Comparing Two Operating Systems

 Linux and Windows are two different types of operating systems which offer different features and functions, in comparison. In some ways, Linux is better than Windows however in other aspects, Windows is better than Linux.

	Linux	Windows
Cost	Linux can be freely distributed and downloaded however there are priced versions of Linux also; they are normally cheaper than windows though.	Microsoft Windows can run between $50.00 and $150.00 per each licensed copy.
Ease	The majority of Linux variants have dramatically improved in terms of the ease of use however Windows is still much easier for new computer users.	Microsoft has made several advancements and changes that have made it much easier to use the operating system. Arguably it is not the easiest operating system out there however it is still easier to use than Linux.
Reliability	The majority of Linux versions are reliable and can often run for a very long time without the need to be rebooted.	Although Microsoft windows have made great improvements in the reliability over the last few versions of windows, it still cannot match the reliability of Linux.
Software	Linux has a large variety of software programs, utilities and games. However windows have a much larger section of available software.	Because of the large amount of users, there is a much larger selection of software programs available, including utilities and games.
Software cost	Many of the available software programs available on Linux are either freeware or open source. Even such complex programs are available for free or at a low cost.	Although windows does have software programs and other utilities available for free, the majority of programs will cost anywhere in between $20.00 and $200.00 per copy.
Hardware	Linux companies and hardware manufacturers have made great advancements in hardware support for Linux and today Linux will support most hardware devices. But many companies still do not offer drivers or support for their hardware in Linux.	Because of the amount of Microsoft Windows users and the broader driver support, Windows has a much larger support for hardware devices and a good majority of hardware manufacturers will support their products in Microsoft Windows.
Security	Linux is and has always been a very secure operating system. Although it still can be attacked when compared to windows, it is much more secure.	Although Microsoft has made improvements over the years with security on their operating systems, the systems continue to be the most vulnerable to viruses and other attacks. This could be to do with the amount of people using this operating system, in comparison to others.
Open source	Many of the Linux variants and many Linux programs are open source and enable users to customise and modify the code however they wish to.	Microsoft Windows is not open source and the majority of Windows programs are not open source.
Support	Although it may be more difficult to find users familiar with all Linux variants, there are vast amounts of available online documentation and help, available books, and support	Microsoft windows includes its own help section, has vast amount of available online documentation and help, as well as books on each of the versions of windows.