Yes, both operating systems have their faults and their virtues. I just wanted to jot down some reasons why I personally prefer Linux to Windows. I’ve been using Xubuntu as my primary operating system at home for about two years now and wouldn’t have it any other way.

I like not having my file manager and other components integrated directly into the operating system. In Windows, if your file manager hangs or crashes, it often takes the rest of the OS down with it. In Linux, everything is separate components–the kernel, the window manager, the desktop manager, and each of the applications are separate components, able to live (or die) on their own.

I like having control over my computer. In Windows if a process hangs, sometimes it just won’t die no matter how many times you click “End Now”. In the process manager, there are some processes where trying to end them gives “permission denied” even when logged in as an administrative account. There are files that Windows tells me that I may not delete–my files, on my computer?!

Windows is always trying to guess what I want, and it’s usually wrong. Linux makes no such assumptions. Microsoft Word is the worst offender, but the mindset is riddled throughout the operating system.

Windows is built for the lowest common denominator, and tries to protect users from themselves. For example, filename extensions are hidden by default–Windows won’t even tell you the real names of your files! Linux, on the other hand, is happy to always do exactly as you tell it.

Linux provides easy visibility into all of your system resource usage right on your desktop (usually with a panel plugin). Windows will at most display CPU usage through a minimized Windows Task Manager, when the taskbar feels like showing it.

Simple tasks are made difficult in Windows. In Windows, what is the best way to find out how many lines are in a file? View the OS startup logs or recent system messages? Find all filenames which match a given regular expression?

Linux comes standard with so many useful features. On Windows you have to hunt down functional, reliable, and trustworthy third-party apps to gain simple functionality.

The Linux command line is immensely powerful. I have at my fingertips all system status and information, I can easily move between scripting language sub-shells or even entirely different machines. On Windows you have to go clicking around into all kinds of different places to get anything done. The Windows command line is severely lacking.