Jul 08 2009
Netbook Buyer’s Guide – Windows XP vs Linux: Which OS is Best?
Although this debate has been going on for a while, even more users are asking this question now, primarily because of the growing popularity of netbooks. Netbooks, unlike most other laptops give the option of choosing between Windows XP or Linux. Some netbooks come with one or the other by default, while others give you the option to choose, such as the Acer Aspire One. Most of the other hardware specs (hard drive, RAM, processor speeds, etc) are pretty self explanatory, but the choice of software is not so evident. So, in this article, we’ll talk about a couple of the different aspects when choosing an operating system, and help you get a better idea of what fits you best.
Performance
This is probably the first question that people come to when choosing. The simple fact of the matter is that, in most cases (and by that I mean most of the tests performed), Windows XP is almost twice as fast as Linux. This is primarily in the start up of the laptop, as well as, the opening of new programs. So if you plan on having several applications that you need to open, and you don’t want to compromise your laptop speed dramatically, then Windows XP is probably the best choice for you. The other thing to consider is that though faster is better, if you don’t need speed, you may want to go with Linux. If you plan to only run the internet, e-mail, and open the occasional document, then Linux would probably be best. Now, I bet you’re wondering, why would I ever go with the slower one if there isn’t a big difference in price of the initial laptop? Well, keep reading and you’ll find out.
Compatibility
This is more of an issue with businessman, students, and people who have established networks. To start, some networks only are compatible with Windows XP, especially if there needs to be security software/login software installed. So, if you do plan to get a netbook and are using it in other places than your own home network, double check whether you have to have one or the other. And yes, there are usually always workarounds to get Linux to work on a Windows-only network, but usually this is a pain. The other thing you want to do is double check that you don’t have any software programs that only work with Windows. Linux is becoming more and more compatible with almost all Windows software, and has programs mimicking programs like the Microsoft Office Suite. A lot of higher end games are not compatible on Linux either, but if you’re a hardcore gamer, I doubt you’ll be looking at a netbook for gaming. So, you may have the option available, or may be able to find a work around, but double check to be sure.
Price
As you take a look at netbooks, there’s not a huge difference in cost of Windows XP netbooks and Linux netbooks, all things considered. It’s typically $50 or so extra for a Windows XP netbook than a Linux version. Usually the Windows XP versions come with more memory, a faster processor, and sometimes more hard drive space, and are therefore more expensive. This is because people expect users using Windows XP to want higher performance, as discussed above. So, where does cost become an issue? As you start putting software on your laptop, then the costs start adding up. For Linux users, almost all the software is free, so having programs that run Word documents, Excel documents, etc, won’t cost you an extra penny. But for Windows users, they must purchase the Microsoft suite, plus pay for almost any other software they need, which adds up to a couple hundred dollars at least. So, to save some money, at least in the long run, go with the Linux netbooks.
So, the bottom line, if you want to save money and don’t need higher performance, go with Linux; if performance is something you desire, and you don’t mind paying a bit extra, go with Windows XP. Now that you know the differences and can find which operating system suits you, check out our other articles on netbooks.
Related posts:
- ASUS EEE Convertible Netbook for Windows 7 Shipping The world’s first convertible netbook-tablet for Windows 7 has arrived stateside. The specs for the ASUS EEE T91mt are pretty...
- Love Touchscreens? Check out Windows 7 From tech savant to first time user, one thing is very clear, people love touch screens. From the ever-popular iPhone...
- How to Buy an Acer Aspire One Acer’s growing line of netbooks, the Acer Aspire One, has slowly gained more and more popularity, catering to the...
Let’s consider the fact that there are TONS of free programs out there that can replace all of the software you mention on Windows. For the average user, Open Office will be identical in features to MS Office. For every program you can think of there is almost always a competent free alternative. Although, I really liked this article since there aren’t many out there like it, I think your reasoning needs to be explored in more depth.
I differ on the performance front. I recently migrated from Vista to Ubuntu in my Lenovo R60/2GB RAM. I found that Ubuntu boots faster and opens documents faster than that of Vista. Another major advantage of Linux is that it is free from the Viruses that affect windows systems frequently.
I recently gave Ubuntu another look to see if was a suitable replacement option for a “normal person” — I am a technical guy and have been using Linux and Ubuntu as a server operating system for a long time, but Windows, and now Mac for my home and work computers.
I will also admit that I have fallen into the ranks of people who are seriously disappointed with Windows. Good reports about Windows 7 suggest a possible comeback, but I now feel like I am driving a truck whenever I use a Windows computer, compared to my Mac.
I found that Ubuntu was very much improved over prior version I had looked at a while ago, and in many ways, it is perfectly fine. But it’s still nowhere as polished as Windows (XP, Vista or 7) or Mac.
I agree that almost all of the software you would buy for Windows has good free alternatives.
However, while I use OpenOffice for everything I used to use Excel and Word for, it’s still not quite as good as them, and probably more important, it’s not the same in all respects. And there are a few bits of software that aren’t available for Mac — I am a long-time Quicken user — their Mac version is limited, and cannot import data from their PC version, for example.
I think Ubuntu is a great option for someone that comfortable having something a little different, or as a first time user, or especially for someone that mainly uses a computer for web surfing. But anyone who is used to Windows, or a Mac would find the Ubuntu experience a bit of a tough transition.