The best windows system. What is better Windows or Linux: strengths and weaknesses of operating systems

It just so happens that the vast majority of beginners usually choose Windows as their first operating system. Apple products, unfortunately, are not available to everyone, and free Linux systems seem to many so harsh that they don’t even look in their direction.

But now we have witnessed interesting processes that can greatly change the established ideas. Computers from Apple in light of recent economic upheavals have become even more expensive. Microsoft started a global update, which resulted in Windows 10, which is a confusing labyrinth of the wreckage of old systems and new ideas. And Linux, meanwhile, got rid of past shortcomings, improved the user interface and acquired a solid set of software.

Let's compare some aspects of using Windows 10 and the popular free distribution of Linux Mint.

Settings

After the release of Windows 10, only the lazy did not write about the complexity of the settings of this operating system. Most of the necessary options are concentrated in the new control panel, others remained in the old one, and some could not be found at all. Yes, in subsequent updates, Microsoft continued to finish the settings system, but you still can’t call it easy and understandable.

In Linux Mint, all settings are concentrated in one place - in a special utility called "System Settings". Here you can change literally any system setting without having to wade through a series of additional utilities, dialog boxes and drop-down menus.

Installing programs

The operating system itself is only an environment for executing software. Therefore, each new user must first install the programs he needs. On Windows, you have to search for developer sites, then look for a download link, then deal with the intricacies of installing each utility. Yes, there is now the Windows Store, which aims to make this process easier. But its content is so meager that not all users use its services, preferring to install programs the old fashioned way.

Linux Mint, like most other free distributions, has a built-in directory of available software. You only need to type the name of the required program in the search bar and click on just one button - "Install". Easier than you can imagine.

Interface

The epochal story of how Microsoft first removed the Start button, then returned the Start button back, will haunt the minds of outraged Windows users for a long time to come. This really matters to them, since such changes in the interface can only be made by system developers. It's good that users were left at least the opportunity to change the color of the panels and put their wallpaper on the desktop.

Things are quite different in Linux. Here you are your own boss and can customize your work environment exactly the way you want. The layout and appearance of panels, buttons, applets, menus, tooltips are completely under your control. And if it seems to you that the installed environment does not suit you, then you can in no time. Linux Mint users, if desired, can transform the interface of the operating system in such a way that it resembles Windows or Mac OS. Or they can not change anything, because by default everything is beautiful and thought out to the smallest detail here.

Security and privacy

About the situation with viruses repeatedly already. In this section, I want to draw your attention to the problem of Windows tracking users. Such a problem really exists, and it worries you, judging by the popularity of those devoted to it. Yes, Windows 10 is constantly collecting user information and sending it to Microsoft. It is rather difficult to wean her from this occupation, and this will require the presence of computer knowledge, especially since with each update new loopholes appear for leaking the collected information.

Linux-based operating systems do not have this problem at all. That is, you can install almost any popular distribution for yourself and forget forever that someone can spy on you and eavesdrop on you. If privacy issues are important to you, and it is a pity to spend time and effort on fighting spyware in Windows, then the choice is obvious.

No imposed software

Almost all novice users love games. Even more they love free or hacked games. If this passion is not combined with at least minimal computer literacy, then very quickly their operating system is clogged to capacity with junk software that is installed along with toys and some free programs. All these additional panels in browsers, fake antiviruses, Internet accelerators and other rubbish very quickly lead Windows to a state of complete unusability.

Linux users are generally not familiar with this phenomenon. To install programs and games, there is, as I wrote above, a special software store in which all programs are tested. In addition, you can use Steam to install games, the safety of which no one doubts.

Updates

Updates to Windows and installed software is another problem that users face. System updates are often very cumbersome, take a long time to install, and require a reboot. This is so annoying that many simply turn off the automatic update system, although this should never be done. As for the system of centralized updating of installed programs, it simply does not exist in Windows. The developer took care to build the "update" into his program - well, if you are too lazy, then you will continue to use the old version.

