Ubuntu                           VS              Vista

      Company

           Ubuntu

         Microsoft

Platforms

Ubuntu – Desktop/Laptop Edition

Ubuntu – Server Edition

Vista Home Basic

Vista Home Premium

Vista Business

Vista  Ultimate

-:Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu installation is easier and faster. There are Free upgrades available every 6 months. It is an open source operating system, free to download and install.

Ubuntu has a great and unique option of “Live CD” installation on any other operating system. Just boot the computer with the Ubuntu CD and you can use Ubuntu without actually installing it on the computer.

 Vista:

Product available in four versions each with its own specific features which can be confusing for a first time user

Vista takes longer to install with many updates required before installation is completed. There are paid upgrades from one version to another. Each version has own specific features which can be confusing for a beginner.

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Very Slick clean look. The way its drop menu organized by categories rather than by vendor make life lot easier to find what you need.

Vista:

Vista appearance is as good as Ubuntu and it has quite few widgets for the desktop like the weather widget, sticky-notes, and a clock. We were not so happy with how software are categorized though as it made it a bit harder to find.

 Yes

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu has upto 36 virtual desktops (called workspaces) each of which can be individually named by you according to the applications/documents you place in them. This helps you declutter your desktop and help you navigate better. It is a great multitasking tool. Click here to heck it out Ubuntu Virtual Desktops Image

Vista:

Not applicable

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu now can offer the ability to run windows applications as being at home. Check The image below. The procedure is explained at: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SeamlessVirtualization. It might not be the easiest to setup, but hey it work great.

Vista:

Vista still lagging on this. No similar feature is offered.

 Yes

Yes

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Requires third party software

Vista:

Navigation Use is integrated

Built-in Security

 Anti-Virus

 Firewall

 Networking -

Wired /   Wireless

 Anti-Spyware

Protect Root Access

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

It is one of the safest operating systems around as no ports are open by default which is one of the main hacking breaches other operating systems suffer.  

Ubuntu is not only hack-proof, there are no recorded spyware infections. It is a very secure operating system.  Its FireStarter firewall by default blocks all sites not listed safe by you.

Ubuntu by default does not offer access to the root directories to be modified, unlike VISTA, making Ubuntu safer and more stable as an operating system.  

 Vista:

Shares require password protection to be enabled (not enabled by default), a great hole most newbie's fall in and make their data available to every one not just hackers. When a data share is setup then your laptop/PC is hooked up directly to the internet without enabling the password protection (b/c you don't know or forgot to) your data will be open to the whole world. A small scan on your ISP Range will show you how many of these Vista users are there with the shares open to the public enjoy the surf :).

 Some shares are enabled by default!!! 

Vista suffers more security loopholes and hacking breach than Ubuntu, running out of the box. Comes with Windows Defender for internet security (almost useless). A third party security program is essential.

Backup & Restore Center.

Previous Version.

Shadow Copy.

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

 Directory to Directory Backup is available in Ubuntu. The backup can be stored in a variety of Media including FTP.

Vista:

Vista has a similar backup but without the ease and efficiency.

Programs Inbuilt

Evolution

Pidgin Instant Messenger

Firefox

Tomboy

  F-Spot

Open Office Suite

Windows Mail

Messenger

IE 7 browser

Calendar

Photo Gallery

Movie Maker

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

More than 16,000 different packages are available for free which is mind blowing.

Firefox is the default web browser. It is a faster and more secure browser than Vista’s Internet Explorer 7.

Tomboy is a reminder plugin that you get as a helpful deskbar, giving you quick access to programs.

Open Office comes inbuilt for free. You do not have to pay anything extra to create documents, spreadsheets or presentations.

Vista:

Number of applications & features vary depending on the Vista versions.

MS Office suite is not free but has to be purchased separately and installed.

No Free software library is available for Vista, which give an edge advantage for Ubuntu. As Ubuntu has put a huge collection of software right at a click all you have to do is open you Synaptic Package, where in Vista you will have to search all over the web for your desired software, which most of them is commercial and at a higher cost.

Business Tools

Apache2 Web Server

PHP5 Scripting Language

 Squid – Proxy Server

MySQL

FTP Server

SAMBA

Streamtuner

Open Office Write

Open Office Math

Open Office Draw

Remote Desktop

Windows Live Meetings

Windows Live Messenger

IIS

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Server Installation offers a great many features for a free OS. Streamtuner is a stream directory browser. Ubuntu has a more comprehensive business package which includes Open Office.  What's even better its mostly for free!!!!

