What is the diff b/w Linux and Windows?
482191
Both are operating systems, but owned and priced differntly. Windows is a Dos based, Microsoft owned platform. It is most widely used, and it's source code is owned by Microsoft, who keeps upgrading it over time. This is not a free software, and comes on licence to use basis. MS also provides regular support and upgrades. Most developers develop new software to be first compatible with Windows.\nLinux, is a Unix based OS. Unlike Windows, it is not owned by anyone. The source code is free, and freelancers develop it to make it better. Some companies sell a version to cover the support cost, but mostly it is available free to download and install. It has limited product support and upgrade support, but being on Unix, is more safer when it comes to virus attacks etc. More companies are switching to Linux now, for these reasons.
475006
I don't use windows and have no intention of going back to using windows. I use Linux (Suse 10 in fact), Lindows is a distribution of Linux. \n\nThere are many reasons I use Linux, First of all it's free if you want or you can pay a fee for a certain amount of installation support (like I did with Suse, £40 as a one off payment)\n\nLinux also doesn't suffer from viruses or trojans, I don't even use anti virus software, the architecture of Linux makes it almost impossible for viruses to get into the system.\n\nFor pretty much every sort of windows software there is a free Linux equivalent, so instead of a couple of hundred pounds for XP office pro, open office is free and will open & save microsoft documents.\n\nWhen you get a copy of Linux it is yours to do what you like with it unlike with windows where Bill Gates only gives you permission to use windows and I believe in future may restrict the type of software run on it, also you can bet that when Vista comes out all your hardware and software will need to be upgraded.\n\nAlso you don't get system crashes or the blue screen with Linux and as a bonus if windows fails on you completely all you have to do is run a live CD version of Linux (like Knoppix) and you can get at your Windows files to back them up to disc.\n\nOnce you get used to Linux it is as easy or easier to use than Windows, is much more secure and stable than Windows and there are more ways to configure it, and it can easily be installed alongside as dual boot with windows while you learn to use it.\n\nSo if your fed up with microsoft give Linux a go.
593299
NO! It doesn't need much time to learn the way of using Linux. It's as easy as using Windows. The desktops are quite similar.\n\nThe main diffrence is that Linux is an open source OS, so that every expert user can manipulate its code & make changes, while in Windows users don't have any access to its source code. That's why Linux is almost free & most of essential softwares one needs for routine affairs are included in its installation media. You can visit these sites as well:  http://www.novell.com/linux/  , http://redhat.linux.com/
23260
Linux is an open source software. What that means is that code that is written to make the final software is freely available for modification and reuse - given that you release your modifications to the public.\n\nWindows is a line of products released by Microsoft. Unlike Linux, MS does not release the code of there operating system (OS). Windows XP is the latest version of there OS.\n\nLinux in its bare-bone format is not easily usable. To be able to use it you need some software that run on it and some drivers to identify your hardware. Normally Linux comes with a lot of software that is developed by under the GNU project by volunteers for the Free Software Foundation. Under this form Linux is called GNU/Linux.\n\nSince Linux can be modified a lot of vendors have released their own version of Linux one of those vendors is RedHat. They release Fedora Linux for the public and RedHat Linux for corporate use. It differs from bare bone Linux in that it comes with an installer and several useful utilities and programs developed either under GNU or by Red hat or by other companies mostly under the same license - GPL.\n\nSo primarily the difference is that Linux can be modified but Windows can not. But there are several other finer differences. For most people Linux is about choice. Anyway you can read the details here http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html
103644
there is no 'the' difference.\n\nthey are so dis-similar, one could spend a number of years cateloggin their differences.....\n\nI want a million dollars !      it's good to want.\n\nwe both have a similar chance of getting what we want, via this forum.\n\nluck !\n\n\ndude...those links will just be defining them, not listing their differences....\n\nOMG...Greeney that's wrong.\n\nDOS was around LONG before there was windows.  IT DOES NOT need windows to operate. It CAN run under windows, BUT windows 1,2, and 3 needed DOS under THEM to run.\nLOL
613717
linux lacks the basic third party support of windows and it isn't easy to use but it is free...\n\n\nwindows is a massive uncaring corporate piec of software crap with huge security issues and nothing is ever free with windows....i personally think mac is the way to go...
296733
I have never bothered much about security. Get hold of a good firewall and an antivirus, as well as a spyware scanner and you don't need to bother much.\n\nI have rarely been affected by virii, spyware or the likes. It is all about knowing what to do and what not to.\n\nRegarding in comparison to Linux, Windows definitely is more user friendly. Linux is more a geek system. Unless it has already been fully setup a n00b won't be able to work on it.\n\nSo regarding the question, I don't think Windows is a sinking ship. It is going to hold this market for a long long time I am sure.
2001
Check out Knoppix Live, probably one of the best live CDs out there, http://www.knoppix.org/\n\nSee a screenshot here, http://abcdelasecurite.free.fr/img/bureau-knoppix-mib-11b-grand.jpg\n\nThough no Linux distro is easy for a Windows user to jump into, I can't think of a single one.\n\nIt should or shouldn't be debian based, Knoppix is based on debian.  Which distro are you looking for?
429461
Try doing a google search for the different linux versions. Once you know which one you like, do the google search:\n\n"download [linux version]"\n\nThat should at least bring you to somewhere that can help.\n\nI downloaded the Fedora Project and Mandrake (Mandrix) Linux. Got Mandrake 10 and WinXP installed as dual boot.
735459
Stop using Windows.  Put Linux on it instead.
268630
use windows xp .  or try linux if want to experiment with something free
474423
As in the workstations can have different OSs? Yes.\nThe file server? No. \nYou could boot Linux and then a Windows shell on the server.
1000657
None of the programs used on windows can run under linux,not even the games.but there are a lot of alternatives.for office exists open office,there is also a player like winamp etc,and the best part is they're all free...
476445
I don't want to ramble on.... lets just say that Ubuntu is the coolest thing since sliced cheese.\n\nI run a design/computer firm so I am sorta stuck with windows until Codeweavers gets Crossover Office running photoshop cs2 on linux.(You will learn about running windows applications on linux shortly)\n\nHowever, NO MORE SUCKING ON THE TEET THAT IS MICROSOFT for us. I use ubuntu for everything else. \n\nIt took me approximately 10 hours to sort out what I was doing to port my entire office over(except for color management and printing stuff).  Two Ubuntu builds later, I am making insane money porting peoples offices from windows to linux.\n\nYou will have absolutely no problems intalling ubuntu or using it and you will never turn back...\n\nNo more hard locks, no more blue screens, no more poop...\n\nEdit: As a matter of fact we will provide instruction if you get stuck and will help you for free!\n\n\nhope that helps, freedom is just around the corner!
171326
I don't think it has to do with like, more like we don't have a choice!  Windows is a horried OS but we are stuck with it until Linux can come out with something that is a simple to use as windows.  As it is now most of us wouldn't know how to configure and operate it. Most of the programs we like aren't availible in Linux yet. But, there are alot of people buying an extra hard drive and putting linux on that to learn with. \n\nLinux is the better OS by far but windows is what we are stuck with right now.
730692
Most flavours have "live disc" available which allow you to run and experiment without having to install (ie, booting from disc). Have a play with a few and see which suits you best. The only 'nix version I ever really liked was SUSE, but have had to stick with Windows in the end - couldn't do my job on Linux ...too many software limitations
452334
You can use Linux operating system for free. you can also use some Linux live CDs like Knoppix or Slax.