by Megan Carmody

Created on: January 28, 2007   Last Updated: October 23, 2009

The open source community, and the operating systems it has generated, has been around a long time - at least 15 years since the first Linux kernel was released in 1991. However, it has not been widely used beyond so called geek circles until recent years. With the increase of cost, concern over invasive and poorly protected software, and global economic concern, consumers are taking advantage of the more widely supported and readly available open source community, particularly with Linux distrubitions. The question now arises in said consumers' heads: which is right for me?

First, a short comparison between Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

The operating system (OS) is the core of a computer. It is what allows a user to take advantage of the hardware inside of it, organize files, and access applications. Both Windows and Linux offer a file system that keeps everything organized and available, driver support for communicating with periphriels such as printers, and a user-friendly Graphical User Interface, or GUI, which allows a user to communicate with the computer with pretty boxes rather than lines of text. Microsoft Windows takes advantage of proprietary software which cannot be edited by anyone other than the originating company. This software also often does not allow the user to change very many settings so that specific results may be acheived. Linux, however, is entirely open sorce, which means that any person who so chooses can view and edit the source code, or the programming that actually makes the thing work. The user can make minute or large changes to this code to his or her desire. This is not possible on the Windows platform.

Another difference lies in security. With all the computer viruses, worms, spyware, and adware out there today, infections are a concern for every comptuer user, not just those with large networks to protect. Microsoft Windows has many holes available in it for these infections to slip through. Also, because the majority of computer users do use Microsoft Windows, these infections are often written specifically to take advantage of these security holes. Without an added firewall, generally in both a router and the computer itself, and anti-virus and spyware protection software, a comptuer is exteremely vunerable to attack.

Partially because of the opoen source community, and partially because of the design of Linux itself, it does not have so many problems with security. The open source community works constantly

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