stupid question

[uncleglenny]

ok sorry for the stupid question but what is the difference between windows xp and linux ? which is better what costs more is one easier to use then the other ?

[PrntRhd]

Windows XP is a proprietary OS by Microsoft.
Microsoft expects to paid for any installation of XP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP

Linux is an Open Source operating system based on a UNIX-like kernel developed by Linus Torvald and friends.
Open Source means free to you and me unless you want to have tech support with your OS, in which case there are pay versions which supply that support.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux

Windows is widely distributed, but Linux is growing. There was/is a learning curve for both OSes, but both use Graphic User Interfaces which makes it easier for general users to use the OSes.

[uncleglenny]

ok so is it a complete operating system like xp is it easy to use? are there advantages and disadvantages?

[PrntRhd]

Linux distributions can be comprehensive or can be beginner-level, there are many flavors of Linux developed by independent outfits. You get to choose the complexity you feel comfortable with.
SuseLinux and RedHat Enterprise are two of the more complete distributions.
Ubuntu and Linspire are two beginner OS distributions.
Slackware and Mandriva are in the middle somewhere.

See Pave_Spectre's sticky thread here if you want to try looking at a Linux OS:
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=49115

Advantages are:
low cost...free is really low cost.
very stable, much fewer virus and malware issues by design
low resource useage
free kernel updates
scalable from desktop to server applications
no limited support cycle forced by developers


Disadvantages:
You have to learn a more UNIX-like way of doing things.
You have to figure out some problems via forums and effort on your part.
There are many variations of the OS, so no "one size fits all" standardization, unlike Windows.
hardware may have to be Linux compatible.
Fewer games available for Linux