Vista:

Integrated web server is IIS, which suffers from many security & performance holes. You can always install the lovely Apache if you want. Vista does not come with any inbuilt or out-of-the box preloaded Office suite package. You will need to install one, usually after paying for it. It is a great disappointment to know that Vista offers only ancient WordPad and NotePad as text editors. More disappointing most of business applications which equivalent to what Ubuntu is offering for free will cost an arm and leg.

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu is capable of downloading and installing updates automatically without being attended to.

Vista:

Registration is required. Popup gives options about downloading available updates.

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Hardware Performance Tools

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu gives lesser trouble with 64Bit configuration. Hardware performance tools are unnecessary with Ubuntu as it is a very stable OS. 

Vista:

 Inbuilt hardware assessment tool for hardware optimization. Crashes are common.

Computer Accessories Sharing

Bluetooth Capability

Yes

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Rarely takes long time to configure bluetooth. 

Vista:

Sometimes will not configure properly to the bluetooth even when compatible, and less secure.

Disk Analyzer

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Baobab is a tool that can be used to know how your disk space is being used

Vista:

Traditional Disk Analyzing tools like Scandisk, Disk Defragmenter, both of which are lower in performance than Baobab.

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Most Windows based games can be run using emulator, in the addition of Linux Based games.

Some of the Gaming Networks supported are Quake4, Unreal Tournament 2004, Doom 3

Vista:

Xbox Live is the gaming network supported.

Media

Sound Juicer

(Rip audio from CD)

 Rhythmbox

(Music Organizer)

 Serpentine

(Allows authoring Audio CDs, Also plays your movies and help in sound recording) 

 Totem is the official movie player for the GNOME Desktop

Ubuntu:

Programs are divided into different and specific categories like” Audio Rippper”, “Music Organizer” and “Media Player”. A wider variety for free players is included.

Vista:

One combined media player is offered by Vista.

Flexibility on Desktop Choice

 Yes

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu offers many desktop environment, which allow you to choose the one best fit your need. Few examples:

Your can run WindowMaker of Fluxbox for maximum performance

KDE or Gnome is there for configurability and features.

 Vista:

Vista interface is AERO and only AERO. You don't have a choice, so if your machine is not a high end one then Vista maybe not the right choice for you.

Processor

300 MHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

 At least 64 MB

Home Premium / Business / Ultimate - 1GB

Disk Space

At least  2 GB

Home Premium / Business / Ultimate - 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu can be used on almost any specification computer. Lower specification (older) computers can use different versions of desktop Ubuntu – Kubuntu can run even with 64 MB RAM, Xubuntu can run on even 48 MB RAM. Recommended RAM is 192 MB for optimal performance of any Ubuntu. Even a 300 MHz processor can support Ubuntu. You just need to use Alternate Installation CD of Ubuntu.

You do not need a high-end, latest specifications computer to run Ubuntu, which proves once more that it is really an Open Source Operating System in the real sense of the words. Any one with any system can use Ubuntu for free.

 Vista:

All Vista versions including: Vista Basic, the Home Premium / Business / Ultimate need a higher amount of System requirements

                 High               

                 Lower

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu is one of the most stable operating systems available today, even when compared to paid OS. 

Ubuntu load much quicker than Vista. Ubuntu was able to load up fully in 45 seconds comparing to 2 minutes for Vista on the same box: ( Intel Core 2 Duo 1.2 Ghz, 1GB RAM).

Vista:

Vista is a resources HOG and will not operate well with less than 2 GB of RAM. It can have few crashes every now and then, which is common with Windows. There was some improvement after many patches being released.

Vista has a bad  tendency to crash when using standard applications like notepad++, and when try to open java pages with IE7 before installing Java on your machine.

When Vista hang up then you will require a reboot, which is not required for Ubuntu thanks for the ability to restart X using "X restart"

Vista waste a lot of resources on its 3rd interface, that make application load way slower than they used to on XP. In turn Ubuntu with all its 3rd effects does not sacrifice as much resources..

Free

Vista Price starts from US$150 at amazon.com

-: Ubuntu vs MS Windows Vista :-

Ubuntu:

Ubuntu is absolutely Free. There are no licensing, update, upgrade, or sharing fees.

Vista:

Price varies depending on the Vista Version, and its not cheap.