Debian OS vs. Microsoft Windows

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Debian OS
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
Debian OS is an open source operating system.N/A
Microsoft Windows
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Windows is an operating system with editions to support business workstations.N/A
Pricing
Debian OSMicrosoft Windows
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Debian OSMicrosoft Windows
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Best Alternatives
Debian OSMicrosoft Windows
Small Businesses
Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Score 8.9 out of 10
Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.1 out of 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.1 out of 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Debian OSMicrosoft Windows
Likelihood to Recommend
9.3
(7 ratings)
9.3
(5 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(1 ratings)
7.7
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Debian OSMicrosoft Windows
Likelihood to Recommend
Open Source
My favorite way to use Debian OS is to run shared, hosted, network applications for easy segmentation of apps so that when doing work on one you don't have to effect or take down others. I would not use it is for a daily use desktop style OS. For that I would stick to Windows, macOS, or a distribution of Linux that is already geared towards a daily use desktop OS.
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Microsoft
It is well suited in a work environment, being that an organization can set up their system to be specifically work related and only certain users can get access is really helpful. I also like that multiple users can log in on the same device and keep each account seperate without interfering with the other.
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Pros
Open Source
  • The APT package manager is dead simple to use, and the APT repositories contain pretty much every package you can think of. If there's something missing from the standard repositories, there's a good chance a third-party repository can be added to fill the gap.
  • Debian OS releases are often considered, "boring". But that's a good thing! The Debian developers do not make changes for change's sake and this means new releases are very predictable and intended to cause as little drama as possible.
  • Debian is such a widely used and popular Linux distribution, that practically all Linux software vendors officially support it.
  • The Debian community is huge, especially when you consider Ubuntu is derived from it. If you need help with anything, you'll usually find it has been asked before and already has a resolution.
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Microsoft
  • Smooth operating system
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Easy integration of other Microsoft products
  • System encryption
  • Very secure
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Cons
Open Source
  • The installation could include suggested partitioning schemes for those beginning users or those who have their first approach with Debian OS
  • offer encryption of the home partition or the entire hard drive by default
  • an improved visual package manager and if it could be native it would be very well received
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Microsoft
  • confusing at first when shut down is under start menu
  • task bar on 2 displays sometimes won't hide automatically even though set that way
  • not so intuitive to set up 2 displays
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Usability
Open Source
Debian is one of the most well-thought-out, logical, and intuitive Linux operating systems you can use. Configuration, package management, file system layouts, etc, are all based on many years of usage, and it's very rare to find anything surprising or confusing in everyday usage. Package management and updates are handled by APT in such a way that once configured, you can almost guarantee your system will behave as expected for the lifetime of its service. Top-notch system integration provides all the tools you'd expect from a modern Linux system, with all the stability you demand from a demanding server OS.
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Microsoft
Works fine until it stops working, then hard to troubleshoot and fix!
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Support Rating
Open Source
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
support remains spotty, researching online articles are a pain
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Implementation Rating
Open Source
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
MDT helped deploy OS to users machines via PXE boot.
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Alternatives Considered
Open Source
Its has all the needy features that we are looking for plus the support and updates for the OS as well. This means we get all the support and updates in the mean time. Also comparing to others, Debian OS helps us with more security features in built which is also updated over time.
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Microsoft
Because of its compatibility with third-party software requirements.
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Return on Investment
Open Source
  • Having no software cost for my business has made me much more profitable, and I never need to worry about a license expiring and crippling features.
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Microsoft
  • Increased productivity
  • Intuitive interface
  • Quick operation
  • Minimal interruption from system processes
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ScreenShots