The Pros And Cons Of Linux Vs. Windows XP

The Pros and Cons of Linux versus Windows XP

This may be the perfect time to move over to Linux. Windows XP was officially retired as of April 8, 2014. Although we can continue using Windows XP, the two most important factors to consider are 1) there will no longer be security patches released by Microsoft; and 2) they are no longer supporting this product.

Additionally, if our XP machines are more than six years old, which we suspect they are, chances are they won 't support the newer Windows releases, especially 8.1, because it needs significantly more power and storage. Also, some XP applications may not work on newer versions of Windows.

That said, both Windows XP and Linux each have their own specific strengths and weaknesses. To help

• Portable: It can run alone or it can coexist with other operating systems, like Windows. It runs on computers from PCs to mainframes.

Cons

1. Complexity: Although some distributions, or distros, are fairly easy to use, most of them will require a great deal of technical knowledge to get them to work properly.

2. Compatibility: Linux does not have as many programs and games as Windows XP.

3. Support: Technical support is limited since there aren’t many retailers selling Linux computers. You’ll most likely need to purchase Windows computers, reformat the hard drives, and install Linux in-house.

Acquiring Linux Computers

Installing Linux is pretty easy, but if you 'd rather buy a good computer with Linux already installed, you would need to go through smaller independent Linux vendors, that generally build good machines with quality components. The typical low-budget Windows PC is specced to the micro-penny, and built with the cheapest possible components.

Which Linux Distribution?

Another Linux advantage is that there are a number of free and commercial distributions, or distros for short, versions of Linux. They all offer something