Operating systems (OS) are important system software and withoutthem, humans would not have been in a position of handling and usingcomputer systems. In its apparent meaning, operating system is acollection of software packages, and their primary obligation is tomanage computer resources and allow for an interface for clientapplications to interact with different computer hardware (Bassil2012). Additionally, OS is accountable for carrying out otheractions including engendering process, distribution of primary memoryto numerous applications, and manage data storage. Up to moderntimes, Windows and Linux are the most common operating systems (OS)used on personal computers. Comparing and contrasting Windows andLinux OS has been a semi-permanent matter of discourse within acomputer related field. This paper, therefore, explores thedifferences and similarity of both operating systems that tend toreplicate on their origins, historical user bases and dispersionmodels.
The main differences between Window and Linux OS are the approachesto the system, information files, and user accounts. In Windows,users can have many administrative perquisites while Linux has onlyone administrative account. This means that only one user can onlyaccess one application in Windows OS but in Linux, numerous users canaccess one application. On the other hand, Windows operating systemdoes not allow for user access to programming code that forms theground cornerstone of this operating system, however, Linux operatingsystem is owned by GNU public license, which means that it can allowaccess to the encryption to users of all classes (Bassil 2012).Another distinctive difference between Windows and Linux OS is thatin Windows the OS can only be mounted on PC’s desktops, laptops,servers, and some particular mobile phones. However, in Linux, the OScan be mounted on several categories of computer hardware, rangingfrom mobile, tablet computers, to C.P.U.s, and supercomputers(Abhilash & Visthav, 82).
Looking at the stability of an operating system, Linux has severalprocedure levels since all the application are classified from thegraphic subsystem, which is isolated from Linux kernel. This makesthe Linux OS not to crash easily. However, in Windows, OS is based onNT kernel, which makes it technically stable (Bassil 2012).
Additionally, Linux OS is a free software but sometimes help isprovided at a certain price, while in Windows the cost runs from$50-$450 considering the version you want to install (Abhilash &Visthav, 82). File management for the two OS is characteristicallydissimilar. Windows only have NTFS (and its variations), FAT,ISO9660, while Linux has EXT (and its variations), RaiserFS, FAT,ISO9660, UDF, NTFS, Minux, and GmailFS file system. Similarly,Windows OS permits its users with several disks like C: D: and E:that makes the drives not to be installed on a single tree, while inLinux users cannot discover Program Files or My Documents situated ona particular memory. Therefore, all drives are connected to onesingle tree (Abhilash & Visthav, 83).
Considering the similarities between the two operating systems, bothcan horde PHP via quick CGI. On the other hand, both operatingsystems have anti-viruses, which means that they can be attacked byviruses. On the file management, they both support some particularfile systems like NTFS, ISO9660, and FAT, however, Linux supports avariety of filesystems.
In conclusion, there are many differences between Linux and WindowsOS in various fields. However, they also share some common features.In general, both operating systems provide relative multi-task andsecurity technology making them be among the trusted OS. Overall, thechoice of the OS by and individual and business operators will dependon the level of confidence and what activities the OS will operate.
Work Cited
Abhilash, P., &Visthav, Abhinay. P. Abhilash Int.Journal of Engineering Research and Applications. Comparingof Windows and Linux Operating System in Advanced Features. Vol. 5(2) p.81-83. 2015.
Bassil, Youseff. Journalof Global Research in Computer Science.Windows and Linux Operating System from a Security Perspective. Vol.3 (2). 2012.