Linux and Windows have differences in code availability, number of versions, updates, security handling, and user interface. Linux is open source and has more options for users.
Although Linux® and Windows® are both operating systems designed to be used on a personal computer, there are many differences between the two. The main difference between Linux® and Windows® is the availability of the code. Linux® operates under the GNU Public License, which means that its source code is accessible to anyone who wants to examine or modify it. A person would have to have some connection with Microsoft, the company that makes Windows®, to see the code for that operating system.
Another key difference between Linux® and Windows® is the number of versions available. Microsoft is the only company that produces the Windows® operating system, while several manufacturers make versions of Linux®. A person who decides to install Linux® on their computer can choose from Red Hat, Ubuntu, Debian and a wide range of other companies.
Availability of updates also varies between Linux® and Windows®. A new version of Windows® tends to come out every few years, as Windows 98® replaced Windows 95® and Windows Vista® in 2006 replaced XP®, which was released in 2001. New versions of Linux®, known as distributions , they tend to come out every six months. Instead of purchasing a completely new operating system, a Linux® user can usually choose to download and install the new distribution from their update manager. Installation of Linux® and its new distributions is generally free.
Installing the new distribution from the update manager preserves a person’s files and preferences. A person using Windows® who needs to upgrade can usually also preserve their files and data by upgrading from one version to another. However, a simple upgrade isn’t always possible. In some cases, a user may need to completely uninstall the previous version of Windows® and then install the new one, resulting in data loss.
Handling security threats is different in Linux® and Windows®. Because Linux® is open source and anyone can access the code to fix it, security issues are resolved and new code is released on a much more regular basis than under Windows®. Windows® usually releases bug fixes and security patches monthly and tends to take longer to resolve issues. The slower remediation rate for security breaches gives hackers and others with malicious intent a larger window in which to attack unsuspecting computers.
Linux® and Windows® also differ in how they present data to the user. Although both operating systems allow the user to choose between a command-line interface and what is called a graphical user interface (GUI), the command-line interface is text-only and may be familiar to Windows® users such as MS-DOS. The GUI is the desktop, with its icons and images, that many computer users are familiar with. Linux® tends to have more options for its users for both GUI and command line.
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