Comparison between Windows 7 and Windows XP Features Windows 7 Windows XP User Interface

- opaqueness : - Support transparency - Support opaqueness a transparent border for applications like

- for - Support large icon and unlimited number - Support only small icon and only allow quick launch of icon pin on the taskbar limited icon to be displayed, the rest will go icons to drop down list

-application - Support application -Doesn’t support application preview preview : a - it enables user to close or switch preview of the between application by just moving the window you mouse to the application icons on the have opened taskbar

- side bar : side - Support side bar and user can download - Doesn’t support any side bar bar to display more from the web gadget like clock, weather, etc.

Page 1 of 8 -Jump List : - Support jump list. -Does not support jump list Open the - Enable user to access the recent programs and documents of that application. files you use most in just a click or two in taskbar

File Organization and Search

-Libraries: user- -Support better file organization -Does not support, for Win XP it is defined -User can add virtual location to the Documents and Setting. collection of Library, network folders, folder from other - User only can create shortcut which will contents drive can be place in Library. It allows you redirect to the location of the file, not the to access all the virtual folder and files. virtual location.

-Find files and -Support instant search -Do not support instant search. programs -Result will be shown as you type the -User has to enter the entire word and click instantly: word at the search column. And you can on the search button to start searching. instant result on easily customize and filter your searches file searching using file name, author, file type and file size. Besides, file can be tagged to be sorted out accordingly.

-Desktop - Support and it’s improved in processing - Support and you need to download the Search: -User can search for programs or file at program separately. searching file is the or the window explorer -It would take a longer time as it doesn’t much faster with the help of search index, the file that have search index. was search previously could be found faster.

Page 2 of 8 Remote Access

-VPN - Support -Doesn’t support Reconnect: links users to corporate resources from the road without a virtual private network Mobile - Support -Doesn’t support Broadband RemoteApp & - Support -Doesn’t support Desktop Connections

Security and Compliance

-BitLocker - Support BitLocker Driver Encryption -Does not support Drive - it’s a volume encryption system where a Encryption: virtual lock is put on the files, it ensures help prevent or the integrity of the boot path, preventing loss of data the physical attack or boot sector malware -BitLocker To - Support -Doesn’t support Go: protects data on removable devices Multiple Active - Support -Doesn’t support Firewall Profiles Granular Audit - Support -Doesn’t support User Account - Support -Doesn’t support Control Domain Name - Support -Doesn’t support SystemSecurity Extensions

Management

Scripting of - Support -Doesn’t support Settings Windows - Support -Doesn’t support Recovery Environment Windows - Support -Doesn’t support

Page 3 of 8 Troubleshootin g Platform Unified Tracing - Support -Doesn’t support Problem Steps - Support -Doesn’t support Recorder Remote Access - Support -Doesn’t support to Reliability Data

Deployment

Deployment - Support -Doesn’t support Image Servicing& Management Dynamic Driver - Support -Doesn’t support Provisioning Volume - Support -Doesn’t support Activation Multicast - Support -Doesn’t support MultipleStream Transfer VHD Image - Support -Doesn’t support Management & Deployment VHD Boot - Support -Doesn’t support

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Windows. “See why Windows 7 is better: Compare version”. 2009.

2. Wikipedia. “Windows 7”. 7 August 2009.

3. Gralla,P. “Computer World: Seven reasons for upgrading to Windows 7”. 13 August 2009.

4. Smith, W. “Windows 7 Review: XP vs Vista vs 7 in 80+ Benchmarks”. 19 October 2009.

Page 4 of 8 5. Top-Windows-Tutorials.com. “Master the basics of Windows 7 and find out what’s new in the latest version of Windows. Windows 7 tutorial 15 – Search is everywhere in Windows 7 too”. 3 August 2010.

Question 2

History Of Linux The History of Linux began in 1991 with the commencement of a personal project by a Finnish student, Linus Torvalds( as shown in the picture on right), to create a new kernel.Since then the resulting Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history. Since the initial release of its source code in 1991, it has grown from a small number of C files under a license prohibiting commercial distribution to its state in 2009 of over 370 megabytes of source under the GNU General Public License.

Events that leads to creation of linux The Unix operating system was conceived and implemented in the 1960s and first released in 1970. Its availability and portability caused it to be widely adopted, copied and modified by academic institutions and businesses. Its design became influential to authors of other systems. In 1983, Richard Stallman started the GNU project with the goal of creating a free UNIX-like operating system. As part of this work, he wrote the GNU General Public License (GPL). By the early 1990s there was almost enough available software to create a full operating system. However, the GNU kernel, called Hurd, failed to attract enough attention from developers leaving GNU incomplete. Another free operating system project in the 1980s was the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). This was developed by UC Berkeley from the 6th edition of Unix from AT&T. Since BSD contained Unix code that AT&T owned, AT&T filed a lawsuit (USL v. BSDi) in the early 1990s against the University of California. This strongly limited the development and adoption of BSD. MINIX, a Unix-like system intended for academic use, was released by Andrew S. Tanenbaum in 1987. While source code for the system was available, modification and redistribution were restricted. In addition, MINIX's 16-bit design was not well adapted to the 32-bit features of the increasingly cheap and popular Intel 386 architecture for personal computers. These factors and the lack of a widely-adopted, free kernel provided the impetus for Torvalds's starting his project. He has stated that if either the GNU or 386BSD kernels were available at the time, he likely would not have written his own.

