WINDOWS V/S LINUX

Now that everyone has had time to examine
Windows 10, it seems like a good time to finally
do a proper Windows vs. Linux showdown. After
all, I waited until Windows caught up in turns of
features and user interface. For the sake of
common sense, I've decided to use Ubuntu as
our default Linux release.
In this article, I'll hammer out the features for
both platforms and compare them accordingly.
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses,
and this article will help to shed some light on
each of them. The installation of the operating
system
Both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux have straight
forward OS installers. Simply follow the prompts
as they're presented to you
INSTALLATION
Installing Ubuntu: Ubuntu's installer generally
points you to either installing their OS along side
of an existing OS or installing over an existing
Ubuntu install. The steps are simple if you
already have another operating system installed.
But if you're looking to install Ubuntu over an
existing Ubuntu installation, keeping your docs,
settings and pictures require you to take one of
the following approaches.
Option one, use Ubuntu's backup tool before you
install Ubuntu again. Option two, during the
installation process, select "something else" to
manually select which partitions are to be
formatted. Obviously if Ubuntu is being installed
on a new hard drive, this is a moot issue and a
clean "Erase and install Ubuntu" option is
perfectly acceptable. Personally, I always go with
the "Something else" installation type. I prefer a
dedicated home directory, which this option
makes possible during partition setup.
One of the nice things about the Ubuntu
installation is that you're asked if you'd like to
Encrypt your installation. In addition, a Logical
Volume Manager (LVM) option is also presented.
This makes resizing partitions in the future much
easier, thanks to snapshots.
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Installing Windows 10: While technically possible
to install Windows 10 and Ubuntu along side of
one another, Windows' is famous for killing off
GRUB, Ubuntu's boot manager in the process.
Therefore the preferred method has always been
to install Windows first, then to install Ubuntu
there after. Long story short, Windows doesn't
truly play nice with Ubuntu on the same machine
by default. You'll have to take steps to protect
your Ubuntu installation if you wish to use both
operating systems.
During a Windows 10 installation, the installer
does a nice job of recognizing that you might
wish to save your docs, settings and pictures.
Instead of expecting you to have created a
dedicated home partition or using a backup utility
ahead of time, Windows 10 provides an option to
backup this information on the fly. While it's not
a feature I personally would rely on, casual
computer users will benefit from this feature.
Instead of a LVM feature, Windows 10 uses
Storage Spaces for their server release.
However, I'm not clear if this is the case for
their typical desktop releases as they haven't
released officially yet. Assuming this will be
provided, it will offer a LVM-like experience for
Windows 10 users.
What's interesting about Windows vs. Ubuntu, is
that Windows (as of 8.1) provides encryption by
default. Ubuntu, on the other hand, feels their
users can best make this decision themselves.
Will Windows 10 also have encryption turned on
by default? My best guess is that it will in its
final released version(s). And as most of us
know, encryption is great until you're unable to
recover lost files. With Windows we're asking
Microsoft to hold onto our encryption keys where
as with Ubuntu, it's left in our own capable
hands.
Windows 10 wins with its ability to easily protect
and restore user data during a clean installation.
However I feel they lose credibility with their
encryption due to Microsoft's involvement with
various federal agencies. Looking at the desktop
GRAPHICS AND DESKTOP
Ubuntu: After installing Ubuntu, you're presented
with your desktop and the Unity launcher. On the
left, is the Launcher itself and the Dash. At the
top of the screen, you'll find your various
indicators. When an icon on the Launcher is
clicked, that application is immediately launched.
One thing that can take new Ubuntu users by
surprise is how Unity lays things out with
launched applications. Software appears as
"launched" in the Launcher instead of appearing
"minimized" at the bottom of the screen. Other
new experiences for the non-Ubuntu user include
using the Dash for locating applications,
documents and other files. Perhaps the biggest
shift for the newcomer would be the use of
Lenses. Each lens offers different functionality.
For example, a social lens would allow its users
to parse content from connected social media
sources.
Applications included with Ubuntu are carefully
selected, like with any operating system. The
idea is to make sure the end user has the basic
applications needed to accomplish common
tasks. These applications range from browsing
the web to a completely free office suite.
Additional applications can be found for Ubuntu
through the Software Center, the Personal
Package Archive (PPA) system and through
other third party sources.
Windows 10: With Windows 10 installed,
immediately you find that the release is
struggling to let go of its Windows 8 roots.
