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Linux Vs. Windows

By Mike Nahhas

During the recent LinuxWorld conference, Linux supporters loudly celebrated Linux's increasing importance in the world of software. Even though Microsoft Windows is the seemingly specific target of Linux and other open source operating projects, Linux has made far greater progress in becoming a standard platform in the UNIX world.

A GUI DecisionLinux is a kernel, an operating system. Windows is a complete operating environment. The tradeoff is one of choice. Windows has a single user interface. Linux has no built-in GUI. Users are free to pick and choose among many, many GUI X-Window interfaces, such as Gnome, KDE, CDE, X and Motif, each with its own look, feel and navigation methods.

Unfortunately, differences in GUI X-Window interfaces extend to the programming interfaces as well, meaning that software developers must either support multiple GUIs or choose which GUI(s) they plan to support. Since the interfaces are slightly different, developers tend to target one or two GUIs to support. Supporting many GUIs is not a simple process of including one set of libraries or another; it is more often a frustrating and error-prone exercise in writing GUI-specific code. While these applications may run on non-targeted GUI interfaces, vendors usually will only guarantee support for one or two.

The multiple-GUI problem is one of the many difference between Windows and Linux. Windows has one GUI, which has served many millions of people and works for many millions of different applications. The Mac OS is similar; one general GUI works across all Mac applications. If using one standard GUI makes development of programs and use easier why would Linux want to support multiple GUIs?

Freedom to Choose Or Not to Choose
According to most open-source advocates, having multiple available GUIs translates into a desirable user choice. For example,  HYPERLINK "http://www.uselinuxathome.com/ENgui.htm" \t "_blank" http://www.uselinuxathome.com/ENgui.htm says that the "choice of GUI has been made possible by the open source nature of Linux," and that "The idea is...to find the one that's right for you..." In a perfect world everyone would have hundreds of hours and the know how to install and un-install all the GUIs available. It is also fine in the strict rule based IT-mandated business situation where administrators and business needs dictate user interface and application choices for users. This approach does not work for the public.
The average user neither knows nor cares about the underlying operating system, the idea of GUI interfaces, the various types of file systems, or about any other technical or geeky aspect of using a computer. Most home and small business users never alter their Windows system defaults, other than to choose a different screen saver, add a peripheral, or install their preferred applications. Giving them choices is not going to make them happy, it only serves to cause more headache and user frustration. They want something that works out of the box! Plug and play is not just a bad motto, it is the average PC userís mantra.

Price, Quality, Availability, Security, Simplicity, Interoperability and Ease of Use
The idea of choice is part of the bedrock of open source. But open source also wants to replace Microsoft on the desktop, or at least make a serious dent in Microsoft's dominance. To do that, the open source community must recognize that its primary goals (freedom of choice, freedom of source code, and freedom to alter applications) are not the goals of the average user.

Choice, to most users, is the ability to choose any application they wish and have it install and run the first time, every time, with no problems or conflicts with already installed applications. The average user does not want to deal with altering path statements; editing configuration files; facing a command prompt; and having to compile any source code; create any makefiles, or any other programming task that seems daunting, complicated or cumbersome.

They don't care that they can't see or change the source code to their current programs. They don't care that they don't actually own the software, as long as they only have to pay for it once. They don't care that most of their software comes from a single source. In short, they don't care about the fundamental issues behind open source software at all. However, they do care about price, quality, availability, security, simplicity, and ease of use. Supply these, and open source will be the software choice.

Many Windows supporters argued that the open source community has provided products aimed at power users, hobbyists, and centralized IT departments, almost completely ignoring the masses. Many Linux supporters argue that the public should be educated to value software choice and to see Microsoft's impositions and removal of choice for what it is. The argument that Linux is strictly a specialized or utility Operating System does not hold water anymore. More and more we are finding that major software providers such as Adobe or Corel are creating versions of their software to run on either Windows or Linux. Almost every computer manufacturer has its own version of Linux available to the public. Hardware manufacturers now include Linux and Windows drivers for their products. Even gaming companies are creating games for both Windows and Linux.

The Choice is YOURS!Thankfully, we live in a world not controlled by Bill Gates or Linus Torvalds. We can choose the operating systems we want to use. Choosing the system that is best for you is as simple as asking yourself a few simple questions.
Do you want to configure every part of your OS or GUI?
Do you want to stop or start any process or application without interference from the OS?
Do you want to set your environment paths and variables?
Do you want a system that does not require rebooting with every OS change or application install?
Do you want complete access to your operating kernel to change settings at whim or will?
Do you want a more stable OS?
If you answered yes to most of the questions, maybe Linux is for you.
Do you want to walk into any store and buy software that will work with your PC?
Do you want all your software to act the same?
Do you want an easy to use OS?
Do you an OS that is supported by almost every PC repair technician in the world?
Do you want to a PC that looks and acts like everyone elseís?
Do you want to never worry about the nuts and bolts of your OS and just have it work?
If you answered yes to most of the questions, maybe Windows or the MAC OS is for you.
Whatever you choose, the choice is yours.

Happy Computing.