Advantages and Disadvantages of using Linux

Advantage of Linux OS

Let us now discuss some advantages of Linux in brief:

1. Open Source:

One of the main advantages of Linux is that it is an open source operating system i.e. its source code is easily available for everyone. Anyone capable of coding can contribute, modify, enhance and distribute the code to anyone and for any purpose.

2. Security:

Linux is more secure in comparison to other operating systems such as Windows. Linux is not completely secure as there is some malware for it also but it is less vulnerable than others. Every program in Linux whether an application or a virus needs authorization from the administrator in the form of a password. Unless the password is typed virus won’t execute. There is no requirement of any anti-virus program in Linux.

3. Revive older computer systems:

Linux helps you to use or utilize your old and outdated computer systems as a firewall, router, backup server or file server and many more. There are many distributions available to use according to your system capability. As you can use Puppy Linux for low- end systems.

4. Software Updates:

In Linux you encounter a larger number of software updates. These software updates are much faster than updates in any other operating system. Updates in Linux can be done easily without facing any major issue or concern.

5. Customization:

A feature that gives a major advantage over other operating systems is customization. You can customize any feature, add or delete any feature according to your need as it is an open source operating system. Not only this, various wallpapers and attractive icon themes can be installed to give an amazing look to your system.

6. Various Distributions:

There are many distributions available also called bistros of Linux. It provides various choices or flavors to the users. You can select any bistros according to your needs. Some bistros of Linux are Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Debian, Linux Mint and many more. If you are a beginner you can use Ubuntu or Linux Mint. If you are a good programmer you may use Debian or Fedora.

7. Free to use (Low Cost):

Linux is freely available on the web to download and use. You do not need to buy the license for it as Linux and many of its software come with GNU General Public License. This proved to be one of the major advantages Linux faces over Windows and other operating systems. You need to spend a huge amount to buy the license of Windows which is not the case with Linux.

8. Large Community Support:
Forums by excited users are made on the web to help and solve the problem any other user is facing. There are a lot of dedicated programmers there to help you out whenever and wherever possible.

9. Stability (Reliability):

Linux provides high stability also this is good advantage i.e. it does not need to be rebooted after a short period of time. Your Linux system rarely slows down or freezes. As in windows, you need to reboot your system after installing or uninstalling an application or updating your software but this is not the case with Linux. You can work without any disturbance on your Linux systems.

10. Privacy:

Linux ensures the privacy of user’s data as it never collects much data from the user while using its distributions or software but this is not true for many other operating systems.

11. Performance:

Linux provides high performance on various networks and workstations. It allows a large number of users to work simultaneously and handles them efficiently.

12. Network Support:

Linux gives support for network functionality as it was written by programmers over the internet. Linux helps you to set up client and server systems on your computer systems easily and in a fast manner.

13. Flexibility:

Linux provides a high range of flexibility as you can install only required components. There is no need to install a full or complete suite. You can also keep Linux file under multiple partitions so if one of them corrupts then there is no major loss. You only need to repair that particular partition, not the complete file which is not the case with other operating systems.

14. Compatibility:

Linux runs or executes all possible file formats and is compatible with a large number of file formats.

15. Fast and easy installation:

Linux can be easily installed from the web and does not require any prerequisites as it can run on any hardware, even on your oldest systems.

16. Proper use of Hard Disk:

Linux performs all the tasks efficiently even after the hard disk is almost full. This increases the performance of the Linux hence Linux provides high performance also.

17. Multitasking:Linux is a multitasking operating system as it can perform many tasks simultaneously without any decrease in its speed such as downloading a large file would not slow down the system.

18. Run multiple desktops:

Linux provides various desktop environments to make it easy to use. While installing Linux you can choose any desktop environment according to your wishes such as KDE (K Desktop Environment) or GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment).

Disadvantages of Linux OS

1. No single way of packaging software

Linux isn’t a single OS, but actually a group of quite similar but still differing operating systems called Linux Distributions. Best known are ones like Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat and Fedora.

2. No standard desktop environment

In Windows and in OS X there is single graphical user interface to the system. This means it is easy to predict what a Windows computer or Mac will be capable of doing and how to do it. This is a nice thing with easy tasks like launching a program, but especially when doing something much more complex, like connecting to a wifi network, configuring a printer or hooking bluetooth headset to a computer.

3. Poor support for games

This is something that is true also for OS X, but it is still a disadvantage for many Linux users. Especially AAA games are rarely available for Linux. Main reason is that game engines rely heavily on Microsoft’s DirectX technology, and hardware vendors offer better drivers for Windows.

4. Desktop software is still rare

The situation in Linux has got better lately mainly because the new generation of webapps and HTML5 desktop apps. Still this is a problem: not very many software vendors support Linux.

The Pros of Linux

1. It is very easy to install and you don’t need to install it all straight away. If you just want to test the waters and see if you like it, you can boot Linux from a USB flash drive or CD and use it from there. It will boot just fine and you don’t need to make changes to your hard drive – win / win.
2. If you have a bit of developer in you and know what you are doing you change Linux to suit you. Unlike Windows (as it’s a tad illegal for Windows)
3. It’s free! You do not have to pay for it.
4. You can distribute your changes in Linux to help others.
5. It is known for being a more stable and secure system (The chances of getting a virus on Linux are notably lower than other OS).
6. It consumes very little resources and space unlike Windows. So you can virtually run a system on 500MB of drive and 300mb of ram. Pretty impressive.
7. It can be run with Windows or inside of Windows if you don’t want to jump ships completely.
8. It is a very smart and powerful system, you practically have power over whatever you want and configure almost everything.
9. There are alternatives for nearly any programme or it’s close cousin e.g. Photoshop, Microsoft Word there will be free versions.
10. There is community support for troubleshooting

The Cons of Linux

1. It isn’t as user friendly as Windows or as ‘straight out of the box.’
2. There isn’t a dedicated tech support, so getting ‘fixes’ for things is in your hands unless you want to subscribe to Enterprise Linux. However, you do get the software free so it’s something to consider.
3. If you are a gamer, you will prefer Windows as most of the games aren’t available but that’s not to say you can’t. Just not as much and as easy.
4. Drivers don’t really exist, there will be work arounds but users have reported problems when trying to use certain hardwares or old hardwares.
5. It’s probably better used as a dual boot rather than a Windows replacement due to the fact you can’t get propriety programs on it and although they offer cousins, it won’t be the same. Photoshop is Photoshop, after all.

The end conclusion? Linux is a superior system that allows you to pretty much do anything you like within it and it is free. In reality, you’re reading this on your Windows or Mac run computer and that’s probably how it will stay.