1.2.5 COMPARATIVE STUDY

WINDOWS vs LINUX

#1: Full access vs. no access

Having access to the source code is probably the single most significant difference between Linux and Windows. The fact that Linux belongs to the GNU Public License ensures that users (of all sorts) can access (and alter) the code to the very kernel that serves as the foundation of the Linux operating system.

#2: Licensing freedom vs. licensing restrictions

Along with access comes the difference between the licenses. With a Linux GPL-licensed operating system, you are free to modify that software and use and even republish or sell it. With the Microsoft license, you can do none of the above.

#3: Online peer support vs. paid help-desk support

With Linux, you have the support of a huge community via forums, online search, and plenty of dedicated Web sites.  There are just as many help sites/lists/forums for Windows as there are for Linux. And you can purchase support from Microsoft itself.

#4: Full vs. partial hardware support

One issue that is slowly becoming nonexistent is hardware support. Years ago, if you wanted to install Linux on a machine you had to make sure you hand-picked each piece of hardware or your installation would not work 100 percent.

With Windows, you know that most every piece of hardware will work with the operating system.

#5: Command line vs. no command line

No matter how far the Linux operating system has come and how amazing the desktop environment becomes, the command line will always be an invaluable tool for administration purposes. You can still use the command line with Windows, but not nearly to the extent as with Linux.

#6: Centralized vs. noncentralized application installation

With Linux you have a centralized location where you can search for, add, or remove software ( package management systems, such as Synaptic). Windows has nothing like this. With Windows, you must know where to find the software you want to install, download the software (or put the CD into your machine), and run setup.exe or install.exe with a simple double-click.

#7: Flexibility vs. rigidity

Linux and Windows can be compared w.r.t. a room where the floor and ceiling are either movable or not. With Linux, you have a room where the floor and ceiling can be raised or lowered, at will, as high or low as you want to make them. With Windows, that floor and ceiling are immovable. You can't go further than Microsoft has deemed it necessary to go.

#8: Multilayered run levels vs. a single-layered run level

With Windows, you're lucky to get to a command line via safe mode -- and then you may or may not have the tools you need to fix the problem. In Linux, even in run level 3, you can still get and install a tool to help you out

 

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WINDOWS vs ANDROID

Android is an open source, free, Linux-based operating system for smart phones and tablets. The system was designed and developed by Android Inc., which was funded and later purchased by Google in 2005.

            Windows phone is a series of proprietary software developed and marketed by Microsoft Corporation. Windows Phone is a closed-sourced, which means that it is solely developed by the company and protected by copyright. The company offers a bunch of new features compared to the older Windows Mobile OS.

 

	Android	Windows Phone
Company/ Developer	Google	Microsoft
Programmed in	Java, C, C++	C, C++
OS family	Unix-like	Windows
Initial release	September 23, 2008	October 21, 2010
Supported platforms	ARM, MIPS, x86, I.MX	x86
License	Apache License 2.0 Linux kernel patches under GNU GPL v2	Commercial proprietary software
Default user interface	Graphical (Multi-touch)	Graphical (Metro UI)
Working state	Current	Current
Source model	Open source software	Closed-source
Updates	Updates are provided by different parties in the consortium.	Updates are only done by Microsoft.
Applications	Applications are created by an open community of developers.	Applications are created by tie up companies and Microsoft.
Touch style	Capacitive technology	Capacitive technology
Offers native support for	Google Sync for Gmail, Contacts, and Google Calendar.	Mail, Exchange, Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Windows Market, etc.
Number of applications	Over 700,000 applications	Limited number of applications.
Language support	Multiple language support	Multiple language support