Used in place of Windows, Linux is an alternative operating system that many people utilize. Although it’s best known by computer programmers and other techies, anyone can learn how to use it. Linux isn’t the first choice for everyone and it really depends upon what type of daily routines that you have and why you need to use it. This article was written to give you the information necessary to choose between Linux or Windows for an OS.

The biggest advantage that Windows offers over Linux is how easy it is to use. This is simply because Microsoft has managed to become the most popular operating system in the world by far. So the vast majority of programs and applications out there are designed to work on Windows operating systems. If you are a gamer, for example, it’s very likely that you will need a Windows based computer to play the games that you like the best. Even though there are some ways to run Windows based applications on Linux, this requires quite a lot more technological know-how and effort than just running them on a PC that already has Windows installed on it. This makes Windows a better choice for a casual computer user who only wants to run the programs that are the most popular.

When it comes to finding help when you need it, some users may find Windows is more reliable. Windows is fully equipped to help you with any question that you may have – just make sure you have a licensed copy or will not help you at all.

If your version is licensed, you can chat with the help desk, or even get e-mail support in a short amount of time. Microsoft is, after all, one of the largest companies in the world. On the other hand, Linux is not a large corporation, and any support issues that you may have must be answered by support forums online. Both Windows and Linux provide some form of support, but you will always be able to find it for Windows with less effort and with greater speed.

Linux is generally quite a bit more reliable than Windows. There is virtually no version of Windows that has not had problems of some sort. Windows can crash very easily. Without a doubt, Linux is much more stable with the ability to reboot very quickly and to not crash more than a handful of times over the years. The Linux OS is also much more efficient, specifically in the area of memory usage. The performance and speed of your system will definitely improve. For those of you looking for an alternative to Windows, Linux may offer you a better operating system. It just takes some getting used to.

Although Linux has some definite advantages over Windows, it’s not the right choice for everybody. If simplicity is a benefit to you, then Windows is the operating system that you will want to continue to use. Linux offers you an alternative. It just depends how adventurous you are and how much of a techie you want to be.

For more information consult Mark Glatman