Installing updates in Linux Mint is easy and pleasant. Once a day, a special utility will automatically check for new packages for the operating system and all your installed programs. If they are found, you will see a small icon in the system tray. You just need to click on it, and then in the window that appears, click on the "Install Updates" button to bring your software to the most up-to-date state. No reboots, no waiting, no problems.

As you can see for yourself, the modern look of free Linux-based operating systems, at least the most popular distributions, has nothing to do with the myths that often scare novice users. They are simple, convenient, beautiful and so friendly that even those users who have a minimum level of computer literacy can handle them. In addition, Linux offers the highest level of reliability and security, which is especially important for beginners.

Personally, I have already done many experiments on installing Linux Mint on the computers of novice users and have always heard only positive feedback. What do you think about this?

Should I upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10? Maybe, well, them, these innovations and beauty? Or still keep up with the times? It's a matter of questions that confuses many of today's Windows users.

Comparison of Windows 10 and Windows 7

As an example, take any laptop with decent performance, such as the Samsung R60Y+. Don't be intimidated by the fact that this model is 9 years old - it is a machine with a dual-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 works very fast on it, which cannot be said about inexpensive and weak netbooks: one of these is the Acer Aspire One 521 with its usual processor and only 1 GB of RAM.

Performance Windows 10 and Windows 7

For comparison, a PC of the following equipment was taken:

Intel Core i5-4670K processor (3.4 GHz - 3.8 GHz);

8 GB RAM (DDR3-2400 RAM architecture);

video card Nvidia GeForce GTX 980;

Crucial MX200 1TB drive;

system block SilverStone Essential Gold with a power of 750 watts.

Startup and behavior when turning on the PC

Windows 8 and 10 versions load faster. This is not a file-by-file loading of the operating system kernel, as it was up to Windows 7, but loading of the last successfully completed session with workable settings and user data. Starting Windows from scratch every time you turn on your PC is yesterday's day for operating systems: this method wore out internal drives faster (SSDs and LiveUSB bootable flash drives, which were less durable than a simple HDD, especially suffered) and greatly overloaded RAM and processor.

After loading Windows 7 shows the classic desktop and taskbar with the main Windows menu. In Windows 8.x, the Start button was hidden, but in Windows 10 it was made more accessible, as in earlier versions of Windows. Most of the tools for configuring and debugging Windows 10 are still readily available, which will be discussed below.

remove the password that was imposed when you first started the "dozens" - in Windows 7 and earlier versions, the password was not forced;

remove the autostart of some Windows components and services, which, as a rule, are not urgently needed, especially if the computer is used for work and entertainment on the Internet;

clear the lists of scheduled tasks that are also not needed;

turn off the slideshow of screensavers and "wallpapers", set a simple Windows design, remove other annoying paraphernalia.

To begin with, using the BootRacer program, the time taken by the OS to start is measured - from the appearance of the Microsoft logo to the display of the Windows desktop.

The best time was shown by Windows 8.1; Windows 10 booted within 6 seconds, Windows 7 within 5 seconds

If the Windows 7 shell had not started from scratch every time, it would have started in just 3-4 seconds. And this is on a PC with a very impressive performance!

Sleep/Sleep and Hibernate Windows

The first mode that allowed you to safely stop Windows without closing programs and without losing data was hibernation - saving the entire current session on the C drive. The more advanced version of Windows, the less time it takes to complete the hibernation command.

The older the system, the longer it takes for it to hibernate; the best time - 21 seconds - showed Windows 10

Windows hybrid sleep - a cross between hibernation and regular sleep - takes slightly less time, and here you can also see the superiority of Windows 10.

In Windows 10, the time it takes for the PC to go to sleep is the least

Windows 7 and 10 system requirements for PC

The following values ​​​​of RAM, video card memory, CPU and space in the system partition (in the case of using one version of Windows, this is usually the C: partition) must be exceeded at least twice, otherwise this is not work on the computer, but torment.

