This article will discuss the Universe Inform differences between the Linux and Windows operating software; we discuss some of the pros and cons of each system. Let us first start with a general overview of the Linux operating system. Linux, in its most basic form, is a computer kernel. The Kernel is the underlying computer code used to communicate with hardware and other system software; it also runs all of the basic functions of the computer My True Care. The Linux Kernel is an operating system.

Which runs on a wide variety of hardware and for various purposes. Linux can run on devices as simple as a wristwatch or a cell phone. Still, it can also run on a home computer using, for example, Intel or AMD processors, and it’s even capable of running on high-end servers using Sun Sparc CPUs or IBM Power PC processors. Some Linux distros can only run one processor, while others can run many simultaneously.

Windows

Common uses for Linux include a home desktop computing system or, more commonly, for a server application, such as a web server or mail server. You can even use Linux as a dedicated firewall to help protect other machines on the same network. A programmer student named Linus Torvalds first made Linux as a variant of the Unix operating system in 1991. Linus Torvalds created Linux open-source with the GNU (GPL) (General Public License), so other programmers could download the source code free of charge and alter it any way they see fit. Thousands of coders worldwide began downloading and modifying the Linux source code, applying patches.

Bug fixes and other improvements to make the OS better and better. Over the years, Linux has gone from a simple text-based clone of Unix to powerful operating software with full-featured desktop environments, unprecedented portability, and various uses. Most original Unix code has been gradually written out of Linux. As a result of Linux being open-source software, there is no one version of Linux; instead, there are many different versions or distributions of Linux suited for various

users and tasks. Some Distributions of Linux include Gentoo and Slackware, which, due to the lack of a complete graphical environment, is best suited for Linux experts, programmers, and other users who know their way around a command prompt. Distributions that lack a visual background are best suited for older computers lacking the processing power necessary to process graphics or for computers performing processor-intensive tasks. It is desirable to have all system resources focused on the task at hand rather than wasting resources by processing pictures.

Other Linux distributions aim at making the computing experience as easy as possible. Distributions such as Ubuntu or Linspire make Linux far easier to use by offering full-featured graphical environments that help eliminate the need for a command prompt. Of course, the downside of ease of use is less configurability and wasted system resources on graphics processing. Other distributions, like Suse, try to find common ground between ease of use and configurability.

“Linux has two parts; they include the Kernel mentioned previously, and in most circumstances, it will also include a graphical user interface, which runs atop the Kernel” reference #3. In most cases, the user will communicate with the computer via the graphical user interface. (ref #6) Some of the more common graphical environments that can run on Linux include the following. The KDE GUI (Graphical user interface). Matthias Ettrich developed KDE in 1996. He wanted a GUI for the Unix desktop to make all applications look and feel alike. He also wanted a desktop environment for Unix that would be easier to

use than the ones available. KDE is a free, open-source project, with millions of coders working on it worldwide, but it also has some commercial support from Novell, Trolltech, and Mandriva. KDE aims to make an easy-to-use desktop environment without sacrificing configurability. Windows users might note that KDE has a similar look to Windows. Another popular GUI is (ref #7) GNOME. GNOME puts a heavy emphasis on simplicity and user ability. Much like KDE, GNOME is open source and is free to download. One notable feature of GNOME is the fact that it supports many different

languages; GNOME supports over 100 different languages. Gnome is licensed under the LGPL license (lesser general public license). The license allows applications written for GNOME to use a much wider set of licenses, including some commercial applications. The name GNOME stands for GNU Network object model environment. GNOME’s look and feel are similar to that of other desktop environments. Fluxbox is another example of a Linux GUI. Fluxbox aims to be a very lightweight and more efficient use of system resources with less emphasis on ease of use and eye candy. The interface has only a taskbar and a menu bar, accessed by right-clicking over the desktop. Fluxbox is most popular for use with older computers that have a limited abundance of system resources.

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