Difference Between Ubuntu And Windows

Difference Between Ubuntu And Windows

6 mins read9.1K Views 1 Comment
Rashmi
Rashmi Karan
Manager - Content
Updated on Feb 9, 2024 16:41 IST

Ubuntu is one of the operating systems available from the Linux distribution. In contrast, Windows is a popular operating system that was first launched in 1985 and there has been a lot of improvement in Windows as an operating system. In this article, we will learn the difference between Ubuntu and Windows.

2023_01_MicrosoftTeams-image-1-1.jpg

The main difference between Ubuntu and Windows is that Windows is a closed-source operating system by Microsoft, while Ubuntu is a Linux-based open-source operating system that uses a significant part of the Debian Linux-based operating system. 

Must Explore – Operating System Online Courses & Certifications

Ubuntu vs Windows – Comparative Chart

  Ubuntu Windows
Software  Open source software Closed source software
License  Users do not need to purchase any license. Users need to purchase a license to use Windows.
Kernel-type Monolithic Hybrid 
Resources  Ubuntu uses fewer resources than Windows. Windows uses more resources than Ubuntu.
Default user interface Ubuntu unity, GNOME. Windows Shell.
Customization  More customizable options. Fewer customizable options.
Privacy Much more privacy-focused than Windows 11. Less privacy-focused than Ubuntu.
Usability  Not easy to use if compared to Windows. Easy to learn and use
Gaming  Not ideal for gaming. Much better performance compared to Ubuntu
Visual Assistant None. Cortana.
Recommended online courses

Best-suited Operating Systems courses for you

Learn Operating Systems with these high-rated online courses

– / –
3 months
– / –
2 months
7 K
3 months
12.5 K
75 days
– / –
1 year
– / –
5 days
– / –
2 months
– / –
1 year

What is Ubuntu?

It is one of the operating systems available from the Linux distribution. Ubuntu was introduced in 2004 by the British company Canonical. It was based on Debian – a very popular distro (Linux distribution) at the time – which was challenging to install. Therefore, Ubuntu was proposed as a more user-friendly alternative. 

It is a popular Linux operating system due to its excellent performance. Ubuntu accounts for 33.9% of the Linux market.

Also read: What is Operating Systems (OS) – Types, Functions, and Examples

Advantages

  • It is constantly updating and fixing its bugs.
  • Includes Nvidia driver free of charge.
  • It has an intuitive interface and is very easy to install and use. 
  • It has excellent device compatibility.
  • The founding company offers technical support for nine months through security updates.
  • It is free, you don’t need to pay for a license, and it includes many free tools.
  • You can share with family, businesses, and friends.
  • Allows you to build a virtual private server.
  • It has many translations for the different languages ​​in the world.
  • Long-Term Support or LTS versions are released every two years and are supported for five years on either the server or desktop editions.
  • It can be customized.
  • There is a distribution that is especially useful for the educational area, which is Edubuntu, and brings programs divided by the different academic stages (preschool, primary, secondary, and university).
  • It is speedy and does not consume many resources.

Disadvantages

  • Multiple distributions, such as Red Hat, OpenSuse, Debian, and Fedora, are free. It is a problem for its implementation because it has a lot of diversity.
  • It could be more innovative.
  • Despite being a straightforward operating system to install, they sometimes need help choosing the disk and creating the partitions.
  • It is outside the business standard because it is less popular than the other commercial operating systems.
  • Being open source, it can be vulnerable to viruses if care is not taken.
  • Its graphics are underperforming.
  • A lot of programming knowledge is required to get the most out of it since it uses many area languages, HTML tags, and CSS properties.
  • It is not compatible with all software.
5 Important Functions of Operating System Explained
Process Management in Operating System

What is Windows?

Windows is a popular operating system by Microsoft. It was first launched in 1985, and there has been a lot of improvisation on Windows as an operating system.  

It offers a smooth and compatible environment to run various applications and software. Windows also has excellent flexibility and great hardware versatility. 

Windows has a graphical user interface based on the Windows prototype. The primary function is to serve as a bridge between the person and the machine, thus facilitating the connection between the two.

As of January 2023, the latest version of Windows is Windows 11. However, Windows 7 and Windows Pro have been the most successful versions.

 

The Windows operating system has many advantages and disadvantages, which are listed below.

