What Are The Different Linux Operating Systems For PC?

10/22/2012 15:33

The market share of Linux has been expanding to a point where may consumers already see it as a feasible alternative to the hugely popular Microsoft Windows and Apple operating systems. The growing use of Linux is because of its open source nature, and this means taht the source code is widely available to the public with laid back or non-existent copyright restrictions. In simple terms, the operating system is continuously developed by a tight-knit community of developers and it is designed to remain cost-free permanently. As a result of this open source philosophy, there are several variants of Linux operating systems on the market and these are called distributions or distros. Two of the most popular distributions are Ubuntu and Fedora, and below is a brief comparison of the two.


Ubuntu

Ubuntu is actually based on another Linux distribution, called Debian. It is built to bring the Linux experience to casual computer users by giving similar attributes to Microsoft’s Windows OS. As of 2012, web surveys show that it is the most widely used Linux distribution on desktop and laptop personal computers. Recent estimates say that Ubuntu users make up 30 percent of Linux users. Several computer makers, like Dell and Asus, offer models with a pre-installed Ubuntu OS. The gui of this OS is well designed and is easy to learn. For more information about Ubuntu forum, visit here.

Fedora

Fedora is another well-known Linux distribution and it is made for Linux developers and individuals who would like to become one. It is perfect for anyone who wishes to be kept up-to-date with Linux technologies. Moreover, security is one of the most important features in Fedora. One of the security functions in this Linux distribution is SELinux, which executes compulsory access controls, among others. The Fedora distro is very lean because it includes no proprietary firmware, and thus, it may not work with some Wi-Fi adapters or graphic cards. If you want them to function, you need to download firmware from third-party repositories. Fedora’s user interface has a steep learning curve, with a number of users stating that they still have to learn how to do the most elementary of tasks. Despite these disadvantages, other users, especially developers, assert that Fedora is far quicker than Ubuntu in various aspects such as file copy times and video transcoding.

Every one of these distributions is intended for a different type of user. For that reason, to find the best one for you, you have to take into account the tasks that you want to perform on your computer.

Find out more about these distributions by going to these Ubuntu and Fedora forum.