Why Linux? Windows? Mac?

Kraizer

Honorable
May 1, 2013
32
0
10,530
A simple search in google, and you can find thousands of websites, columns, discussions, ect, all about why one OS is better than another. However, after reading the massive walls of text, one can easily be confused in the ocean of opinions and facts.

On to my question though. Why are Linux distributions more popular among server hosts, than Windows or Mac? What is it about the design of those distributions, (or the kernel itself), that makes hosting more efficient and easier to manage? Why do the other OS's fall short?
 
Solution
Inertia, security, cost, and ease of maintenance.

Inertia - Linux is very, very similar to Unix. Which is was was used in many mainframe and server installations. So the transition is easy.

Security - While Windows Server versions are catching up, traditionally Linux has been more secure.

Cost - Windows licenses are expensive

Ease of maintenance - Again, Windows is catching up with Powershell, but traditionally Linux/Unix is easier to script. No GUI needed.

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Inertia, security, cost, and ease of maintenance.

Inertia - Linux is very, very similar to Unix. Which is was was used in many mainframe and server installations. So the transition is easy.

Security - While Windows Server versions are catching up, traditionally Linux has been more secure.

Cost - Windows licenses are expensive

Ease of maintenance - Again, Windows is catching up with Powershell, but traditionally Linux/Unix is easier to script. No GUI needed.
 
Solution

random stalker

Honorable
Feb 3, 2013
764
0
11,360
in a nutshell?

linux - stability. As certain services /such as email/ are run 24/7, it is very important that the system they run upon is stable. Also the nature of linux is, that it can be compiled precisely to fit the system it is installed on. And it allows you to set literally every aspect of the OS to your needs.

mac - productivity/user experience. Well, most of the digital processing was done on a Mac as there are many professional tools created only for mac /especially in the graphics dept./ The system itself is very easy to use, so that's a good point too... Also Apple used to develop it's marketing strategy about 'the apple being the way of life' - thus if you have one apple you start to build your whole ecosystem around apple products...

windows - games and stuff. It is a all rounder, jack of all trades but master of none. Compared to linux it is easy to crash but it is easier to use. Compared to mac it isn't bound to specific hardware, the trade-off is the user experience /it can be a colossal pain in the arse to install/run/debug something compared to mac/.
But it has games and all kind of software from professional stuff to, let's say, 18+games - which is something none of the above has.

So... that's about it :D