Linux Tackles Microsoft: Discover The Superior Performance And Power Savings of Linux Vs. Microsoft

By John E. Meister, Jr

Tests in this book show the performance differences of Linux vs. Microsoft Windows, XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
On a Dell D630 (4gb Memory) Linux took 33.6 seconds to run a test, Win 10 took 333.583 seconds,
that means on a D630 that Linux is 8.9x's faster than Microsoft Windows 10.
UPDATED TESTS: (21 Jan 2015)
On a Dell T3610 (16GB memory) Linux took 4.2 seconds to run the same test, Win 10 took 149.1 seconds... meaning that Linux is 34.2 x's faster than Win 10 on the same, newer hardware...

This book documents tests and analyzes performance and power consumption. It discusses interoperability and ways of making both Linux and Microsoft work together, providing users greater flexibility. While many seem interested in better performance and reducing the costs associated with power consumption, the question comes up, how do you quantify the differences? Those topics are addressed as we examine performance differences on a single system, and what the power differences are between operating systems as examined on multiple systems. Chapter 3 analyzes the power differences between the operating systems as exhaustively tested on multiple systems as part of a graduate research project. There is a batch file and a shell script provided in Chapter 2, along with the spreadsheet formulas to calculate the total time for comparison between the two operating systems. Chapter 2 will provide the most useful and repeatable tools for quick comparison tests. The use of a Live CD or USB drive will allow a casual user to see the differences on the same hardware.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John E. Meister, Jr
• Release date: Dec 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311566935

John E. Meister, Jr

John Meister is a retired technical specialist and instructor, a Jack of all Trades, master of some.Interests include Biblical prophecy, photography, kayaking (flat water), Linux, and road trips, preferably in a Diesel Jeep.Over his career John has taught: electronics theory, design, troubleshooting and repair; microprocessors and assembly language programming; computer programming and science; systems analysis and design; operating systems (UNIX, Linux, Microsoft, etc.); shell scripting and the vi editor ; web design and HTML; technical writing and career planning; automotive maintenance and repair; and an overview of the Bible.John has held positions in a variety of corporations and industries as a System Administrator, systems analyst, circuit designer, equipment engineer, technical instructor, computer lab manager, adjunct faculty, electronics technician, mechanic, salesman, photographer and technical lead. Some of those companies were: Intel, O'Reilly Media, Boeing Electronics, Boeing Computer Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, ITT Tech, AT&T, Western Wireless, T-Mobile, Cingular, Merck, Intermec, City University of Seattle, Georgia Military College, Everett Community College, Prosoft, Develop Intelligence, New Horizons and other training companies nationwide. John served in the US Army Signal Corps attaining the rank of E-6, Staff Sergeant, specialized in the repair, installation and service of secure voice and data encrypted communication systems, served 5 years in Germany, an then as a TSEC/KG-13A instructor at the Signal School at Fort Gordon.As an O'Reilly Media author John created the LPIC-2 Certification exam study video series, released July 2016 - http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920050209.doEducation includes:- MSTM - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University- BSc, AA - University of Maryland- AA - Central Texas College- US Army Signal School - 32F/32G/31S/31T- Western Seminary (MDiv CEd - no degree)- Cogswell College North (BSEE - no degree)- Cleveland Institute of Electronics (Advanced Electronics & Troubleshooting)Listed in: Who's Who in Science and Engineering; Who's Who in American Education; Who's Who in America; Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America; Who's Who Among Young American Professionals; and, Who's Who in the West (since 1987).

Book preview

Linux Tackles Microsoft

Discover the Superior Performance and Power Savings of Linux vs. Microsoft.

Copyright 2015 John Meister

Published by John Meister at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Linux Tackles Microsoft

Discover the Superior Performance and Power Savings of Linux vs. Microsoft.

Copyright 2014 John Meister

Published by John Meister at Smashwords

ISBN: 9781311566935

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: OS comparison

In Chapter One - The Philosophy of Linux

Chapter Two: Performance Testing

Chapter Three: Power Analysis

About John Meister

About the Pictures

Other books by John Meister

Connect with John Meister

Introduction

This book tests and analyzes performance and power consumption. It also discusses interoperability and ways of making both Linux and Microsoft work. While many seem interested in better performance and reducing the costs associated with power consumption, the question comes up, how do you quantify the differences? Those topics will be addressed in this book as we examine performance differences on a single system, and what the power differences are between operating systems as examined on multiple systems.

A brief summary of the performance results from Chapter 2 is shown in the image below, and below that a sampling of power consumption on one of the laptops used to test power comparisons as detailed in Chapter 3.

Linux (SuSE) - 16 Watts

XP SP2-19 Watts - 3 watts or 16% more power consumption over Linux

Vista - 36 Watts - 20 watts or 56% more power consumption over Linux

Win7 - 35 Watts - 19 watts or 55% more power consumption over Linux

Win8 - 23 Watts - 7 watts or 31% more power consumption over Linux

The image below shows Figure 6, the table found in the original research:

People will often purchase new hardware when seeking an increase in performance instead of considering other options such as changing the operating system, adding memory or even switching types of hard drives. Sometimes one can simply optimize the environment they have and see an improvement in performance. If you need to run a Microsoft operating system you may be interested in my upcoming book "Some Practical Suggestions for Microsoft Systems" where a number of practical settings and configurations to optimize performance and reduce issues are identified. These recommendations are based on years of supporting software developers, engineers and DBA's working with large amounts of data in CAD/CAM tools or databases.

Changing the operating system may not be an option if the applications are dependent on a particular version. And the idea of switching operating systems can be a subjective and controversial topic, shrouded in emotion and ignorance.

Microsoft users will talk about those dark screen folks, those in the realm of the "command line interface, the Linux users. The dark screen" refers to the default terminal windows colors of black background with green text, or gray text… for my aging eyes a really useless default that emulates the old console terminals and something that almost every UNIX and Linux Sys Admin I know changes. I did notice that my son prefers the black screen with light characters as he has plunged into the Linux world afresh as a Mechanical Engineering student fed up with the eye candy and other issues of the Microsoft world.

Linux users will refer to the limitations of the "captive user interfaces of the Microsoft operating systems as clicking and drooling". Both potshots are good natured jesting, but also point out significant differences in the paradigms and reveal significant differences that impact performance, power consumption, and other factors that a more complete discussion of are not possible in this book, which are in part: security and functionality.

The following picture shows the two cats Mac and Jack battling it out on top of the book case in my office:

Both groups have valid points, meaning that neither operating system is perfect for everyone. There are distinct advantages related to performance and power consumption between the two systems and this book quantifies those differences and offers a few practical solutions to overcome some of the historical limitations associated with the UNIX and Linux systems.

Considering that most users are using their computers for email, web-browsing, and office tools like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, or better, documents, presentations and spreadsheets. It may come as a shock to regular Microsoft users that there are completely free applications available to Linux users, and also to Microsoft and Apple MacOS users. Those free applications have the same functions and commands across all three operating systems and are interoperable, meaning that the files saved can be used on the different operating systems and the commands to use the tools are the same.

I use Mozilla Thunderbird for email and enjoy many of the same features, and actually more, that what is provided by Microsoft Outlook, but without the concerns of macro viruses. There are add-ons for Thunderbird that allow me create the same kind of rules I do