Computer requirements from Windows 7/10 - table

The main factor is the bit depth of the PC. It makes sense to change Windows 7 to 10, for example, in the following situations:

computer performance suffers; the software was updated/replaced - replacing Office 2007 with Office 2013, Photoshop CS1 with CC version, etc.;

I want to try new games that are more demanding on hardware resources; for example, upgrade GTA4 to GTA5, Crysis 2 to Crysis 3, and so on;

a large monitor/projector has been purchased and the PC or laptop acts as a home theater or controls a projector at the university;

the entire “system unit” is being upgraded or completely changed in connection with the launch of 16-channel video surveillance with IP cameras at guarded posts - the PC itself is used as a video recorder: for example, 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB hard drive and an 8 * 3 processor are purchased, 5 GHz.

Which version of Windows is best for gaming

It is necessary that the game does not freeze anywhere - and it does not matter if it is single or multiplayer. Who will like a laptop overheated to failure and noisy at night for half an apartment with its fans, in which your favorite World of Tanks or Call of Duty Black Ops constantly freezes, control of the main character is lost, and you are killed in the game in an easy place ?!

Windows 7, 8 and 10 are only slightly ahead of each other - there would be a powerful and high-speed "stuffing" of a computer or tablet. Most of the games of the last decade require at least Windows Vista, otherwise you are unlikely to play GTA-4/5 or the latest World of Warcraft series on them.

An example is the game Tomb Raider. No noticeable increase in download speed was found.

Tomb Raider boot times are almost the same on all versions of Windows

Windows 10 is slightly behind Windows 7 in Metro Redux and Crysis 3.

Which version of Windows is faster for work apps

As in games, the hardware itself decides a lot here. For example, when you start Download Master, Firefox Portable, Adobe Photoshop, Avant Browser and some others, a screensaver (cover) of the application appears on the screen for a second or two, which you are unlikely to speed up - these programs are configured this way, they maintain the interval for displaying this splash screen before opening its main working window. This is reminiscent of, for example, the intro of the game Call of Duty or Grand Turismo, but, unlike work applications, you can interrupt the demo and start the game by pressing Enter or clicking the mouse.

This is where productivity matters. If for you a computer is not a toy, but a means of earning money, applications should work quickly - for example, Microsoft Office does not slow down when typing documents; the printer, scanner, copier, etc. work quickly; the local network of the enterprise does not “fall off” and does not slow down.

Launching Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge

Internet Explorer 11 and the new Microsoft Edge browser are taken as examples. With every change, Windows IE gets a little faster. Microsoft is right - Edge is much faster than slow-witted IE.

Edge browser loads almost twice as fast as IE regardless of Windows version

Internet Explorer is clunky, yet banks and corporations use it - they don't need Chrome or Opera or Firefox.

Adobe Photoshop startup monitoring

Photoshop throughout history has accumulated so many software modules, templates, filters and settings that it takes a very long time to start even on high-speed machines.

Photoshop download speed on Windows 7 and 10 is almost the same

Further development of Windows did not greatly affect its speed of start.

How did Microsoft Excel perform?

In general, nothing has changed in the performance of Excel.

The speed of Excel 2013 is almost the same in all recent versions of Windows

This is one of those cases where productivity in work applications doesn't change for the better.

People's reviews of Windows 10

Somehow, one fine morning, I came across the news about the public access of Windows 10 from the company Melkosoft. Initially, I was very surprised by the release of the 10th after the 8th, but that’s not the point, I immediately downloaded it and started having hemorrhoids, because after a 2-hour installation, a 5-hour search for firewood that would correctly become on system, I came across a crude, unfinished system in which even the explorer does not work stably! Popandos, comrades! The graphic component is very minimalistic and of little interest, almost everything was torn off from the eight, but the start menu was added, conceptually it is a mixture of 7 and 8, to be honest, it’s useless from zero, I would say that I’m waiting for the full version, but it can’t be so after what I saw. Bottom line: Despite the ardent desire to switch to Linux, I rolled back to seven

