Reasons Why Linux Is Better Than Windows

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Most of you are probably using Windows as your regular operating system for your personal computer. Windows is the most popular operating system in the world but could there be reasons good enough for you to consider switching to Linux?

In this article we are going to take a look at five good reasons that makes Linux a better choice than Windows.

System stability

System stability is without a doubt the most important aspect of an operating system . Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Windows isn’t stable. It has come a long way since the days when Blue screen of death in Windows Me haunted us.

Linux still maintains its reputation for being less buggy, at least in terms of the kernel. While there can be compatibility issues If you try to push a distro beyond what it’s designed for.

The Linux kernel is known for being stable and reliable, which is one of the main reasons why majority of the web servers run on it.

The reason being so many programmers have their eyes on Linux and the programs written for it. Because Linux is an open source OS, anyone can look at its code, identify bugs and try fixing them.

The Linux community is huge and lots of programmers and companies actively work on it who use Linux and develop their own Linux distributions to make it better.

Also Read: Best Desktops for Programmers

Although Microsoft is a huge company, the people examining the Windows code and fixing bugs are just Microsoft employees and limited in numbers. It means that Windows bugs are often identified and fixed relatively slower than Linux.

However, this is not the only reason that Linux is more stable. Linux is also built in a more modular manner than Windows, which means that Linux applications do not mess with the operating system’s kernel or with other programs as much.

Windows is catching up to some extent with this but Linux still rules when it comes to modularity.

Customization

Linux is also very customizable. You can see this in how everything from servers to Android phones to smart thermostats use different versions of Linux. But what does that mean for an average home user? It means that you have real choices as to what you want your Linux experience to look and feel like.

Many people think that Linux is for programmers or a system admin who’s familiar with the command line. But there are many Linux distributions such as elementary OS and Linux Mint targeted toward beginners, migrating from Windows or Mac OS. These are great for users who want to watch videos use social media and communicate with coworkers.

With Linux you get to choose what your experience is like as opposed to using just one version of Windows. Lots of Linux distributions come with package managers which behave like app stores. So, downloading vetted software isn’t an issue.

If you have the willingness to learn, Linux allows you to build or install many customizations on top of the kernel. This is the exact reason why there are so many different looking distributions available.

Security

Linux isn’t bullet proof but it has a reputation for being more secure than Windows. This is because of so many people working on its code. Another big reason of it being safe is because fewer people use it.

Linux is by far the most popular OS on the servers. You connect to it all the time to use internet. Although attackers try hard to breach these systems but malware targeted toward desktop Linux distros is much less than Windows malware because of the small user base.

Linux doesn’t provides its users with much access to low level system files and functions as Windows does. Meaning any malware that does find its way into your system tends to be easier to isolate and remove.

Also Read: Windows 10 Home vs Pro for Gaming

Privacy

It’s no secret that Microsoft tracks your online activity in order to do everything from improving its AI to serving relevant ads. It is also very difficult to opt out of being tracked.

You need yo dig down deep in order to to turn off tracking in Windows. In the settings there are multiple options in a complicated maze of menus. Even if you are able to change the privacy settings, Windows will still send some kinds of data to Microsoft.

Linux is open source, and that is why there is no monolithic company behind it hoping to make tons of money off of every Linux user. Also, there’s no provision up for any kind of tracking by default.

While there are some Linux distributions that do engage in some limited forms of tracking, like Ubuntu. It’s typically easier to opt out or find a different distribution that doesn’t send any data back to his servers.

Activity tracking

Linux does a better job at keeping your money in your own pocket. Obviously you can install and use Windows for free, as long as you don’t mind that annoying water market and not being able to pick your own desktop wallpaper.

Microsoft still uses Windows to get you to spend money on its services, such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive and apps from the Microsoft Store. Most Linux users however won’t be tempted to spend much if anything, to get them most out of their systems.

Although large organizations sometimes pay companies like Red Hat for Linux support and training. The average home user, using an approachable Linux distribution, won’t have a large company trying to get them to buy more stuff.

Also,most of the programs you need to accomplish your goals, are available for free. So those are our top five, but we know there are plenty of Linux fans jumping in to tell us more.

What are your takes on Linux? Let us know in the comments down below where you think Linux has an edge over Windows.