn’t an exhaustive list. It is intended for new Linux users who aren’t aware of all the differences between Linux and Windows. There are many more differences that apply. Directory Structure You won’t find any Windows, Program Files, or Users folders if you start browsing around the file system on your Linux computer. (Although the /home/ directory is very similar to the Users folder.) The Linux directory structure doesn’t just use different names for folders, it uses an entirely different layout. For example, on Windows, an application might store all its files in C:\Program Files\Application. On Linux, its files would be split between multiple locations – its binaries in /usr/bin, its libraries in /usr/lib, and its configuration files in /etc/. Case Sensitivity On Windows, you can’t have a file named file and another file named FILE in the same folder. The Windows file system isn’t case sensitive, so it treats these names as the same file. On Linux, the file system is case sensitive. This means that you could have files named file, File, and FILE in the same folder. Each file would have different contents – Linux treats capitalized letters and lower-case letters as different characters. No Drive Letters – It’s Al...

Hi everyone! In this handbook I'm going to give a brief introduction to operating systems and compare the three main OSs that are out there nowadays. First we're going to review what an OS is and little history about them. Then, we'll review the main features and differences of the most popular operating systems (Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linux). The idea here is to explore their history, how and by whom they were developed, their business models, and their pros and cons. This will give you a better idea of how they work and which one to choose. I'm going to share facts as well as my personal opinions about this subject. So keep in mind some of the things I mention here will be based on my own experience and analysis of the topic. I'll also provide a lot of additional articles/videos you can take a look at in case you'd like to dive into a particular subject. Without further ado, let's go! Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • What is an Operating System? According to "An operating system (OS) is software system that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs". You can think about an OS as an "intermediary" program that stands between your computer and all other programs you run on it. It will manage crucial basic tasks such as file management, memory management, process management, input-output management, and controlling peripheral devices. OSs were created to simplify the use of computers. Nowa...

In 2022, most people have a favorite operating system choice – and, most likely, it’s either Windows or Linux. There seems to be a battle in the computer world: Linux users against Windows users. And, we get it. When you’re used to one operating system, you might not even consider using a different one – even if you could be getting better features. But if you’re upgrading from an older computer, now is a great time to re-evaluate your choices and see if switching to a different OS is right for you. To help you make this decision, we’ll take a look at the key differences between Windows and Linux in 2022 When examining Linux vs. Windows, we’ll look at each operating system from three perspectives: for users, for professionals, and for businesses. So, read on to learn how each operating system stacks up regarding security, pricing, features, updates, and more! Market Shares and History Before we dive into the detailed differences between Linux and Windows, we’d like to give you a brief history of both operating systems. While there are several available OS, the one that dominates the market is Microsoft Windows Operating System. macOS comes in 2nd place, with Linux coming in at a distant 3rd. According to the recent data (April 2021), Windows has 74.96% of the market share, macOS has 16.02%, and Linux has 2.18%. Yet, Window’s popularity doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better than Linux – but it is certainly more well-known and what the average consumer is comfortable wit...