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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.10 - Strengths and weaknesses

By | October 30, 2009, 5:09am PDT

Summary: Over the past few days I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the differences between Microsoft’s latest Windows 7 and Canonical’s Ubuntu 9.10. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of each of the operating systems. Is a free operating system really as good as one that you pay for?

Over the past few days I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the differences between Microsoft’s latest Windows 7 and Canonical’s Ubuntu 9.10. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of each of the operating systems. Is a free operating system really as good as one that you pay for?

Let’s take a look at several aspects of using operating systems and examine the various strengths and weaknesses of each OS.

Installation

Windows 7

  • Pros
    - Install is quick, easy and painless.
    - After working through a few wizard screens at the beginning, the install is automatic
  • Cons
    - None really

Ubuntu 9.10

  • Pros
    - Option to “try before you install” using the Live CD feature
    - Can easily install as a dual boot or even inside Windows using the Wubi installer
  • Cons
    - Unless you’re luck to get a CD, you do have to mess about with .ISO files and burn a disc. If you’re happy doing that, it’s not really a problem.

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Topics

Ubuntu, Operating System, Hardware, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Win 7 vs Ubuntu 10
codeplay 20th Dec 2010
Been using both OSs on a single machine for a while (i run Ubuntu on a VM, because my job requires me to have at least one linux machine around), i like them both. Would I recommend totally migrating to Ubuntu? I'm not sure. Some of the stuff is not really for the average user.
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Where's the beef?
r.u.FED.up.2 30th Oct 2009
Is that all there is?

You must be off getting an early start on your trick or treating.
0 Votes
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Yeah...
Hallowed are the Ori 30th Oct 2009
I usually like AKH's articles, but this one was kinda weak...
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There's no "there" here!
compusolver 30th Oct 2009
Is this an entry in a contest to see how many words you can use to say nothing?

Ubuntu is the most under-rated operating system out there. I am a web developer who's been using Windows ever since there was a Windows, but I love my new Ubuntu system!
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Well said
Karmic Koala 30th Oct 2009
I love my Koala too man! I spin the cube in compbiz and I am always finding new applications on its facets. Not to mention the colors... Brown as my first generation zune, love it man, I am still listening to my tunes on it while my granma is more of a traditionalist preferring amarok (I believe her hearing doesn't serve her that well anymore, you know, being 84 and all).
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What? Not Knoppix?
mejohnsn 30th Oct 2009
I would have nominated Knoppix for "most underrated". After all: its hardware support is incredibly complete. Not so long ago, it was the most complete of any Linux. People said that if your hardware isn't supported under Knoppix, it isn't supported under any Linux.

I am not sure if that is still true, the SD Card reader on this laptop (which I am using to type this in) is not supported under Ubuntu, Gentoo or Knoppix, but even now, it can't be far from the truth.

Knoppix LiveCD has really cool 'swoosh' effects too;)
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Agree
ScotlynHatt 31st Oct 2009
Ah yes, Knoppix. I remember that. I used that for the better part of 2 years on all kinds of Dell systems before jumping on the Kubuntu wave. The Knoppix 'kitchen sink' DVD was really something.
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Where's the Beef, really?
axelag 30th Oct 2009
There is nothing in this article that will tell us what OS is better one way or another. Two OS's as complex as Linux and W-7 and all that is shown in the analysis (pro/con) is "Not really..."? Come on, where's is the beef? Really.
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Adrian doesn't provide beef anymore...
JoeMama_z 30th Oct 2009
only Gas and Oxygen.

ZDNet, helping to keep the internet warm for over 10 years.

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Open wider...I'm sure you will get some beef at some point
IAmLegion20ll 30th Oct 2009
nt
  • Flagged
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LOL.
Hallowed are the Ori 30th Oct 2009
It's a shame that one won't last long... too funny.
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"nt"
Barc777 Updated - 30th Oct 2009
OK, what's "nt" stand for?

acronymfinder.com has 71 entries for it.

For the now, I'm going to think it's "next time" and hope that's right. . .

Or maybe it's "not there"?
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It's biological in reference
born4fun@... 30th Oct 2009
I am of the opinion it actually stands for "no testes"
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Re: nt
Arm A. Geddon 30th Oct 2009
Either "no text" or "no talkback". Take your pick? happy
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0 Votes
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NT actually stands for two things...one boring, and one life altering
IAmLegion20ll 30th Oct 2009
for the purpose of this blog, NT stands for "No Text", as talkbacks require something be entered in the 'body' field; it is commonplace for people that post on this site to use NT when all they want to submit is material in the subject line.