Qwetyshttp://otzovik.com/review_1424470.html

I have been using the windows 8.1 operating system since 2013 and was completely satisfied, but when I saw a discussion of windows 10 on the Internet on the forums, how beautifully people tell how good and convenient it is, I could not resist and went to the official microsoft website. In general, I downloaded the installation and started installing this system. The installation was not long, like all windows quickly installed, rebooted, and then it started ... Well, of course, I’ll immediately note that the beautiful interface, the icons were replaced with more accurate ones, the taskbar and the main screen. The screen began to freeze , you are looking for settings to adjust and you won’t understand where they are located, I read on the forums that you need to demolish the previous version and I bought a windows 10 image with a license key. In general, I formatted the hard drive and installed windows 10 ... And it started again ... - now I’ll just list what problems did I contact. The store does not work - errors are constantly, the explorer does not work, updates do not work, games and programs do not start - there is always something missing in the library ... All the files that are not enough for the full operation of the PC - it is not possible to find in the Internet specifically for windows 10. As a result, windows 10 was disposed of and the PC returned to windows 8.1

Lengushihttp://otzovik.com/review_1955777.html

Good day. Most of us are used to the Windows 7 operating system, so it is clear that the transition to Windows 8,8.1 and 10 is perceived with hostility. After all, you need to get used to the new, and the old has already been studied up and down. Probably strange, but for me personally, it is the study of the new that excites great interest. The new is not only new problems, bugs and other crap. The new is also a solution to old problems, optimization, improvement, improvements. I have already installed Windows 10 five times, demolished it, returned to 8.1 and 7. But at the moment I clearly decided to stay on the top ten. It's more convenient, it's many times faster than previous operating systems, and yet it's new. In the end, new versions of programs and games are optimized for it. Games do not interest me at all, but still. There was only one unpleasant moment - an annoying message with a proposal to upgrade to the top ten, which appeared with the update of previous versions of the OS. But even he was easy to deal with. It was not necessary to install updates, or it was tedious to remove something from the installed ones. It's a matter of two minutes. Turning on the bluetooth on the keyboard does not work for me, but here there is a very convenient socket. Just right for me. They say that a dozen monitors users and sends data to Microsoft. Well, yes, it is. What's next? It is stupid for an ordinary user to worry about this. Not all are employees of the FSB or similar organizations. Why such paranoia? Terrorists may and should be worried, but ordinary people have no reason. An inflated problem, which, by the way, is solved by installing a small patch that demolishes all kaku, including the cool thing Cortana. I use it with pleasure. I turned off the regular antivirus only and installed my favorite Avast. I don't know the problem. Oh yes, there was one big problem. I have a movie folder. At the moment, its volume exceeds 400 GB, and it was with this folder that Windows was not friends. The bar at the top took a long time to load. Everything hung. The problem was solved simply, in the folder settings I changed the folder optimization from “video” to “common elements”. It's strange that she was stupid with optimizations for video. But I solved the problem, and this is the main thing. Of course, I recommend this operating system. Nimble, cute, easy to handle and set up.

Kosmonaut Mishahttp://otzovik.com/review_2744012.html

Summary: is Windows 10 as necessary as it seems

So, if you have a lot of free time and want to please your eyes with a new design - go ahead! What will change from the fact that the main Windows menu will become not just a menu, but in the form of a tile with large icons and cells of different sizes? You can't argue with statistics: more than half of people still love Windows 7 - it works very well on their computers.

The first requirement for any operating system is functionality, which includes features such as:

support for new devices and faster and more productive equipment - for this, Windows must have all the main drivers that are universal for many brands and models of PCs, laptops and tablets. In particular, this applies to panoramic shooting for Google Street and Yandex Maps - support for the latest "circular" and "spherical" HD cameras with a resolution of each of their matrices of thousands by thousands of pixels;

emergence and development of voice control (Cortana voice dictation in Windows, similar to Siri in iOS, support for OK Google voice search, etc.);

3D technology support: support for 3D monitors, 3D printing. This is gaining more and more popularity. Previously, only text could be printed - now it is possible to print, for example, a toy or a model on a 3D printer, and this is not the limit. With this, Windows 10 should also work smoothly and quickly;

support for multi-display work - used at presentations, lectures, in general when working in any company - and it doesn’t matter what this company releases, be it a new bike or iPhone;

An abundance of all kinds of settings - a serious impetus to their expansion is given precisely by the new functionality.

