Cloud Hosting Blog

Since we launched the Rudolf web hosting plan with its two variants: Rudolf Linux and Rudolf Windows, many of our subscribers asked “what’s the difference between the two?”

There are many differences of course, and both systems have pros and cons. To be honest we advocate Linux and this particular blog entry will list 50 reasons why Linux is better than Windows.

Why do we sell both hosting solutions when we are pro Linux? To give you choices and keep a flexible approach to web hosting.

If you ever heard that Linux is infallible this 50 list will help you reconsider and it will also give you a clear overview of the two. The list doesn’t deal solely with hosting. It’s more general, but we hope that at the end of it, most of your questions are answered.

50 Reasons Why Linux Is Better Than Windows

1. Linux was designed to be used by multiple concurrent users while Windows is based on a single user model. Even the most sophisticated Windows models evolved from the single user prototype.
2. Linux deals with virus outbreaks more gracefully than Windows. This doesn’t have to do with “infallibility” but with the way Linux is built and conceived. If a virus infects a Windows machine it will go straight to the most important system files that affect the proper functionality of the system as a whole. Linux is a clustered system and the virus will only effect the area limited to the cluster affected while all other clusters will function normally.
3. Linux machines patch and upgrade all its systems and programs fast and completely automatically, while Windows doesn’t upgrade programs that are not produced by Microsoft.
4. Linux is a worry-free system – good to know in case you want to purchase your own Linux machine: you’ll never have to worry about saving product key numbers or worry about losing them.
5. With Linux you never have to pay for any program. Windows requires you to pay even for updates.
6. Linux is not made solely by one company – it is a joint effort – therefore it will continue to advance faster than Windows because there are more developers involved and there is no corporate meddling to slow down the process.
7. Linux is open source and involves lower costs than Windows: support and training are not always free, but the OS and the applications are.
8. Linux handles easier with system crashes. For example, in Windows if the OS crashes you often need to reinstall Windows all together – all data is lost. Linux might require OS reinstalling, but all the users preferences and benefits are kept. Linux might require full reinstall if and when we deal with a hard drive failure.
9. Linux doesn’t need defragmentation.
10. Linux doesn’t need rebooting each time new hardware is added. The system is so stable that even if an application crashes all you need to do is to restart that application or service.
11. Linux has less bugs than its rivals.
12. You can share anything Linux with anyone on the planet and no one will ever call you a pirate.
13. Linux is extremely portable and can be even run from a CD, USB stick and so on. That means that you can test it without actually needing to install it on your PC.
14. Documentation and technical support are exquisite for Linux – the Linux developers create all the applications and support files out of love for their profession and less for profit. Their enthusiasm is shown in the quality of their work.
15. Linux is spreading fast: more and more small businesses choose it because it saves money and it runs applications that are usually compatible with all Windows programs.
16. There are hundreds of free applications that make Linux as performing as Windows including: Star Office, Corel Office and even Linux web browsers.
17. Linux is scalable from the PDAs to mobile phones and computers.
18. Linux runs with older hardware too – so you don’t need to upgrade your older computer if you cannot afford it. Linux will help you continue using it at almost no cost.
19. Linux is available in almost any language in the world.
20. You can browse faster and safer with Linux. If you are a Mozilla Firefox fan, you’ll be happy to know that this is one of the free Linux browsers.
21. It is not true that you cannot play games with Linux. Linux has all kinds of games, from 3D games to text games.
22. Linux is compatible with Yahoo, MSN, Jabber, ICQ, AOL and so on, through Gaim IM client.
23. Linux 64 bit still works with Dial up and Windows 64 bit does not.
24. You can control your desktop look and feel, while in Windows, aside changing the wallpaper, you are stuck with the default.
25. Linux is perfect for computers with low processing power.
26. On Windows your private information is never private. It’s not the web hosting company you need to be afraid of. Click on the link, read the article and you will learn who is the boogeyman.
27. Linux/Unix systems and server applications (FTP, Web Server, DNS server, etc) are more stable than Windows systems.
28. It doesn’t matter what system you run on your computer – the server where you host your site is independent. So if you work on Windows you can safely choose a Linux hosting plan for your website.
29. Websites hosted on Linux systems have higher up-time than their Windows counterparts.
30. Linux web servers support almost all types of file extensions and scripts: (.cgi, .html, .php, .xhtml, .xml etc).
31. PHP and Pearl work better on Linux. If you plan using ASP consider Windows as a better alternative.
32. Linux servers come with installable Front Page Extensions.
33. With Linux is much easier to move between hosts – it is easier to move from Linux to Windows than to move from Windows to Linux.
34. Linux hosting is more popular than Windows.
35. Linux plans are usually cheaper than Windows plans – for the users and for the providers.
36. It is easier to expand a website on a Linux platform than on Windows.
37. Linux can run a higher number of processes at the same time, at full speed, while Windows slows down when more processes run on the server.
38. Linux is an easier target for hacks because it is so widespread, but with proper shelter measures it is far more secure than Windows. Actually, no matter how secure the operating system is, your website will not be safe if your hosting company has not configured it correctly.
39. Windows hosting might bring unexpected costs or recurring payments for updates, upgrades, new applications – especially when your web hosting company is not prepared to take-over these costs.
40. Both Linux and Windows servers are fast and perform well, but it all depends on the quality of the hardware used. Linux is the better choice simply because it runs well on older hardware too.
41. Self management is easier on a Linux server than on a Windows server.
42. Linux comes with Apache webserver, email server, firewall and SQL databases that cost a lot in Windows.
43. The most advanced computers in the world use Linux for its super computing cluster capabilities.
44. Linux can scale up to a million TB (TB=terabyte of data equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes of data or 1,000,000 megabytes of data).
45. Linux is specifically designed to accommodate heavy traffic and server load, can host multiple websites and multiple applications without problems.
46. Linux servers provide a wider degree of flexibility due to their shell environment that allows webmasters to interact and customize their services in real-time from any computer system worldwide. Linux can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet without special software.
47. Linux can scale up to 1024 processors on a single computer. No, Windows doesn’t even dream about that!
48. Red Hat Linux is most widely used hosting platform in the world.
49. All popular blogs and forums run on Linux hosting.
50. Even Google runs on Linux!