Windows Vista vs Ubuntu - Essay Example

1. Searching Files, Folders, and Applications: The search provided by Ubuntu is comparable to that in Vista. From within this search panel, applications, as well as files and folders, can be searched within the system by setting various refining filters within the audio, video, pictures, and other categories. The element of categories and subcategories is not available in Vistas default search.
2. Software Install/Uninstall: Like the Program install/uninstall feature in Vista, “Ubuntu Software Center” is present in Ubuntu which manages all the software programs in the system. It lists the software available for installation and also the installed programs. Option to remove the software is available, next to every installed program as in Windows.
3. Data Organization: Like in Windows, data is organized into logical partitions. Files and folders can be created, edited, deleted. The drives can be accessed by the “Home folder” icon on the desktop.
4. Creating Documents: As an alternate to Office, LibreOffice is provided in Ubuntu. LibreOffice provides interfaces similar to that of Office and opens the documents with the office document formats such as .doc, Docx, ppt, ppt, Xls, xlsx, etc.
5. Browsing: Like Windows, the Firefox browser is also available in Ubuntu 11.10, so there is no difference in the way the Internet is accessed for e-mails or to retrieve information from websites.

Summary

Ubuntu was found to provide all the basic functionalities that are normally used in Windows. The interface for Ubuntu is different from Windows Vista yet it is equally simple to use for even a person new to using computers. Similar to Windows Vistas, no advanced technical knowledge is necessary on part of the user to learn to use Ubuntu 11.10. To summarize, Ubuntu 11.10 offers an equally sound alternative to Windows Vista.