The list threatens to become endless. As huge as it was, people were waiting for new features, new features from Windows 10, and not just new splash screens and shining panels, mosaics and animations, which Gates never skimped on. Since Microsoft is unlikely to release a new version of Windows (under the name 11 or Prima), all hope is for updates to Windows 10, which will bring to mind what is already there.

Video: Windows 10 settings

Updating Windows to the "top ten" is not such an important matter. If you don't need Cortana, virtual desktops and other "bells and whistles", stay on Windows 7, in any case, you won't lose anything either in work or in leisure.

Windows 7 and 10 are the two best versions of the OS that Microsoft has released. If you are torn between the two versions, then we will explain which Windows is better and why, and you will understand which one to download.

We tested not only the seven and ten, but also other versions of the OS - XP, eight and earlier versions. And they came to the conclusion that for 2018 only two operating systems from Microsoft deserve attention, and you already guessed which ones. It is clear that there is such an abyss of years between them and it could not but affect the difference, and it really exists. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to consider both operating systems so that you can choose which one to download, and also clearly understand which one is better and which one is better. Let's say right away that there will be no clear winner in today's comparison, since both builds still have advantages.

Comparison of two operating systems

It is simply impossible to compare such different generations with each other. Just to note, the rule that Microsoft releases one good one, one bad one, and then another good one works. Remember how legendary XP was, then Vista came out, which failed miserably, but then it was replaced by the seven, which became truly popular. After there were 8 and 8.1, both versions failed and were replaced by the legendary ten, which also became popular. Therefore, when making a comparison, one should not forget that both versions are the best representatives of their generation, but they came out with almost a 10-year difference.

The first and most important difference is that the ten, unlike the seven, is focused on touch devices much more than its predecessor. But this does not mean at all that the system should be installed exclusively on touch devices. You can also work without problems with the method already familiar to you - with a mouse and keyboard, here we are talking more about simultaneous support for both old and new technology.

Another big difference is in the speed of work. You will be surprised, but a dozen works faster even on older PCs. It does not have such serious hardware requirements to step over several generations, so you can upgrade to a new version of the OS without any problems, it is enough that your PC meets the minimum requirements:

• Processor - 2 cores at least 1 GHz;
• RAM - 2 GB;
• Video card with DirectX support;
• 20 GB hard disk space.

Almost all PCs that were released after 2010 fall under such small system requirements. And we recall that the top ten itself was released much later - in 2015. Accordingly, it can also be installed on an outdated computer and it can work even better than the seventh version of the OS.

The Seven is not far behind in terms of its requirements. Therefore, if it is installed only because of low requirements, then the difference in these very requirements will be so minimal that it is easier to buy a RAM stick and install the latest version of the Windows operating system.

Windows 7 or 10 - which is better and what to choose?

As we have already clarified, there is no definite answer here. We recommend choosing the seven for those who have worked on it for many years and want to continue, as they are afraid of everything new. If you have never had this OS, and you are now thinking about downloading and installing for the first time, then of course, if your PC is pulling a new product, you need to skip the seven and immediately install the new version.

We also recommend the seven to all those who work on software tailored specifically for this generation. And although Microsoft has done everything to ensure that old programs work in an updated environment, it is worth recognizing the fact that there are still situations when previous versions do not start. But not all software has been updated to the top ten, some even work with problems on the 7th generation. But, in fairness, we note that Windows 10 has a compatibility mode with all previous generations of operating systems, so it is able to run 90% of the old software, but problems can still arise.

We recommend ten to everyone who uses a device whose release date is younger than 2012. You will be surprised how your computer or laptop will work. Literally like new. It will launch faster, you will have more options and you will have access to all modern technologies. You will even get access to Microsoft cloud storage, which is very convenient in 2018.

User reviews of different versions

There is no better source of knowledge than the users themselves. We have collected their feedback on each version, and highlight the advantages of Windows 7:

• Familiar design and interface;
• The presence of all classic programs and;
• Low system requirements;

Keep in mind that Windows 10 has really lost some of the standard games and programs that were all the time on all previous generations before. But the new OS also has its advantages:

• Touch screen support;
• Quick start-up and noticeably fast operation;
• Support until 2024;

Here it is important to take into account that the seven still have support, but most likely it will be stopped already in 2019. And they plan to support the top ten until at least the 24th. And support in this matter is a very important factor, since without it the OS becomes vulnerable to new problems that Microsoft will no longer close, as it does as part of support.

