Linux Windows Comparison
Unix is a more stable platform, rich and easy to use but Windows 2000 uses features that Unix doesn't use such as ASP, VB Scripts, MS Access, MS SQL or Cold Fusion; however the use of Web Based Control Panel makes both of them a breeze. Likewise, Unix uses some features that Windows don't such as SSIs. Linux combines some of the ideas from all of the other Oses with the added feature of being customizable by the user. In Windows you can either write .BAT scripts, or you can use Windows scripting host etc., but all of the options run either from the graphical shell or from the command prompt. In Unix and Linux, graphical environments are more of an afterthought. The best known of these is XWindows. The Free port of XWindows to Linux and others is called "XFree86". It's the standard graphical desktop on Linux. Once again though, you have more choice. There are several window managers and graphical environments to choose from for running on top of XWindows. Some are finally getting usable enough for non technical users. The best known of these are Gnome and KDE. All Linux window managers also have graphical implementations of a command prompt, such as "xterminal". Like Windows, you click an icon, and a terminal pops up running a shell, such as bash. But most non technical users never want to see that. They want a 100% easy to use, reliable, and consistent graphical interface. Linux and Windows NT/2000 are both OSes used on networks. They have a number of protocols and methods for accomplishing tasks such as balancing multiple user accounts, providing security, and running software applications. The methods used to do these things are different in the different operating systems. It should be noted, however, that the stability of Linux has convinced many people to use Linux for the server of a network of Windows machines. This is often accomplished through use of a program called Samba. Thus the network gains stability and ease of modification while the users are able to use a familiar operating system.
Most of Unix software licenses are free which makes it slightly cheaper than Windows;
however Windows has a tendancy to crash when Linux rarely crashes. Windows does not respond
quickly to users who find bugs. It often has problems with networking even when putting a 98
machine into a 2000 network.
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Linux is a Unix clone that essentially functions the same as the commercial unix OSes. Linux
is a free operating system but Unix is not, while Windows costs a bit more; however there is a
great deal of crossover between the Unix/Linux world and Windows.
