by Lam Luu

Created on: May 18, 2009

Windows vs. GNU/Linux is a great debate: it is about more than just a comparison between 2 operating systems (OS). Indeed, it is about two ways of development, support, and usage of software. One side is the proprietary system, created and headed by Microsoft, and on the hand is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), first started by Richard Stallman, then grew into a large movement (with 2 sub-movements, Free and Open Source).

Thus, comparing two OS does not do enough justice for either. To see what to use, we need to have a view over how a person can survive in each world. Trying to compare just the OS will leave out so many holes that switchers from one world to another will surely be (unpleasantly) surprised by.

Here, I will try to do a bird-view but overall comparison of these two worlds, with focus on the OS representing them: MS Windows and GNU/Linux. I will also focus on personal computer, not server or workstation.

A. Ease of Use: How easy it is to use your computer, and how beautiful your computer can be.

1. Interface: OS interface, bare and simple
Believe it or not, GNU/Linux generally has better interface than MS Windows. Studies have proven again and again that a person learns GNOME (one popular GNU/Linux interface) faster than any Windows' interface (first, 98 -> GNOME was found easier than 98 -> XP; then XP -> GNOME is easier than XP -> Vista). This, of course, ONLY TAKE IN ACCOUNT WITH TRAINING AND WITHOUT FAMILIARITY

2. Being familiar: how used to you are to an interface
Windows, obviously, wins landslide here. Worldwide, no less than 80% of users know and use Windows. In the US, pump that number to 90%. Remember, the pixels on the screen is NOT the only thing to be familiar with. It is also about layout of the directories/folders, how things are organized and configured, how software is installed etc. Windows has stuffs like File Explorer, Control Panel, setup.exe, etc. These don't have direct counterpart in GNU/Linux. Instead GNU/Linux usually have a collection of configurators, software management program, community repositories, etc. These concepts are unfamiliar with Windows users, who make up the majority of computer users.

3. Diversity and Personalization: number of interface choices and how easy to customize the interface
GNU/Linux wins landslide. This has two sides, obviously. On one hand, users can trivially customize their interfaces, and personalize their computing experience, fit to their own needs and likes. However, on the

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