Every OS has its downsides. Let's dwell on the main ones. In the old generation, people do not like that over time, the operating system starts to work slower and slower. There is no such problem in the top ten. More precisely, it is, but not so pronounced. Another disadvantage is the outdated design and the inability to work on touch devices. This also includes the total rejection of tablets. Modern tablet computers have already become a replacement for laptops, but the seven on them will not only not be installed normally, but will not give any comfort at work.

In the top ten, people don't like the complex activation method. Perhaps they do not know about the existence of other activators, but we meet such reviews all the time. I also don’t like that Microsoft removed some important features and familiar pre-installed utilities from the system, including games. We were also surprised by this decision, but we know how to get around it. You can always download standard games and return other standard software thanks to our project.

Which version is better

If you have used version 10 before and didn't like it, give it another chance. Microsoft releases regular updates that not only close holes (make patches), but also improve system performance. Probably what you remember from the past works much better now. Give her a second chance, you might be pleasantly surprised. The same can be said about all previous builds, but MS devotes much less time to them now than to its latest brainchild.

To sum up all of the above, it would be a good idea to choose one single winner so that you can understand exactly which version is better. But we are not able to choose it, since each version has pluses. And we offer you an ingenious scheme with which you will “kill” two birds with one stone. Keep in mind that you will need a little more time and you will do a personal test, but you will definitely find what is right for you.

Set to start seven. Activate it and use it for a few days. If you like it, then you don't need to do anything further. If you have doubts and questions, then you can always migrate to a new operating system, since Microsoft has provided the ability to upgrade to dozens with just one button. And in this case, you will get the opportunity to use another ten, wonderful, isn't it?

The question of the popularity of operating systems has been discussed by users for more than a decade. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each OS, people prefer to opt for those aspects that suit them to a greater extent. What is better - Windows or Linux - will be discussed in this article.

System requirements

Microsoft Windows 10 is the latest version at the moment. Compared to its predecessors (8, 7, Vista), its requirements for computer performance are almost the same, but, as the developers assure, it works effectively on older PCs.

According to official Microsoft data, the minimum system requirements for Windows 10 are:

Note! Despite these characteristics, it is recommended to use a 32-bit system for 1-3 GB of RAM, and a 64-bit system for 4 GB or more.

For different Linux distributions, the minimum requirements differ depending on the capabilities of the system. For OS with window managers like Openbox, you need at least:

On an x64 system, 4 GB+ of RAM is needed, as is the case with Windows, however, on Linux, the performance hit is negligible with less. This is due to the flexibility of the pre-installed software and its low consumption of computer resources.

Given the presented hardware requirements, Linux is more productive than Windows when using application programs. In some applications or games designed primarily for Windows, this figure varies.

Settings

Users note that the settings in Windows 10 are located in inconvenient places. An attempt to simplify access to managing components through their division into categories and subcategories has led to confusion, which is why some of them are truly "hidden" in the depths of the OS.

Almost all Linux distributions have a Settings Manager, which stores all the functionality of the OS options available to the user (from appearance to installing drivers). It does not have divisions into endless subcategories.

Note! The Settings Manager looks different depending on the desktop environment you are using, but the way it works is the same.

Linux settings are more flexible and allow you to change even system keyboard shortcuts, which is forbidden by developers in Windows.

Security

Windows is constantly attacked by various viruses. Malware developers take advantage of OS insecurity and the carelessness of users who rely on Defender or other antivirus software to destabilize the system and, worse, steal sensitive data.

The reason for this is not only its popularity. From the OS kernel to the software management method, everything has significant flaws that are exploited by people with illegal intentions.

