PDF file. This paper will provide readers with an understanding of both open source ( Linux ) and proprietary ( Microsoft ) methodologies and help explain why Linux and open source is the driving force behind the future of computing. Proprietary Software refers to software that is owned by an individual or a company and is protected from unauthorized use by patents, trademarks and/or copyrights. Such software is often sold or licensed to other individuals or organizations, usually with strict restrictions regarding its use, modification and further distribution. The most prominent vendor of proprietary software is Microsoft. Open Source is a method and philosophy for software licensing and distribution designed to encourage use and improvement of software written by a network of volunteers. Through this system, a program’s source code is made available to all interested parties for use, modifications, and improvements. Frequently a product of a collaborative environment, open source software is typically created by a number of developers and made freely available to all who wish to utilize it. The most popular form of open source software is the Linux operating system. From a proprietary viewpoint, there are many advantages to using the Windows platform. The main advantage of Windows lies within its user familiarity. Since it was the first mass-marketed operating system on PCs, Windows has become the computing standard. Nearly everyone who learns how to use a computer is taught on a Windows system and therefore, those same people are more inclined to stay loyal to what they know. Aside from familiarity, the other proposed advantages of Windows over Linux include user friendliness, simplified installation, and a greater variety of software choices. At the same time, it is important to remember that Linux was created as a solution to the unaddressed issues found with Windows. Issues with stability, security, and flexibility provide substantial disadvantages for Windows in a corporate environment. The advantages of choosing an open source solution like Linux are becoming more apparent every day. As administrators and users are warming up to the idea of utilizing Linux to run servers and desktops. It is quickly being adopted in an ever increasing number of global corporations and government agencies.

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