Ubuntu vs Windows XP

• XP Home
• XP Professional
• XP 64-bit Edition
• XP Professional x64 Edition
• XP Media Center Edition
• XP Tablet PC Edition
• XP Embedded
• Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

Of these the three most commonly encountered are XP Home, XP Professional, and XP Media Center Edition.

There are two spin-off versions that were sold in specific parts of the world. XP Starter Edition was sold in Russia and select parts of South America and Asia; it runs on lower-end hardware and is reported to offer similar functionality to XP Home.

After being convicted of monopoly tactics and anti-competitive behaviour in the European Union, Microsoft was forced to offer a version of XP that did not include the Windows Media Player. This was known as Windows XP Edition N (for No Media Player).

• Ubuntu
• Edubuntu
• Kubuntu
• Xubuntu

Unlike Microsoft, Ubuntu does not differentiate between its home and professional editions. The version homemakers use for recipe collection or children use for games is the same version used by programmers in large businesses like Google. The focus of professional or enterprise editions - security and stability - is equally available to the non-professional user.

Beyond Ubuntu, there are a few specialist packages. Edubuntu is specifically oriented toward schools and teaching. It includes educational games for children as young as three. But it also includes key applications for students in higher levels, including high school or college. At its core, however, it remains the same as regular Ubuntu.

In addition to these, two other editions of Ubuntu are available for different graphic interfaces and pre-packaged programs. Kubuntu is oriented to those who prefer to use the KDE graphic interface instead of Ubuntu's default, GNOME. Xubuntu is for those who prefer the xfce graphic interface.

Unlike Windows, Ubuntu does not need to be trimmed down to be embedded or to work on a tablet PC. It is already small enough and fast enough for that. Also, Linux is already embedded in PDAs and cell phones without major revisions.

Also unlike Windows, Ubuntu - and Linux in general - is very robust. It can run on relatively old computers. Therefore, there is no need for a legacy edition. But it can also run on full media centers without needing a new version of the operating system.

More advanced users also benefitted from fast user switching, remote desktop capabilities, and ACPI power management that supports hibernation and sleep mode. Anything beyond this basic functionality requires the purchase of additional software. Unfortunately, XP users also have to endure incompatabilities between XP and some third-party software.

Ubuntu, on the other hand, comes with high quality, industrial-strength applications on the installation CD. These include a full office suite, a graphics package that has around 80% of the functionality of Adobe Photoshop, a full personal information manager that functions similarly to Outlook, instant messaging, and Skype-like Internet phoning.

Using Ubuntu's built-in installation utility, one can select applications which the program will then find on the Internet, download, install, and configure at the click of a button. Ubuntu also supports fast user switching as well as nested user switching, allowing you to start another login inside of a nested window like starting another program. ACPI power management is also supported.

One of the great frustrations endured for some time by Linux users and Windows users alike was incompatability issues between the software and the operating system. Ubuntu solves this by checking the dependencies of a program before it is installed. If a required package is not installed and needs to be, Ubuntu will offer to find it and install it first, and then continue installing the previously selected program.