Across the world, there are at least 400 billion active PC users who are using a Windows operating system.
If you’re one of the billions of people who are using Windows, you might be thinking of switching to a different operating system, like Linux.
But what are the differences between Linux vs Windows? Which one is better than the other one? We’ll break it all down for you here, so make sure you keep reading.
1. Stability
When you start using an operating system, you want to make sure that it’s going to be stable enough to last you the entire duration of your laptop or computer.
While Windows has been around for a while, many people prefer Linux for its stability.
Linux
Many big-name brands like Google and even Facebook put their hosting trust into Linux.
This operating system is optimized perfectly, so even if you have some crashes or popups, the operating system will be able to handle it without needing to restart your computer.
Because of its stability, Linux is also commonly used in the workplace, especially for server administrators or software developers.
Windows
On the other hand, Windows has a lot of “bloatware” in it.
Windows comes installed with all kinds of Microsoft products like OneDrive, Paint 3D, and occasionally the Microsoft Suite.
With all of these programs on your PC, it can start to weigh the operating system down and make it run slower. You might even have some crashes with the system, maybe even erasing some of your files.
2. Filing System
The filing system is also something you should consider, especially if you are going to be storing a lot of things on your computer’s storage device rather than cloud storage.
For a Windows computer, the files and directories will be stored on three different drives: C, D, and E.
However, on Linux, it’s a somewhat more organized system. It uses a tree structure, so you can branch out into other directories easily to find all of your files.
However, on Linux, every little thing on your computer is considered a file. For example, your devices like a keyboard or mouse will be considered a file.
This may be confusing at first, and some people still prefer to stick with the Windows version.
3. Security
One of the most important Linux vs Windows debate revolves around security.
With 300 million cyberhacks per day, you need to ensure that your computer is safe and secure. Your operating system is often the first line of defense.
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system. But that doesn’t always mean it’s easy to break into. In fact, it’s one of the more secure OSes out there.
Security is actually one of the main reasons people use Linux, and because of it, it has a stronger community of users. All of the users have access to the source code, which gives them the ability to monitor it and ensure that nothing is wrong or that someone didn’t hack in.
Because they can go in the code, they can often fix the problem themselves as well. Which means that Linux is constantly getting free updates to their security from users just like you.
One last reason that Linux is more secure because it has a lot fewer users than Windows do. Because of this, hackers will normally end up targeting a Windows laptop rather than a Linux one.
There will be very few hackers who are actually versed in how to get into a Windows computer, making you even less likely that you’ll have to deal with an issue.
Windows
However, Windows is not open source, so if someone hacks into your computer, you won’t be able to fix the security issue yourself. Instead, you’ll have to report it to Microsoft and wait for them to fix the issue.
You’ll have full control over your account on Windows, but if someone attacks the operating system, there’s nothing you can do about your account on that point.
4. User-Friendly
Everyone will always have their own preference of which operating system they like to use. Many people actually grew up using a Windows computer, so this might be what they’re more familiar with.
However, for those who are willing to try something new, you might find yourself surprised by how easy it is to use a Linux computer.
Linux
Linux comes with a polished GUI now, which will let users do the important tasks on their computer without having to use the command line to do it. It also has a store integrated into the operating system to let you know what tools and apps you need to download in order to accomplish something.
If you did use Windows for most of your life and want to slowly transition, you can get the Linux Mint. This is a mix of the Linux operating system with some Windows-type features to let you have an easy transition before committing to the real Linux.
When you do use Linux, you’ll also have access to all of their source code. This can easily get overwhelming, so if you are going to use Linux, you might want to watch a few YouTube videos and learn about the system a little bit more.
Windows
On the other hand, Windows is incredibly easy to use, and it takes almost no preparation to figure it out.
It also already comes installed on most laptops, so you won’t have to worry about installing it on yourself. People love the usability of Windows so much that when Windows 10 came out and was vastly different from Windows 7, they had to release Windows 8.
This was like a nice middle ground to help ease the transition of switching over to a different (but still very similar) interface and operating system.
For the average user, Windows might be the better option to go with. However, if you know a lot about computers and want to use all of the great features, you might want to choose Linux.
5. Gaming
If you’re a gamer, you’ll also have to consider which operating system to use. For this instance, Windows might be a better option.
Linux
Unfortunately, Linux isn’t known for its great gaming capabilities. The developers are working to change that, and there are a few games on there now that are compatible with Linux.
But Linux was never meant for gaming. However, Steam, which is a gaming client, will let you run games with no Linux support to run on Linux. So it really comes down to what type of games you want to play on there.
Windows
This is why you might be better off going with the Windows operating system.
You’ll be able to play almost every game on your Windows PC. As long as your laptop or gaming computer has the right specifications, most games should run smoothly and quickly.
Most of the graphics cards that come in the computers are also designed for Windows, so Windows is the better platform for gamers.
6. Compatability
Whether you’re buying a Lenovo or buying a Windows computer, Windows will always be compatible with more devices than Linux.
Even though Linux is constantly being updated, Windows will always win when it comes to figuring out which laptops or apps it will work with.
7. Customization
When it comes to customizing your laptop, Linux is the clear winner. But some users don’t need a lot of customization, so it really depends on your personal preference.
Linux
Because Linux is an open-source operating system, you’ll have access to change it to fit whatever your needs are. This means that you can even make your desktop look entirely different unique. To some extents, you’ll also be able to customize almost every part of the GUI.
Even if you like the look of Windows, you can even make your Linux look like that. Or you can make it look like the Mac operating system. So it’s really powerful in that sense.
You’ll also be able to change the actual operating system, so you’ll really have full control and power.
Windows
Windows on the other hand is very standard. You’ll be able to change the color, background, and some small things, but you can’t make it look like another operating system.
Windows is slowly opening up to giving you more customizable options, but Linux is still the clear winner.
Discover More of the Differences Between Linux vs Windows
These are only a few of the differences between Linux vs Windows, but there are many more that you should take into consideration.
We know that it can be overwhelming to try and keep up with all of the updates and information regarding these operating systems, but thankfully we do it so you don’t have to!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one.