Advantages

  • Windows provides a smooth, simple, and easy-to-use interface.
  • Windows is known for its compatibility as an operating system and can support most applications.
  • The Windows operating system installation process is simple and easy to follow.
  • Thanks to its popularity, it has become a standard system, so any user anywhere can use this platform without any problem.
  • It offers a vast database to support most of the available hardware.
  • It provides a practically automatic system making it easier to perform tasks or updates for system maintenance.
  • Compatible with almost all software developed and available for computers.
  • It has tremendous global technical support.
  • It helps fight against piracy by coding the software system.
  • Its interface is neat and innovative.

Disadvantages

  • One of the main disadvantages of Windows is that it is not free to use. Users must pay the price to upgrade to the latest version of Windows.
  • Due to its great popularity and distribution, its security is not very good, which is why it is the object of hacking and malware.
  • It consumes a lot of computer resources and RAM.
  • Personalization options in Windows are very few and are limited to wallpapers, backgrounds, notification sounds, icons, themes, etc.
Threads and Multi-Threading: Operating system
Types of Operating Systems

Comparison Between Ubuntu and Windows

Here is a comparison that will help you understand the differences between these two operating systems:

Check out the Most In Demand Tech Skills to Master

Security and flexibility

Both operating systems may have security loopholes, but being open source, Ubuntu allows you to detect and fix them. Sooner or later, these vulnerabilities are reported within the developer community, and they take steps to resolve them.

In the case of Windows, your data and information will be vulnerable and exposed to malicious users who want to get hold of them.

Price

The Windows operating system is priced to sell to benefit from its services, while the Ubuntu system is free.

Performance

Under identical conditions, Ubuntu offers you better performance. This is because this operating system demands a much smaller amount of hardware resources, which allows them to be used for other essential activities.

Software 

At this point, Windows has the most software available as developers focus on providing solutions to the platform with the most customers worldwide.

The community of developers for Linux is quite large and continues growing, releasing new software applications constantly.

Preparing for a Linux interview? Check out the Top Linux Interview Questions and Answers.

Stability and Update

The Ubuntu operating system beats Windows again by offering excellent stability in developing its critical tasks, an essential aspect of business performance. 

In addition, the Windows update system is very intrusive and launches messages at the most unexpected moments, while Ubuntu does not require reboots. Thus the analysis work is not interrupted by unnecessary stoppages.

Conclusion

Both Ubuntu and Windows have unique advantages and disadvantages. However, given the robust, secure, and speedy functionalities for programming, Ubuntu is a preferred choice for developers and testers. On the other hand, users who work with MS Office and Adobe Photoshop prefer Windows. Ubuntu and Windows operating systems are well-built and satisfy the customers’ requirements.

Related Reads

How to Check Disk Space in Linux?
How to Copy Directory: Linux Version
Understanding ps Command in Linux
How to Transfer Files Using SCP Command in Linux
10 Implementations of Rsync Command in Linux
How to Change the Directory in Linux

FAQs

What are some features of Ubuntu?

Ubuntu supports various desktop environments like GNOME (the default environment), KDE Plasma, Mate Desktop, Cinnamon, LXQt, etc. It is a multi-user operating system that allows multiple people to operate on the same machine simultaneously. It is also free and open-source.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is easy to set up, has good hardware support, and provides excellent customer service. However, it is not widely used in servers and is not suited for high graphics games.

How do Ubuntu and Windows compare in terms of stability?

Ubuntu, especially LTS (Long Term Service) focused ones like Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Debian Reliable, are more stable than Windows 10.

How do Ubuntu and Windows compare in terms of security and privacy?

The Linux security architecture is more robust than the Windows security architecture. Ubuntu is highly secure and less prone to virus attacks, while Windows is more prone to viruses and threats.

About the Author
author-image
Rashmi Karan
Manager - Content

Rashmi is a postgraduate in Biotechnology with a flair for research-oriented work and has an experience of over 13 years in content creation and social media handling. She has a diversified writing portfolio and aim... Read Full Bio

Comments

(1)

I think it's wrong to say that a disadvantage of Ubuntu is that its open source nature makes it vulnerable to viruses. Most Ubuntu users use no antivirus software and encounter no problems as Linux systems are inherently much safer from attack. The origins of Linux litter in the Unix world, where mu

Reply to Will