On Linux, security is paramount. The main reason for this is free software backed by GNU. In fact, Linux is the core of the OS, the software part is GNU. The freedom of GNU software lies in the absence of restrictions on their installation, distribution, study, modification. So, a more "correct" (but not mandatory) name for distributions is GNU/Linux, and kernels are Linux. The latter is often used as a collective concept.

Any person can control (if they have the knowledge necessary for this) the installed software and its impact on the OS. This is the basis of security, because every day the source code of programs is controlled by developers around the world.

In Linux, you cannot install or uninstall a program without entering a password. This is the main precaution in software management. The virus cannot harm the OS in any way, because it will ask for a password, which is written in a file with a high level of encryption.

Thanks to this, Linux does without antivirus. Malicious software manifests itself only in case of careless actions of the user (which is unlikely due to the security system). And viruses that are developed under Windows are not able to harm Linux due to differences in architecture and principles of operation.

Popularity and price

The popularity of Windows began in the 90s of the last century due to Microsoft's monopoly on the software market. Then their OS was installed on all computers. Now the situation has begun to change.

Most PC users in the post-Soviet space have pirated versions of Windows installed. From a legal point of view, this is a clear violation of the Microsoft license agreement and the domestic laws of these countries. The companies are aware of this, but they have chosen an unequivocal development strategy - a full-fledged collection of information about users, regardless of whether they have a license. And it is not known how they will dispose of it in the near future.

On the official Microsoft website, the price of Windows 10 Home is 8699 rubles, Windows 10 Pro - 14199 rubles, Windows 10 Pro for workstations - 21899 rubles.

According to LinuxCounter, Linux-based systems are used by about 6% of users on desktops and laptops worldwide, and over 90% on servers and control stations.

GNU/Linux OS is free. You can freely go to the site of any distribution and download it for free. There are also paid options, for example, the distribution kit from the USA, Red Hat (manufactured by the company of the same name), provides paid services, in particular, round-the-clock support for setting up and using its product.

Software

When you buy Windows, you find that only a proprietary browser, image viewer, and multimedia player are useful applications. The rest of the software is purchased separately, most of which is paid.

The main advantage of the Microsoft product is the availability of any software. Any program that runs on macOS or GNU / Linux is available for Windows (albeit in an alternative version). Modern games, devices, multimedia software are developed under Windows.

For GNU/Linux, the number of applications has grown significantly in the last 5 years. New software, hardware, games, everything is being ported at a fast pace to run on Linux.

Software that was originally supported on Linux continues to evolve. Enthusiast developers from all over the world write useful utilities and programs to diversify the choice of Linux users.

Almost any distribution kit, having detected the connection of a new device, will immediately install the necessary driver for it. The exceptions are non-free drivers for Nvidia graphics cards, Wi-Fi modules, and some laptop processor models, which are easily installed through the hardware configurator.

For any field of activity (biology, chemistry, programming), GNU / Linux is the ideal environment, since it provides unambiguous and useful tools that are not available in Windows or that try to provide similar functionality.

Design customization

Windows allows regular means to change only the color of windows. Large-scale redesign of the panel and applications is prohibited.

In GNU/Linux, there are no restrictions on changing the appearance: from fonts to the design of window titles. There are many standard themes, it is also possible to install additional ones from the Internet.

findings

There is no single answer to the question of which is better - Windows or Linux. Each OS has its own advantages and disadvantages. Due to the prevalence of Windows, few people know about Linux. Both systems perform any task, but they provide different tools.

There are many similarities between the familiar Windows 7 and the latest Windows 10, but there are many more differences. We present a comparative overview of the two systems so that you can decide which one is closer to you.

Windows 7 and Windows 10: what are the similarities and differences?

Windows 10 is Microsoft's attempt to keep all sorts of devices running the same OS in sync. This includes computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and XBox game consoles. Windows 7, in turn, is designed exclusively for PCs and laptops. With this in mind, the "ten" has a lot of things that are not in the "seven", but there is also enough in common.

