Comparing Linux And Linux

effrey Brogaard

Draft of Compare/Contrast Essay

2/25/14

Although Linux is more customizable and secure, Windows is more user friendly, and there is more user support for those who are having difficulty using the operating system.

When it comes to customization and how you want your computer operating system to look, and feel, many might prefer the Windows operating system. It offers personalization settings that make it easier for the user to change their background, mouse pointers, and sounds. It also lets you add, and change different visuals and effects to what each user desires. You can have it simple, or have it pretty, all depends on the users preference. However, due to Windows being licensed by Microsoft, visuals and whatever software you choose to install is about it as far as customizing goes.

Linux can and does offer some of the same things but there is also the fact there are far too many different versions out there, and it may be difficult to determine which on can be customized as much as the other. As far as visuals go you may have to dig deep into the system to find out how to do it, but you can. Since it is open source, you can customize it much more, but it depends on the users knowledge of the operating system itself. A programmer would be able to do so much more in Linux, than they would be able to do with Windows, since the source code is available, whereas in Windows, it's hidden. In Linux you can customize how it does literally everything and a programmer would be able do a variety of things for Linux to be “their own”. However, most of us aren't programmers, so we wouldn't have a need for Linux, thus many, would stick to Windows.

The security of Windows has gone a long way, but it ...

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...hey find, might not be as simple to understand since many of the users are advanced and may use terms and lingo the average person doesn't understand. It also doesn't have the support of a core owner of a license like Windows. There is no major support aside from web forums, and many computer techs don't have much knowledge of the operating system.

The choice on what operating system will depend on what your needs are personally, your interests in technology, and your needs professionally. If you're not an IT person, and you don't care about programming, or have much of a vested interest computers/software, etc yourself, you would want to stick to Windows. It's easy to use, has everything you need, and you'll likely find help fast if you have questions. Linux is more geared towards IT professionals, and/or those who have an interest, or need to use it.