The Creation of Linux In 1991, in Helsinki, Linus Torvalds began a project that later became the Linux kernel. It was initially a emulator, which Torvalds used to access the large UNIX servers of the university. He wrote the program specifically for the hardware he was using and independent of an operating system because he wanted to use the functions of his new PC with an 80386 processor. Development was done on MINIX using the GNU C compiler, which is still the main choice for compiling Linux today (although the code can be built with other compilers, such as the Intel C Compiler).

Page 5 of 8 The Name Linus Torvalds had wanted to call his invention Freax, a portmanteau of "freak", "free", and "x" (as an allusion to Unix). During the start of his work on the system, he stored the files under the name "Freax" for about half of a year. Torvalds had already considered the name "Linux," but initially dismissed it as too egotistical. In order to facilitate development, the files were uploaded to the FTP server (ftp.funet.fi) of FUNET in September 1991. Ari Lemmke, Torvald's coworker at the University of Helsinki who was one of the volunteer administrators for the FTP server at the time, did not think that "Freax" was a good name. So, he named the project "Linux" on the server without consulting Torvalds. Later, however, Torvald consented to "Linux".

Linux Features

1. Low Cost - Linux and majority of the Software is GNU General Public License. Besides, there a variety of high quality software are easily downloaded from the website.

2. Stability - Linux is more stable as it doesn’t turn lag or slow down due to the over time of usage.

3. Performance - Linux works well on workstations and networks. It can handle large numbers of users simultaneously, and can make old computers sufficiently responsive to be useful again.

4. User-friendly networking - Linux was developed by a programmer over the net, so it has a stronger support for network functionality. Client and server system can easily set up with Linux on the computer.

5. Flexibility - For Linux, you can install the components needed for a particular use instead of the complete application.

6. Compatibility - It runs all common Unix software packages and able to read all common file formats.

7. Choice - There are variety of Linux distribution, each of it is supported by a different organization. User can choose the suitable ones to be installed.

8. Fast and easy installation - Majority of Linux distributions come with user-friendly installation and program setup environment.

Page 6 of 8 9. Full use of hard disk - Even when the hard disk is almost full, Linux could still functioning as normal

10. Multitasking - Linux is designed to do many things at the same time without making the interrupting the background programs.

11. Security - Linux is one of the most secure operating systems. “Walls” and flexible file access permission systems prevent access by unwanted visitors or viruses.

12. Open Source - Linux`s source code is free. It allows user to alter the code for any purpose. Most Linux applications are Open Source as well.

Differences between Linux and Windows

Features Linux Windows Formats Linux file formats can be Windows on the other hand makes accessed in a variety of ways you lock your own data in secret because it is a open source formats that can only be accessed OS. with tools leased to you at the vendor’s price. License agreements Linux is open source so you With MS Windows you likely violation are unlikely to violate any already violate all kinds of licenses license agreement. and you could be pronounced a computer pirate if only a smart lawyer was after you. The worldwide PC software piracy rate for 2004 is at 35%. Transparent vs -Linux is based on UNIX. - MS Windows is based on DOS Proprietary -Linux GUI is based on -MS Windows Graphical User industry-standard network- Interface (GUI) is based on transparent X-Windows. Microsoft-own marketing-driven specifications. Network and Linux has a better network MS Windows desktop has a more processing capabilities features as a development friendly appearance, simple platform, in data processing general business applications, it is capabilities, and as a scientific more commercialized. workstation. Flexibility -Linux can boot from either a -Windows must boot from a primary partition or a logical primary partition. partition inside an extended -Windows must boot from the first partition hard disk. - Linux can boot from any hard disk in the computer Mobility - Linux stores all user data in - Windows allows programs to Page 7 of 8 the home making it store user information (files and much easier to migrate from an settings) anywhere. old computer to a new one. -This makes it impossibly hard to - You can even upgrade from backup user data files and settings one version of Linux to another and to switch to a new computer. without having to migrate user data and settings Proven Security Simply because its code has Windows code are protected, so it been open source for more is only tested by a single than a decade, tested by development team. When there is all around the world. an invasion of virus, it takes longer This leads to a lightning fast time to develop the anti-virus as finding and fixing for the man power is limited. exploitable holes in Linux Full access vs. no The fact that Linux belongs to The codes are protected. access the GNU Public License ensures that users can access (and alter) the code to the very kernel that serves as the foundation of the Linux operating system.

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia. “History of Linux”. 3 August 2010.

2. Haas, J. “About.com:Linux: Linux, the Ultimate Unix”. 3 August 2010.

3. Wallen, J. “10 fundamental differences between Linux and Windows”. 26 August 2008.

4. Chris. “10 Major Differences Between Linux and Windows”. 3 March 2007.

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