The two most prominent operating systems for personal and business computers continue to be Microsoft Windows and Linux. The rivalry between these two operating systems continues to be an issue today. One of the main distinctions between the two is that Linux is offered for very low cost or sometimes can even be downloaded for free while Windows can be very expensive ranging from around forty-five dollars to as much as four hundred and fifty dollars depending on the version of Windows you are purchasing. Another comparison cost-wise would be that when you purchase Windows OS you are only allowed to run it on one computer at any one given time. There is software loaded into the system that enforces this rule. However, once you purchase or download Linux you are allowed to load it on as many computers, as many times as you want without limitations.
Both operating systems continue to strive to improve their weaknesses and make every effort to be the best. The Windows operating system continues to be known for its continued issues with being susceptible to viruses and malware. Microsoft Corporation is continually working at correcting this problem and continually releases patches to fix any issues that arise with their current and past versions of Windows. Linux, however, has had very few issues with viruses and malware to date.
Besides the initial cost to obtain the operating systems, there are continued upkeep cost and functioning differences. According to an article in ComputerWorld magazine in 2002 there was a quote from the chief technology architect at Merrill Lynch and Co. stating “the cost of running Linux is typically a tenth of the cost of Unix or Microsoft alternatives.” There is some indication also that Linux systems are much easier to manage and maintain than Windows systems.