Which one is faster linux or windows

11 Reasons Why Linux Is Better Than Windows

Last updated September 21, 2020 By Ankush Das 609 Comments

Brief: Are you wondering if Linux is better than Windows? Don’t wonder. Linux is better than Windows and in this article, we’ll see the advantages of Linux over Windows.

If you are not a power user, it might seem that “Windows” OS is a better (or easier) choice when compared to Linux. In either case, if you are not enjoying using a Linux distro then Windows would be your obvious choice.

However, in reality, we tend to experience something different, which lets us jump to the conclusion where Linux gets the edge over Windows OS.

Advantages of Linux over Windows

In this article, we will take a look at 11 of the compelling reasons why Linux is better than Windows. Some of the points mentioned here are already discussed in our earlier article on why switch to Linux.

1. Open Source Nature

What is it like when you buy a car, but you cannot see what’s under the hood? Similar is the case with when you use a Windows-powered system.

However, in contrast, Linux is completely an open source project. You can have a look at the source code of a Linux OS, which is a plus.

I know, most people don’t care about this openness of Linux, but to me, this is the most important feature of using GNU/Linux.

2. Secure

Let’s face it; Windows OS is vulnerable to different types of attacks (or hacks). However, Linux is not as vulnerable as Windows. It sure isn’t invulnerable, but it is a lot more secure. Although, there’s no rocket science in it.

It is just the way Linux works that makes it a secure operating system. Overall, the process of package management, the concept of repositories, and a couple more features makes it possible for Linux to be more secure than Windows.

When you have Windows installed, you need to download/purchase an Antivirus program to keep your computer safe from hackers and malware. However, Linux does not require the use of such Anti-Virus programs. Of course, a couple of software tools still exist to help you keep your system free from threats, but it is often unnecessary when you have a Linux system.

Being secure by nature would make things easier for you and save money as well because you will not have to get a premium Antivirus software!

3. Can revive older computers

As the operating systems evolve, so do their hardware requirements increase exponentially. For instance, if you purchase a genuine copy of Windows 10, you will have to meet the minimum hardware requirements to run it successfully, and you cannot run it on just about any low-end system.

Nevertheless, with Linux, you could even utilize one of your oldest computer systems to achieve a task. However, that does not mean that every Linux distribution would work with 256 MB of RAM coupled with an outdated processor. However, there are options which you can install on such low-end systems as well (such as Puppy Linux).

So, being an efficient OS, Linux distributions could be fitted to a range of systems (low-end or high-end). In contrast, Windows operating system has a higher hardware requirement.

Overall, even if you compare a high-end Linux system and a high-end Windows-powered system, the Linux distribution would take the edge. Well, that is the reason most of the servers across the world prefer to run on Linux than on a Windows hosting environment.

4. Perfect For Programmers

Linux supports almost all of the major programming languages (Python, C/C++, Java, Perl, Ruby, etc.). Moreover, it offers a vast range of applications useful for programming purposes.

The Linux terminal is superior to use over Window’s command line for developers. You would find many libraries developed natively for Linux. Also, a lot of programmers point out that the package manager on Linux helps them get things done easily.

Interestingly, the ability of bash scripting is also one of the most compelling reasons why programmers prefer using Linux OS.

Linux also brings in native support for SSH, which would help you manage your servers quickly. You could include things like apt commands which further makes Linux one of the most popular choices of the programmers.

5. Software Updates

Microsoft pushes a software update when it receives a set of problems or if something major needs to be fixed. And, for this reason — your system potentially breaks with an update or you end up waiting for an update to fix your issue for a significant amount of time.

I’m sure if you have a Windows-powered system for a long time, you may have encountered issues with every update.

However, with Linux, you would observe software updates to address every little bug and most of which isn’t system-breaking if you’re using an LTS version of a distribution.

So, with Linux, you will notice more effective and faster updates to fix the problems you might be facing. That’s not the case with Windows.

6. Customization

One major advantage of using Linux instead of Windows is customization. If you like tweaking your system’s looks, Linux is just perfect for you.

Apart from installing themes, you have tons of beautiful icon themes. In addition to that, you can use Conky to display system information on the desktop in the coolest way possible. Needless to say that you can do a lot around Wallpapers in Linux.

7. Variety Of Distributions

There are no flavors of Windows. Yes, you may have different plans & packages which differ in licensing terms, the period of activation, packaged features, and price.

In contrast, you will find tons of Linux distributions catered for a different set of needs. So, you can choose to install any of the available Linux distros according to your requirements.

For example, there are Linux distributions for hackers, there are Linux distributions for programmers, there are Linux distributions for extremely old computers, and the list goes on. There is a Linux for everyone.

If you’re curious, you might want to learn what is Linux to know why there are 100s of Linux distributions.

8. Free to Use

Linux is accessible to the public for free! However, that is not the case with Windows!

You will not have to pay 100-250 USD to get your hands on a genuine copy of a Linux distro (such as Ubuntu, Fedora). So, it is entirely free.

If something is free but useful, it is always the best thing one could expect. With the money you just saved, you can consider enhancing your system (just saying, you can go to Starbucks as well!)