• The main difference is, of course, design. Windows 10 is optimized for the monitor, for the touchscreen. Windows 7 is designed only for the presence of a computer mouse and has a Start menu. The next version, Windows 8.1, radically changed the user interface, dramatically depriving users of the Start button and replacing it with "live tiles". In Windows 10, the Start menu returns, but it is combined with a set of tiles, which makes the new OS convenient for users of any device.
  Windows 7 design

  

• Another difference between Windows 10 and Windows 7 is search function. Search in Windows 7 allows you to search for files and applications on your local computer. In Windows 10, the search area is expanding: the user can search the Internet directly from the desktop, as well as the Windows Store app store. In addition, the new system has a voice search, carried out using the Cortana assistant.
  Search in Windows 7

  

• Another difference - file management. Both Windows 7 and Windows 10 use File Explorer, but it's much more convenient and informative on the new system. File Explorer in Windows 10 has a "ribbon" of functions, like modern Microsoft Office, and copy and paste windows display the speed of the operation in the form of graphs. Windows 10 also took all this from Windows 8.1.

  

• The big difference between the two systems is notifications. In Windows 7, every app throws its own pop-ups on the screen, plus there's a notification area in the bottom right corner of the screen. In the top ten, in turn, all notifications of the system and applications are collected in one tape and, in addition, are ordered by time.

  

• A major innovation compared to Windows 7 is made in terms of workspace management. Windows 10 finally brings the virtual desktops that Android users have grown accustomed to and Mac OS users and Linux geeks have long been accustomed to. Windows 7 does not yet have them, although there is already support for multiple monitors.

  Virtual Desktops in Windows 10

• Windows 7 is wildly popular among hobbyists computer games. Windows 10 intends to take over the palm. The system includes DirectX 12, which provides a significant increase in gaming performance, as well as comprehensive integration with the XBox through a built-in application with connection to XBox Live.

  Windows 10 features from XBox

Windows 7 and Windows 10: comparison table

The list of innovations in Windows 10 can be long: Snap Assist, synchronization of desktops between different devices, logical consolidation and hard drives, and much more. Especially for you, we provide a table that will allow you to evaluate the capabilities of the two systems in comparison.

Comparison table of Windows 7 and Windows 10

	Windows 7	Windows 10
Developer	Microsoft	Microsoft
Release date for OEM	July 22, 2009	July 15, 2015
Release date for users	October 22, 2009	July 29, 2015
Update Method	windows update	Windows Update, Windows Store, Windows Server Update Services
Platforms	IA-32, x86-64	IA-32, x64, ARMv7
Kernel type	hybrid	hybrid
License	Proprietary	Proprietary
previous version	Windows Vista	Windows 8.1
next version	Windows 8	Not
Support	Until January 13, 2015	Until October 30, 2020
Extended Support	Until January 14, 2020	Until October 14, 2025
Price	~12 000 rub. (Pro)	~14 000 rub. (Pro)
System requirements
CPU	IA-32 or x86-64, frequency from 1GHz	IA-32 or x64, frequency from 1GHz
RAM	IA-32: from 1 GB x64: from 2 GB	IA-32: from 1 GB x64: from 2 GB
Video	DirectX9 capable GPU with WDMM version 1.0 driver (optional, required for Aero only)	GPU with DirectX9 support and WDMM driver version 1.0 or later
Screen resolution	From 800 x 600	From 800 x 600
Input Devices	Keyboard, mouse	Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen
Free disk space	IA-32: from 16 GB x64: from 20 GB	IA-32: from 16 GB x64: from 20 GB
Functionality
Start Menu	Start menu, which includes a list of installed applications and a search bar	A combo start menu that includes both the application list and Windows Live Tiles
Help & Support	Windows Help
Built-in browser	Internet Explorer 8	Microsoft Edge
Security	Password protection	Biometric user identification
Cross-platform	PC, laptops	PC, laptops, tablets, smartphones
Search	Search bar in the Start menu and Explorer, search within the local computer
Conductor	Favorites feature that allows you to navigate to frequently visited folders	Quick access feature that allows you to jump to recent files and folders
multitasking	Switch between multiple running applications	Snap Assist: Launch up to 4 apps on one screen and quickly switch between them
List of current tasks		Task View Button
Virtual desktops	Not	There is
Integration with XBox	Not	There is