Windows vs Linux
WINDOWS VS LINUX Ali Elreda ENG 352-456 Professor Moylan 3/16/2013 Table of Contents Abstract This article is a comparison between two similar but yet different operating systems Microsoft Windows and Linux. One will have a clear idea about each of these systems and would not find it difficult choosing between them. An operating system is somewhat a software program that connects the users with the hardware of the computer. Without an operating system a computer is useless. There are many different operating systems in the world today.
One can argue that Microsoft Windows is the top selling operating system today, while Linux is in the top ten. The purpose of this article is to discuss different features of these two systems for example, price, and ease of use, reliability, software, software cost, hardware, security and support. Principle As mentioned before, operating systems are mandatory in computers. Without these OS there is no use for computers. “Once the operating system has started up, it manages all of the software and hardware on the computer.
Most of the time, there are many different programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system coordinated all of this to make sure that each program gets what it needs. Without the operating system, the software wouldn’t even be able to talk to the hardware, and the computer would be useless. ” History of Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows is arguably the number one operating system in the world. Before Windows came along, in 1980 Gates and his classmate Ballmer iscovered an operating system named Microsoft Disk Operating System. After users had difficulties in this system Gates and Ballmer worked on a new and easy design for an OS. In 1985, Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, released the first ever Windows OS, which was called Windows 1. 0 at the time. From 1987 to 1992, Microsoft worked on various operating systems named Windows 2. 0-2. 11. Each has specific features which changed the OS history. In 1990, Gates announced Windows 3. 0 which was then followed by Windows NT in 1993.
Then came the Internet Era and of course Microsoft came out with another brilliant OS, Windows 95, in which Microsoft sold more than 7 million copies in the first 5 weeks. During the years of 1995 to 2000, Microsoft unleashed a series of OS which changed computers dramatically. In 2001, Windows XP was introduced. Five years later, Windows Vista came along and sharpened the security of computers. In 2009, Windows 7 came along to coincide with the wireless world. And finally, in 2012, Microsoft released the highly technical and innovative Windows 8. 
Figure 1- Windows1. 0 to Windows 8  History of Linux Unlike Bill Gates and Microsoft, Linux operating systems were released in 1991 by a Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Torvalds unleashed the Linux OS for free on the internet. Unlike Microsoft, Linux was free and caught the attention of various companies. Even though Torvalds built it as a hobby, Linux expanded to beyond Torvalds expectations. “But something sets Linux apart from these operating systems. The Linux operating system represented a $25 billion ecosystem in 2008.
Since its inception in 1991, Linux has grown to become a force in computing, powering everything from the New York Stock Exchange to mobile phones to supercomputers to consumer devices. As an open operating system, Linux is developed collaboratively, meaning no one company is solely responsible for its development or ongoing support. Companies participating in the Linux economy share research and development costs with their partners and competitors. This spreading of development burden amongst individuals and companies has resulted in a large and efficient ecosystem and unheralded software innovation.  Figure 2- Linux Operating System  Microsoft Windows VS Linux Operating Systems There are many types of operating systems. For this Technical Communication assignment, the focus would be on Microsoft Windows and Linux OS. The major concern consumers face when deciding which OS system one should operate is price. When it comes to price, Linux definitely wins the battle with Microsoft Windows. Linux offers most software for free unlike Windows’ price varies from $50-$150 US dollars per license copy. 
Ever since Microsoft announced their first operating system in 1985, significant changes have been made in order to make it easy on users to run their computers. MS-DOS ran basically on codes which users found it difficult. When Microsoft discovered the new operating system Windows, users found it much easier to operate their computers using a mouse to move and point through screens. On the other hand, first time users of computers find Linux to be much more difficult. The solution for most Linux users is to reinstall rather than move their way through a mouse.
So the edge goes to Windows for the ease of use category.  Using any operating system for a long period of time may need rebooting and troubleshooting. For Linux users, one may run the OS for years without needing to reboot the program. Even though Microsoft has made many improvements to develop the reliability of their Windows OS, Linux OS is more reliable and less frustrating for users to operate on.  “Computer software is a general term that describes computer programs. Therefore, installing new programs or applications on your computer is synonymous with installing new software on your computer.
Software can be difficult to describe because it is “virtual,” or not physical like computer hardware. Instead, software consists of lines of code written by computer programmers that have been compiled into a computer program. ” With that being said, countless number of software is available for both operating systems. Because of the numerous number of users who run on Windows, there is much more software available than Linux.  Software is the key element in every computer. It is absolutely crucial for consumers to find their programs easily.
Software for any Microsoft Windows operating system can be a bit expensive. The range for which customers buy any software for Windows varies from $20-$200 US dollar per license copy. On the other hand, Linux OS software can be available for little or no cost depending on the demand of the software. For example, Microsoft Office is available for $200 per license copy. Linux offers OpenOffice, which is similar to the software Microsoft offers.  For the hardware part, both OS provide hardware for each computer. The demand for Windows hardware is greater because of the publicity of Microsoft Windows in the world.
For Linux OS, hardware manufacturers have made it easy to get hardware support but do not offer drivers for Linux. With that being said, the advantage goes to Windows because Microsoft offers support for their hardware.  The main issue users have is security. Even though Microsoft has made a great improvement to their operating system, Windows is still vulnerable for viruses and attacks. Every customer should worry about this issue. Depending on the magnitude of these viruses, sometimes the OS will crash and never work again. Linux users do not have this same issue because it’s more secure than Windows.
Windows again offer antivirus software that can prevent attacks on their OS.  Customer support is usually the main factor in deciding which operating system one should run. Microsoft has several ways for support including several online help and personal help on the OS itself. Because not many customers run on Linux OS, it is difficult for users to get support for their products. The availability of Windows in the world helps users get the support they need in order to maintain the functionality of their operating system.  Conclusion
Hopefully after reading this article, one will have a clear understanding about these two unique operating systems. Microsoft Windows, in my opinion, is reliable and easy to use. Even though software cost is a bit high, this OS system has been proven to be a well-structured and functions better. Linux OS is on the rise and will be a real threat to several operating systems that are found in the world today. Deciding which operating system to run on can be a bit tricky. Both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages.
In the end, this article will help one decide which operating system is suitable for him/her. Works cited  “Computer Basics Understanding Operating Systems. “GCFLEARNFREE. GCFLEARNFRE, n. d. Web. 16 Mar 2013. <http://www. gcflearnfree. org/computerbasics/2>.  “A history of Windows. ” Windows. Microsoft. Web. 16 Mar 2013. <http://windows. microsoft. com/en-us/windows/history>.  Savov , Vlad. The Windows logo is evolving backwards. 2012. The VergeWeb. 16 Mar 2013. <http://www. theverge. com/2012/7/4/3136851/windows-logo-backwards-evolution>. 4]”What Is Linux: An Overview of the Linux Operating System. ” Linux. N. p. , 3 Apr 2009. Web. 16 Mar 2013. <http://www. linux. com/learn/new-user-guides/376-linux-is-everywhere-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system>.  “Software. ” Tech Terms. N. p. , 5 Dec 2006. Web. 16 Mar 2013. <http://www. techterms. com/definition/software>.  “Linux VS Windows. ” Computer Hope. N. p.. Web. 16 Mar 2013. <http://www. computerhope. com/issues/ch000575. htm>. NOTE Sources 3 and 4 are the images of Windows and Linux