9. Better Community Support

You do not need to hire an expert to solve a problem you are facing on your Linux system. You just need to search for a similar thread on the web for a solution or post a thread to let others solve the problem.

Within minutes of posting a thread on any of the Linux forums, you may expect a reply along with a detailed solution which would finally help resolve your problem at no cost! Not to forget, you should find solutions to most of the common problems in the forums properly explained without needing to do a lot of research.

There are a lot of active Linux users who are always ready to respond to a relevant thread one might have created. The number of community users active on such forums is more than the number of active members on any Windows-focused forum.

However, the community response might vary depending on the Linux distribution being used. You can also reach out for help through our community forum.

10. Reliability

Windows, as we know it, becomes sluggish day after day. You will want to re-install Windows after a while when you encounter crashes or slowdowns on your system.

If you are using Linux, you will not have to worry about re-installing it just to experience a faster and a smoother system. Linux helps your system run smooth for a longer period (in fact, much longer!).

Also, with Windows, you will have to adapt to a habit where you keep on rebooting the system for just about everything.

• If you just installed software, reboot!
• If you recently uninstalled software, reboot!
• If you just installed a Windows update, reboot!
• If the system seems to slow down, reboot!

However, in the case of Linux, you will not have to reboot for the situations mentioned above. You can comfortably continue with your work, and Linux will not bother you.

Another fact that proves Linux to be reliable are the web servers. You could observe that most of the Internet giants like Google and Facebook run on Linux. Even almost all of the supercomputers run on Linux.

So, Why isn’t Windows preferred over Linux for mission-critical tasks? It is because Linux is far more reliable than Windows OS. Period.

Of course, it doesn’t mean Linux does not have issues. But, if we look at the bigger picture, Linux is reliable by design. If you consider trying any of the Linux distribution for your computer, you might want to try Pop OS (my personal favorite) or any of the best Linux distributions we have listed.

11. Privacy

Microsoft certainly tries to anonymize the data collected from every user. However, it does not look convincing with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10. It has already received an enormous amount of criticism of how it collects data, what it should collect and what it should not.

If you have ever used Windows 10, you could only head into the privacy settings to know that everything is enabled by default. Even if you opt out to send Microsoft information about your data, it is still being collected. Of course, Microsoft will not bother revealing it officially with a press statement, but it surely does. So, you would need a set of tools to disable the spying modules of Windows.

In contrast, Linux would be the perfect solution for a privacy buff. First of all, Linux distributions do not collect much data (or none). Moreover, you will not be needing additional tools to protect your privacy.

Do you also think Linux is better than Windows?

Now that you know the advantages of using Linux instead of Windows, what do you think?

If you’re still going to keep using Windows as your primary OS, what reason could you think of choosing it over Linux? If you’ve already made the switch, and using Linux, what more benefits do you observe?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Like what you read? Please share it with others.

Источник

Why Linux is faster than Windows

We expose some of the reasons why a user of Windows you will notice a diferencia important to your hardware performance when moving to Linux.

It is not a question here of defending extreme positions, nor of irrational fanaticism. On the contrary, we expose some of the issues that every new Linux user notices soon after.

Table of Contents

Why Linux runs lighter from the start

Whoever didn’t have a virus on their Windows ever raise their hand. Nobody? Well, not even the most daring of hackers would dare to use Windows without the corresponding antivirus and antimalware installed. Actually, probably said hacker don’t use Windows, but that’s another story. The point is that all antivirus and antimalware scans any file that one opens or executes, which has a direct impact on system performance. It is enough to uninstall the antivirus to realize how much faster everything goes.

Linux, as everyone knows, practically does not suffer from viruses or malware, so an antivirus is not necessary.

In Windows, each application manages its update system separately. This implies that, in the best of cases, there will be different processes, one for each application, verifying if the programs in question need to be updated. In the worst case, there will be no automatic update available and the programs will have to be updated manually.

Although Linux distributions have different policies for updating their packages and this causes some to have certain updates beforehand, they all share the idea of ​​a centralized library from which to manage the update system, and not just the packages that make the internals of the system but also of the desktop applications. This represents a significant saving of system resources.

An automatic Linux installation usually creates at least 3 partitions:

1. / (root) with all programs and settings. It would be C: with Program Files and Windows.

2. / home with personal files and settings. It would be the Windows Documents and Settings.

3. swap, an exclusive partition that works as virtual memory. This Windows does in a sad file normally located in the root of the system, which affects the defragmentation of the hard disk.

We are all root

Although today almost all versions of Windows allow the restriction of privileges for the installation of programs, the usual thing in home Windows installations is that the installation of programs does not require administrator privileges or, in other words, that the only user created is the administrator so the password is not required to perform potentially dangerous tasks for the system.

In Linux, on the other hand, all distributions force to differentiate the «common» user from the administrator and although the former may be granted temporary administrator privileges (through sudo), for this the corresponding password will always be required .

These greater limitations to perform potentially harmful tasks for the system end up implying greater security, but also greater system stability. Likewise, it puts a brake on the uncontrolled installation of new applications, with the respective saving of system resources that this implies.