Whether or not this is a bad thing is entirely a
personal perspective.
First thing you'll notice is how the Start menu is
setup. At its core, I think it's an interesting idea.
Blending Windows tiles with a traditional menu
layout is definitely going to stir strong opinions.
Also new is the push for Microsoft Office Online.
The idea here is to bridge the gap between a
localized Office experience and that of one that's
web based. With regard to the full version of
Office 2016, the cost for this suite remains a
mystery.
The next item to note is the Windows Store. Like
the Ubuntu Software Center, you can download
both free and paid applications to be installed
onto your desktop. Unfortunately for Ubuntu, the
Windows Store looks far more polished than the
dated Ubuntu Software Center. That said, I am
not really that pleased about the "tile everything"
approach Windows 10 takes with its newly
installed software.
In the end, Microsoft wins hands down with the
Windows Store, whereas Ubuntu wins with its
overall desktop experience – no tiles, less "color
splash" distracting the user. As for office suite
offerings, it's a bit of a tie. I prefer the
LibreOffice suite and its locally installed
applications. However, if Microsoft ever wises up
and begins offering its "full" office suite to users,
vs. it's stripped down version, this point could
also go to Microsoft. Deep concerns and closing
thoughts
I'll be honest. From a visual point of view, I'm
not a fan of the new Windows layout. While it's
far better than previous releases, it's still not for
me. Unfortunately, though, my opinion alone isn't
going to sway anyone from avoiding this release.
OTHER
The first issue is that it's going to be a free
upgrade for a lot of Windows users. This means
the barrier to entry and upgrade is largely
removed. Second, it seems this time Microsoft
has really buckled down on listening to what their
users want. Many of the new features have
allegedly been due to Windows feedback.
As things stand now, I see the following
motivators being Ubuntu's best shot at wooing
away folks from Windows going forward.
Privacy – Even if there are concerns about Unity
Lenses and data collection, this is easily
remedied by using an alternative desktop
environment. Windows, by contrast, has a horrid
track record in this department.
Security – Despite recent improvements with
Windows security, it's still the biggest desktop
target on the web with regard to attacks. This
won't be changing any time soon. Linux by
contrast, has a fantastic desktop security track
record.
Hardware support – This is always disputed, no
matter how many times I mention it. But the fact
is, when you bother to include older peripherals
and hardware, Linux still outshines Windows all
day long in terms of hardware support. Try
running anything from the XP era on your
Windows 10 desktop, let me know how good the
driver support is. Under Ubuntu, it just works.
Window's only advantage is having an edge with
smoother graphics drivers.
Does this mean that Ubuntu Linux and other
distros are doomed? Nope, especially when you
jump out of the Apple/Microsoft echo chamber
that is the United States. Linux desktop adoption
is exploding all over the world. So while
Microsoft continues their hold on the market here
in the States, the rest of the world is already
moving on.
To further illustrate my point: Refer back to my
article on the Secret to Desktop Linux Adoption?
As anticipated, the naysayers had ample reasons
why techs would not only never participate, but
to do so would translate into lost revenue.
Besides being completely misinformed, I fear the
greater point was missed as well. The article
was quite clear in stating Windows AND Linux,
not just Linux. To not offer a better-suited
solution to someone struggling with Windows is
irresponsible at best. It's unfortunate more
people don't realize this.
Folks, depending on malware removal as a
revenue source is a dated, faltering business
model. As Windows 10 rolls out, I think we're
going to start seeing greater evidence of this.
It's already putting countless local repair shops
out of business. The mailing lists I subscribe to
are quite clear on this. Mobile, tablets and OS X
are changing the industry.
Therefore once you realize your "malware
removal" customers are already on their way out,
wouldn't it make sense to adapt? Techs offering
Ubuntu support as a service is not only profitable
(I know of three companies doing well with it),
this approach is the ONLY thing that would get
the United States to catch up with the rest of
the world in terms of desktop Linux adoption.
Ubuntu and other distros are ready for the
desktop now. I have people running these
environments all day, everyday. As a community,
we need to get on the page with this now or
accept that Windows has already won. I know
where I stand, based on years of personal
experience with clients and converts. Where do
you stand? Are you part of the solution? Perhaps
instead, you hold onto the farce that "Linux is
hard" because you're unwilling to become the
bridge of support others need to make the
switch? What say you? Hit the Comments section
to sound off.