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The decision to choose a new operating system for a Windows OS user is definitely a tough one. In fact, there are many users out there who are totally unaware of the availability of other operating systems in the market. However, things are beginning to change, thanks in no small part to the increasing popularity of smart-phones and tablet PCs.
Perhaps, the most rivals to the Windows operating system are Linux and the Mac OS X. While it is a well known fact that Mac fans are very passionate about their chosen OS, there are certain points that speak well for Linux and may convince the neutral observer that the Linux OS may actually be better than the Mac OS X. Here are a few points to consider if you are about to decide on a replacement for the Windows OS.
Customisable
Virtually everything in Linux is customisable and configurable. For example, users can change the Ubuntu’s desktop from GNOME to KDE, etc. While the average user might not like to be able to customise their OS, it can provide a great experience for developers.
Hardware
Like Windows, the Mac OS X requires the latest hardware to function efficiently. However, Linux can run normally on virtually any hardware. There are actually distributions of Linux that are designed for very limited computing environments such as Puppy Linux and Damn Small Linux.
Security
When it comes to security, Mac does not appear to attract a lot of hackers hence its lower rate of malicious attacks when compared to the Windows OS. However, Linux takes security to a different level. Linux users do not automatically have administrator access thus viruses cannot automatically compromise all system files and programs. Furthermore, its open-source status allows constant examination of codes by users worldwide which results in quicker find and fix of vulnerabilities. A recent study from Secunia found Apple to possess more security vulnerabilities associated with its products than even Windows. Read full report here.
Reliability
This is one of the biggest pluses of the Linux OS and perhaps explains why it is the number one choice of servers for many hosting providers due to its significantly low system crashes and downtime when compared to other operating systems.
Cost
Ultimately, Linux is free while Mac is highly priced. While no operating system is perfect, perhaps Linux is worth giving a try the next time you are looking to switch operating systems.
Talking Point
Which is your preferred operating system – Windows, Linux, Mac or Other, and why?