In Windows some common functions and variables are stored in .DLL files (Dynamic Link Libraries). Its advantages include the possibility of reducing the size of executable files, of sharing their content between different applications, of facilitating their flexibility and extension and, finally, of facilitating the use of system resources.

However, the repetition of DLLs or the use of different versions by programs is very common. In this way, something that is conceptually beneficial ends up turning into hell. To such an extent that sometimes the duplicated DLLs are not just libraries but a complete framework, such as .NET. How many times did you discover that you had several versions of .NET installed at the same time because a program required one and another required one?

On Linux, on the other hand, this rarely happens. This is due, among other things, to the centralized system for installing libraries and programs that all distributions have and its elaborate system of dependencies that makes duplication of libraries or programs almost non-existent.

WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get)

Although this phrase is used to describe another aspect of Windows programs, it can be used to describe the system as a whole. When we purchase a Windows license, we obtain permission to use it under certain conditions. Not only that, but what they allow us to use is a closed package: there is no way to change the desktop environment if it is «heavy» for the limited hardware that we have. «What you see is what you have»; if you like it well and but also.

In Linux, on the other hand, you can change absolutely everything. This means that there are desktop environments, window managers, kernels and even applications adapted to each need. There are even distributions or «flavors» that bring all of this together in different ways and allow Linux to be used on limited hardware. This allows flexibility that Windows does not have. On the contrary, the new versions of Windows demand more and more hardware resources that force users to incur unnecessary expenses to renew it.

Why Windows gets even slower over time

An operating system is supposed to allow the user to interact with the hardware used, in our case, a computer. This interaction is carried out through drivers and programs. It is logical, then, that a good operating system allows you to install and uninstall programs without affecting the performance of the operating system, right? Well, that is NOT what happens in Windows.

Precisely, in Windows, anyone knows that at the beginning everything goes more or less fast but after a while the machine begins to walk increasingly slower. This is not by chance and, above all, IT IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE FAULT OF THE USER because, as we said before, even if you have installed all the crap that you can think of, there are also «systemic» reasons for the decrease in system performance. For example…

Hard drive defragmentation

Possibly the biggest reason for the performance drop has to do with hard drive defragmentation. It is one of the problems that Windows has always had, and more specifically, the file system it uses: previously FAT and FAT32, today NTFS and with the arrival of Windows 8, ReFS.

Over time, and the creation of new information, new files, etc. These end up scattered on the disk, making it take longer and longer for the hard disk hardware to access them and consequently slowing down the system. Needless to say, the most affected files are usually those of Windows itself, which is constantly accessing and overwriting them.

On Linux, by contrast, you can choose from a plethora of file types, although EXT4 is generally used today.

The EXT4 file system also causes fragmentation just like NTFS, FAT32, or other file systems. However, the EXT4 block allocation algorithm works more efficiently and therefore fragmentation in Linux will always be infinitely less . seriously.

The Windows Registry

The Windows registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options in Windows.

The kernel, device drivers, services, SAM, user interface make use of the registry and, to make matters worse, also third-party applications, which many times write data as they please in this database, fragmenting it and filling it with useless information that in some cases even runs into it. This obviously has an impact on performance.

On Linux, there is no comparable Registry. In general, program settings are stored in configuration files. This «decentralized» strategy not only does not saturate a single Registry but also greatly facilitates the removal of these settings when uninstalling programs.

Background services and applications

Software installation often buries new code at system startup without our consent or «hidden» from the user.

In addition, many of these programs remain in memory, either as a service or as background processes. From viruses to program or system update agents.

In Linux, although there are also applications that run in the background or at system startup, these are much fewer and they are also easier to distinguish, deactivate, block and / or uninstall.

In Windows there is an infinity of hidden software, especially extensions for browsers but also other types of applications linked to the monitoring or control of users, whether this is done by a company with a more justified appearance (Microsoft controlling that Windows is not «pirate» for example) or other types of software related to malware, viruses, etc. and that tend to abound in the Windows work environment.

Fortunately, free software predominates in Linux, which implies, among many other things, the non-existence of hidden software.

Why Linux is slower than Windows

Just as we argue that Linux is ahead of Windows in almost all aspects that affect not only the security and stability of the system but also its performance, we must be equally clear when admitting that there are some situations in which Windows has the upper hand.

Specifically, the proprietary video drivers are not up to the standard of Windows. Bad for the makers of those cards. Also, free drivers have even lower performance, but in that case there is nothing more to praise for the developers who make the drivers «blindly» through reverse engineering. It is truly a miracle that we have free drivers.

Still, in this regard, Windows still has the upper hand. Maybe it’s the only one I can think of right now. However, it is worth clarifying that this is an advantage that Microsoft has been able to take due to its monopoly position and due to its agreements with hardware manufacturers.

Also, in recent times there have been great advances in video drivers for Linux, driven by the impressive growth of Android (which is based on the Linux kernel) and the news of the launch of Steam for Linux, which prompted several companies to announce the development of video games for that platform.

The content of the article adheres to our principles of editorial ethics. To report an error click here!.

Full path to article: From Linux » FileLet’s UseLinux » Why Linux is faster than Windows

Источник