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Benchmark: Windows 7 and Ubuntu’s Karmic Koala edge to edge

With the new release from the tech giant Microsoft, the competition has become tougher for the Linux supporters. Let’s see the full review on these Operating Systems later. Now let’s look at the features which confuse us on “who copied from whom?”.

Bit locker

Windows 7, by default has its bit locker hard drive encryption for data security. Although, in previous versions; administrators can perform this act using the group policies. Windows 7 has made it much easier to use.

On the other hand, almost every Linux distribution offers hard drive encryption as an option at the installation time. A similar feature is applied on both the OSs called the “TrueCrypt”.

Now they have made this bit locker go mobile as the encryption can be applied to removable devices too. The application itself is added to the USB to be decrypted in other systems.

App locker

A similar feature that works with application installations. App locker decides what installations can work on the PC’s. Even this is available through group policies in window’s earlier versions. Linux for its part allows only installation of signed packages. AppLocker in Linux is found in the form of frameworks such as SELinux and AppArmor.

Problem steps recorder

Windows 7 has this cool new feature called as the problem steps recorder. With which the OS records the errors with the screenshots and gives out as a zip file to be forwarded to the administrator or the customer support.

The bug reporting tool in Linux is not that slick as of now. For now, it’s not that bad too. They have an equivalent tool, but it doesn’t support screenshots.

PowerShell

In Windows 7, the PowerShell has been enhanced with an advantage to write, run and test scripts in the same window. It’s called the PowerShell ISE.

On the other hand, Linux has always given its command line a lot of significance. Here goes an Open Source project Pash (PowerShell+Bash).

Customized libraries

Now files can be categorized using the right click tool in windows 7.An” Include in library” option comes with the right click to organize files.

A similar feature called symlinks is found with the latest Linux distribution.

Search

Windows 7’s search not only gets the database of the local hard drive but the data from intranet and the internet search engines too. Though, these destinations should be configured.

The Linux has its Open source project for this too. Named Surfraw, it can search and index any sort of remote locations.

Virtualization

Now both have entered into the concept of virtualization to be inbuilt with the OS. Windows 7 comes with a XP mode for those applications that doesn’t get compatible with the new OS. For this, VM and Hypervisor should be downloaded separately (not free for the home editions).

Windows XP can be very well virtualized on the Linux platform too using the Virtual box, but you have to license the XP version while it’s done free of cost on the Microsoft’s platform.

Aero Interface

Window 7’s aero interface shows up thumbnails of the applications that are running for the ease of access.

The new taskbar in Linux shoots up the thumbnail on the mouse over action on their respective tabs.

Mount or burn ISO

Now this can be done on both the OSs with a simple right click.