However, NT also stands for the greatest architecture to bless the computing world...but that's not what I was referring to in my earlier post.
  • Flagged
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No Text
Rick_K 30th Oct 2009
NT is short for No Text.
  • Flagged
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It stands for 'not tested' ...
becarefulwhatuwish4 31st Oct 2009
... considering the high BSOD count seen at the outset!
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WhiteHouse.gov runs on Linux
fsckU 30th Oct 2009
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=whitehouse.gov
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uh?
keoz 30th Oct 2009
and what does that proof? that standard sites are built with linux because its free yes we all know just like joomla etc, no big deal why would you need a full featured propietary platform for such simple sites
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And? I work in healthcare, the government is always behind the curve...
xuniL_z 30th Oct 2009
a long way behind the curve.
Are you reinforcing that fact?
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government vs. healthcare
tmsbrdrs 30th Oct 2009
The two are very different entities. Working in one does not mean you know about the other.
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Really? Then you've not heard of CMS
xuniL_z 1st Nov 2009
Probably the largest government agency in existence which operates with the full power of government as granted by congress.
All federal, and state for that matter, projects which waste our time more than do anyone any good, are very far behind the curve in terms of file formats, medium required to send data etc.
An agency is an extension of the government.
And everyone knows that cobol programming jobs, for example, were widely available with government entities long after the rest of the world, except maybe extremely large institutions, had come to know it as a thing of the past.
I'm not referring to any modern OO versions of cobol.
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Are you joking
bobtran Updated - 31st Oct 2009
Health-care industry is so far behind the curve that you can see your own ASS's in front of you. There is absolutely no, NO excuse for the way in which IT has been implemented it the health-care industry. Thank god the government finally stepped in and MANDATED a change in business as usual because most of the fraud and waste in health-care (care to dispute it?) is a result of bad to worse IT implementations that allow pretty much anything someone wants to do. Unified records should have been a standard 50 years ago and doctors just started using laptops in the last 3 or so years....really?. Tried to send my doctor an email and couldn't because the record keeping is....wait for it.....PAPER. For gods sake pick a different industry if you want anyone to take you seriously.
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Ignorant not stupid statement (MisInformed)
cpushrink1@... 31st Oct 2009
Those who believe that IT is at fault for how things are wrong are just plain ignorant and listening only to what others say.

Reality, IT does nothing without someone else giving them a direction in which to go. IT does not pick their own projects and run wild with them.

The direction, just like a corporate vision comes from an officer of high authority. For people to blame the problems on IT and believe it, is to be a mindless drone.

Lets think about what Michael Moore does. He distorts the truth, yet, he makes people think about who may truly be pulling the strings. The government and even the media feed people information and a good majority of people believe it. In turn, those mindless believers sway others to believe the same.

Eventually a small handful of people do not believe. The same non believers are the ones that are ridiculed for going against the grain and against what the authorities have told the people.

Lets get it together people. Question what the government and the media tell us. Reality is that what we are told to be the truth is distorted.
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You could find an organization in any sector like that. Don't be clueless.
xuniL_z 1st Nov 2009
The hospitals I work for have had an EMR for almost 10 years now. Bedside devices have been around just as long and all charting, record keeping...you name it..is done electronically.
Sure it was hard to get the physicians to come on board with it way back in the beginning, but it's preferred now.
Most all docs in the city can hit our system with appropriate rights to view everything imaginable electronically. Our PACS system has been in place just short of 10 years.

It's not the industry, it's the organization and like I said you will find that in any business or non profit sector at some organizations.

What allowed us to move ahead of the curve was Windows quite frankly. There was nothing else that would run on another system that even approaches what we are doing. We are well ahead of where Obama is trying to dictate and spread his socialism.
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That's exactly right
Chad_z 2nd Nov 2009
IT in the health care field is an absolute disaster. There are a few organizations here and there with their act together, but that's maybe 1 in 5.

The standard communication protocol is still HL-7, basically one step above clay tablets dried in the sun depending on which version you're on. No one can update to something more modern because so many apps use it.

