Linux vs. Windows Case Study Essay

Linux was originally developed as a hobby project by LINUX Torvalds. It was inspired by minx, a small UNIX system developed by

1. Describe some reasons why Linux is installed on only a very small fraction of desktop computers. Are there particular categories of products or users who might see Linux as more appealing than conventional operating systems? Do you think Linux's share of the desktop market will increase? Why or why not?

Throughout the 1980’s, it became the pre-eminent operating systems of personal computers, until another operating system, DR-DOS, was released by a company called Digital Research. Critics claim that this operating system never had a chance at gaining a fair share of the market because Microsoft deliberately slowed DR-DOS’s sales by announcing a better version of MS-DOS was on its way (Newman).

| It is hard to understand the system of Linux because most people are not familiar

Depending on your personal preference and need, there are a variety of operating systems available to users today. Whether it’s MAC OS, UNIX, Windows, etc they each have their own aspects and appeal that draw users in. The spotlight however, for the duration of this paper will be placed on a derivative of the UNIX family of operating system, Linux. The topics covered will include the history to include a handful of versions (distributions).

One company that appears to have a gap between its mission and its capabilities is Microsoft. The software giant has long had a problem with respect to innovation, and continues to rely on aging franchises for the bulk of its revenue. It was left out of the mobile operating systems boom and has failed to be a leader in either software or consumer electronics as a result (Clarke, 2010).

The current emergence of AT&T traces its roots back to 1882 and the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Ameritech, Southwestern Bell, Pacific Telesis, and Bellsouth comprised

In the workplace today there are many different options for operating systems be they providers of server related services or end-user desktops there is a different Linux distribution for many different applications. There are also a number of advantages and disadvantages to adding onto or switching network operating systems within a company. In the following pages I

would use their leverage in one market area, such as graphical user interfaces, to gain

This paper analyzes and compares the differences between the Windows and Linux’s operating system in an enterprise. It emphasizes the features in these two operating system such as history, cost, security, user-friendliness, performance, and future trends. It shows how impactful these features can be when an enterprise chooses an operating system. The research in this paper highlights the pros and cons of an enterprise using one operating system or the other. It directs the readers to have a better understanding on which operating system is better for specific instances. Readers will have an enhance perception on Windows and Linux and the platforms they serve. In our paper we try to fully analyze Windows and Linux’s operating system, so an enterprise can choose the best operating system for themselves.

Microsoft (MS) is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. In the mid 1990’s, Microsoft held the monopoly in the production of Operating Systems (OS) for personal computers (PC). When their monopoly was threatened by Netscape, MS began bundling the Internet Explorer (IE) web browser with Windows, using cross-promotional deals with internet service providers (ISP), and prevented PC makers from customizing the opening screen showing Microsoft. These actions, which some view as illegal and unethical, dissolved any competition, raised the barriers of entry and inhibited

Mr. Gates’ also explains how Microsoft tackled the challenge of integrating the Internet to be compatible with various Microsoft products. The biggest dilemmas were determining what should be incorporated into the existing Microsoft products, what should be packaged as new products, and how should the Windows Operating System support the Internet. He gives frequent examples of how the other competing computer industry giants were able to succeed in the computer industry. A lot of success he points out was made through trial and error as well as learning from one’s mistakes. He talks about how Microsoft has learned from projects that have failed such as the Multiplan spreadsheet that went on to be developed into Microsoft Excel, and the Omega database that would become Microsoft Access. One suggestion that Mr. Gates makes in achieving company success is by

Linux is a trademark owned by Linus Torvalds [1]. It is an operating system which is powerful, free and inexpensive to own based on UNIX [1]. It is a POSIX-compliant with versions available to install in cell phones, supercomputers and most computing systems [1]. Linux is an open source program as its source code is available to the general public for use and the right to modify from its original design without any charges [1]. New code will be added to the next version made available with Linux if it is accepted as a universal improvement [1]. The code will continue to exist and developed by the user even if the company fails [1]. Moreover, updates for Linux are available every six months [1]. Nowadays, Linux is in constant development by

The Linux was originally founded by Linus Torvalds. In 1991, he was a second year computer science student in Finland. He sought after an operating system that was similar to the UNIX system, but both UNIX and the hardware it ran on were excessively expensive. A UNIX version called Minix was available for free, but it did not reasonably meet his needs as it was simply an operating system for students, designed primarily as a teaching tool rather than an industry strength operating system. As a result, Torvalds studied Minix and proceeded to set out to write a new version. After six months of working to produce the new operating system, Torvalds made very little progress toward the utility of the system.

AT&T was broken up into the Bell companies in “1974 by the U.S. Department of Justice antitrust suit against the monopoly” (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Today AT&T has become a competitor vying for control of the telecommunications industry. “In monopolistic competition, there are many firms vying for control of one market. Each firm offers a different type of product, as opposed to perfect competition in which all offer the same product. Each firm, then, has a monopoly in the market of their own product”(Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation) AT&T in 1988 began purchasing stock in Sun Microsystems to begin its diversity in product services. Throughout the 90s AT&T continued purchasing more computer companies and cell phone companies to gain market share in the growing telecommunication industry (CyberStreet). Good pricing structures align with costs. AT&T Wireless realized that the marginal cost of a cellular minute was small compared to the cost of acquiring and maintaining customers. Their switch to a flat fee “One-Rate” plan was a huge success, stealing heavy users away from the competition. Prices increased for light users and many became hooked on the cellular lifestyle (Lake Partners Strategy Consultants, Inc. [LPSCI], 2001-2004). AT&T has seen that the ability to change quickly in the ever-evolving telecommunications market will help in gain market share. Its ability to see the value in keeping customers rather