Every computer owner and user has definite opinions about the different operating systems out there like Windows or Linux. While an average PC consumer might only know about Windows based systems, those who are more technologically inclined will have at least heard of Linux. In this article we are going to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of both of those operating systems.

Choosing the right web host has to do with whether you are using Linux or Windows for your OS. This has nothing to do with what operating system you are using personally, and some people are confused about this. Regardless of whether you use Macintosh or Windows, you can still use hosting services based upon Linux.

There is probably some distinction between the two systems, but unless you are an expert in this field, you won’t even notice. It is actually very simple to attack a Linux server. Many hackers do! If only Linux would use the same level of security on its Web servers that it does its personal computer systems. It really comes down to what features you want in your web hosting. Perhaps the main benefit of Linux is that it is open-source which means that it is free to download and use. Windows, though, is very expensive. The latest version of Windows 7, for example, will cost almost a hundred dollars. Sure most of the new PCs come with Windows pre-installed but you can still be sure that you are honestly paying for it. With Linux, all that you must do is download it and you can start using it. When something is open source you can also copy and distribute it without worrying about copyright issues. Obviously, though, this is not an advantage that is obvious to those who are buying new computers that come with their operating systems already installed. Yet, if you would like to use Linux, you can always purchase a lower cost computer that does not come with Windows and then download Linux cost free and save yourself some money.

A good benefit of Linux is that it can be installed on older computers. This is what sets it apart from the other operating systems. It is a well known fact that computers are obsolete after just a few years, this definitely true for any computer that has Windows or Mac installed on it. If you tried to install Windows 7, for example, on a five year old computer or older, it would overload the system due to the high memory requirements of Windows. By today’s standards, however, Linux’s needs (like the Ubuntu Feisty Fawn system) are incredibly tiny–all it needs is a 300mHz processor and 64MB of RAM. What this means is that you are able to take an old computer out of a closet or buy one relatively cheaply, download Linux and have everything up and running pretty quickly. If you want to choose an operating system there are a lot of factors that you need to keep in mind. Whether you should choose Windows or Linux is dependent upon whether you want the flexibility involved in Linux or the compatibility that Windows offers with all of the software programs you might want to use. These are just a few of the reasons that Linux and Windows are great operating system choices.

For more information consult Mark Glatman