The whole health care industry is in desperate need of standards, and if it takes the government stepping in to get them, then I'm all for it. That change needs to start in IT, but I hope it doesn't stop there. For the most part health care in this country from the patient's perspective sucks butt. Anyone defending the status quo is part of the problem.
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I know
xuniL_z 30th Oct 2009
He usually goes on about how windows has no killer apps and all of it's problems while giving Ubuntu a free pass.
WTH???
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Virus resistance?
simakos71 2nd Nov 2009
You said everything well though you missed to mention about how they cope with viruses and other malware software in everyday use, how prone to infection they are. I think that user data privacy and computer security should also take part in this test. It would be interesting to compare Pros and Cons.
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You have to buy antivirus software for windows
bdalzell@... 4th Nov 2009
One difference between Windows and Ubuntu Gnu/Linux is that Microsoft tells you that having anti-virus software is very important but they do not provide it as part of the OS's tool kit. Why is that?
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Wrong - MSE is free
mswift@... 5th Nov 2009
Try downloading the free Microsoft Security Essentials. The only reason it is not in the shipping product is that the EU would have a conniption.
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It would cause an anti trust lawsuit
veer01 5th Nov 2009
Basically there is an entire ecosystem around
windows and security software is a big part of it.
However, Microsoft created MSE for windows and did
everything short of bundling it with the OS in
order to avoid a lawsuit.

Also, there are several AVs available for free on
Windows, emphasis "FREEEEEEEE"
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Nice article
garethmcc 30th Oct 2009
Its nice to see a balanced article like this. I consider myself an OS agnostic user as I used Windows for years and tried a Linux Desktop OS like Ubuntu a few times and only recently (last 2 years) has Ubuntu taken over as my primary OS.

One of the issues you mentioned is hardware. Unfortunately this is a double-edged sword as a lot of the hardware that doesn't work was designed with Windows in mind primarily and hardware vendors don't make hardware viable for Ubuntu because of the smaller user-base. And the user-base increases so slowly because of smaller hardware vendor support.
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catch 22
ericesque 30th Oct 2009
not double-edged sword.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%2022

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20edged%20sword
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"Nice article"
TheCableGuyNY 30th Oct 2009
"One of the issues you mentioned is hardware. Unfortunately this is a double-edged sword as a lot of the hardware that doesn't work was designed with Windows in mind primarily and hardware vendors don't make hardware viable for Ubuntu because of the smaller user-base. And the user-base increases so slowly because of smaller hardware vendor support."


This WILL change ounce google release ChromeOS.You`ll see the Hardware Manufacturer releasing driver for Linux/ChromeOS.
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"This WILL change ounce google release ChromeOS"
jorjitop 30th Oct 2009
Do that many people want to run a computer on Google spyware?
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"This WILL change ounce google release ChromeOS"
TheCableGuyNY 30th Oct 2009
Google ChromeOS will be Like Android Today.Really soon everybody is going to be using it. Just wait and U`ll see!
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To quote Yogi Berra... Deja Vu all over again...
Wolfie2K3 3rd Nov 2009
Geeze... We've been hearing about Linux taking over the desktop since Linux 1.0.

Hasn't happened yet. Don't see anything changing with that anytime soon either.
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Well...
Ceridan 31st Oct 2009
I guess there will be a new OS cult poping up soon...


Now I just have to find the president/CEO/leader of Google and ill be set to name a new order of anoying zealots that thinks their OSes are maid by god and that all others are made by the devil...
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Agree
Karmic Koala 30th Oct 2009
Hey, you know who else is an agnostic? Linus, dude, you wouldn't believe it but he was spotted in the Microsoft store in Arizona a couple of days ago. That's cool, you know, him being Linus but my granma is kind of upset, she feels he is validating this nonsense of Win7 with his actions.
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Wheres the beef?
rcbarr83@... 30th Oct 2009
I also felt the article covered as much as is possible for one person to comment on. If someone wants more information, do the leg work yourself and decide which works better. I like Ubuntu and prefer it over windows. I haven't tried Windows 7 yet and once the bugs are worked out will update my work laptop. My company's software will not work with Ubuntu. I would prefer using Ubuntu at work, but that will not happen for a while.

In the mean while, I use Ubuntu on my desktop at home and will never use Windows on this computer.

Cudos for Windows if they really made a windows O/S to supercede XP and work better. But in my opinion, Ubuntu, as long as they keep the commitment to always improve will be the better O/S no matter how many hardware and software vendors support it.
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Software? Don't think so.
No_Ax_to_Grind 30th Oct 2009
I agree with all but your software statements. Linux (any flavor) simply does not have the breadth of choices as does Windows.
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I beg to differ
MLHACK 30th Oct 2009
Windows does have a huge software base either com,freeware,shareware,opensource. However linux has plenty to choose from as well. It is not about numbers of the same type of apps it about the quality of those apps 20 good/great linux apps is better than hundreds of bad/decent/good/great windows apps
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IMHO Linux pretty much loses there too.
CobraA1 30th Oct 2009
I hate to say it, but I've only found two good apps in Linux: Firefox and OpenOffice.org.

And, frankly, if you can afford to buy it, Office is still better.

Other than that, there's hundreds of questionable apps, most look like they were hacked up in a day by somebody with ADHD and never bothered to maintain it after a week.
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I disagree....
storm14k 30th Oct 2009
I question where you are getting your apps from. Most of them basically look the same since they rely heavily on the theme system of the desktop. The only place I have found some apps that are ugly is in the music production space. They have some nice looking apps and some that really do look hacked together. Aside from that everything else I use is fine.
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look =/ functionality
gnesterenko 30th Oct 2009
nt

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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Not appearance - lack of coherence and quality
BillDem Updated - 30th Oct 2009
I don't think he was talking about how the apps look. He was talking about the fact that they mostly either function like throwbacks from the ice age of computers or work like somebody who lives in their mom's basement threw them together and never intended for them to be used by the general public. He means like there was no attention paid to intuitive user interface and the GUI was tied into the program as a distant afterthought. I agree with Cobra. Of the hundreds of apps I've downloaded and installed on various flavors of Linux over the past half dozen years, there are maybe a dozen which are decent quality. The rest is the greenest sort of diaper filler.
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Exactly my point...
veer01 5th Nov 2009
A app can be as functional as possible, but if
the UI sucks, no one will want to use it. On
Macs all the apps there at least look good,
even if they suck. On Windows most apps have
some emphasis placed on UI, and on Linux, even
less is placed on UI.

If the UI sucks or lacks functionality, then
the program will suffer, and if a lot of apps
are like that, then the platform will
suffer..... keep in mind just installing a lot
of these apps is a task in itself.
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Windows has plently of ADHD apps
MLHACK 30th Oct 2009
Windows has plently of those ADHD apps. While i am sure linux has them as well. I doubt very much there are very many. As to openoffice/M$ office. That is in the eyes of the beholder.
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You couldn't be more wrong
cebyrne 30th Oct 2009
OpenOffice, FireFox, Remote Desktop Client, SSH, GIMP, F-Spot, Transmission and Evolution are all far superior in security and usability to Windows ccounterparts ... The KDE Suite offer even more. K3B has never burned me a coaster like Nero.
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Who's Wrong?
TallTomD 30th Oct 2009
Look, I've used a LOT of OS's. My default choice is Windows, but I also have Mac OS X and Ubuntu installed on my primary PC.

However, your notion that Linux apps are superior is just wrong. If OpenOffice were so great then it would be the de-facto standard. It isn't. Have you ever tried to work with the business card templates in OpenOffice? Nightmare...pain in the neck...maddening. Work with the template in MS Word and it's easy. FireFox vs. Internet Explorer? Each has pros and cons, but I stick with IE because I just want the web to work. I don't want to get to a site and find that FireFox doesn't work, and then launch IE to use the site. So, I just use IE all the time. RDP? C'mon... I can see your point with SSH, but GIMP? If GIMP were so great then again, it would be the de-facto standard. Professionals use Adobe Photoshop, not GIMP. Whether they use Adobe on Windows or Mac, they still use Adobe. I don't like Adobe stuff myself, I think it's over-priced bloated crap that crashes too often, but hey, I don't have to use it so I don't. I'm not familiar with F-Spot or Transmission, but I do know that Evolution is NOT superior to Outlook. Evolution is cool, and it can do MOST of what Outlook can, but not all. Ever tried using Evolution with RPC/HTTPS for "Outlook Anywhere" function? It might work, but then again, it might not. It might be able to connect for direct Exchange access, but then again, it might not. Outlook is the business standard for a reason. It's a mature and capable application.

Your comments about security might be accurate to an extent, but not completely. The idea that Linux is more useable is just wrong, though. Can I use it to play the latest DirectX games? Hmmm...not so useable after all. Burning coasters can happen without regard to OS or app being used, and has more to do with the stress on the machine during the burn process.

Again, I like Ubuntu. It's got some cool features, and has really brought Linux to a whole 'nuvah level. I've been using Linux for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. I've turned a few friends on to Ubuntu, and they like it too. But I'm not burying my head in the sand and pretending it's mana from Heaven. Windows is still my primary OS even if I can boot into anything I choose. My wife and kids? Windows all the way. They don't want to hear anything about Mac or Linux. They want their games to work, so they use Windows.
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FF or IE? Opera!!!
hectormacias 30th Oct 2009
Both of them suck.
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Win 7 vs Ubuntu 10
codeplay 20th Dec 2010
Been using both OSs on a single machine for a while (i run Ubuntu on a VM, because my job requires me to have at least one linux machine around), i like them both. Would I recommend totally migrating to Ubuntu? I'm not sure. Some of the stuff is not really for the average user.

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