Alternative to Windows XP
As support for Windows XP ends on April 8 of next year, security concerns abound, and there are growing talks about possible alternatives to Windows XP, including operating systems (OSs) such as Ubuntu Linux.
According to an industry source on December 15, there is a heated discussion about replacing Windows XP with an alternative OS in IT communities at home and abroad, since the market for PC OSs has been divided into largely MS windows and Mac OS, without any other significant operating systems. But the issue of a third option has now become a reality, as Windows XP is going to be retired.
There are various talks on how to continue using the retired Windows XP and how to install an alternative OS to replace it.
The most talked-about OS is Linux. Linux has been around for a long time, but has not before been easily usable to average users because of the limited driver support of graphic cards and compatibility with propriety Microsft software. And it was difficult to install. However, Ubuntu Linux has evolved to the point where novice users can install it easily. It is free, and basic programs come automatically installed. Also, users can install various multimedia codec and extensions such as Adobe Flash easily during installation.
According to a software industry source, “Ubuntu does not support as wide an array of programs like Windows but is easy to install, and has evolved into a highly sophisticated program,” adding, “PC users today do not need clunky packaged software. In a desktop environment today, users can perform most of the tasks with the aid of a simple browser.”
Ubuntu not only offers Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox but a browser for Linux, as well. When using Chrome, users can synchronize their preferences settings, and Internet surfing and working with basic documents becomes an easy task. Ubuntu also supports the Korean language natively, and can run on low-power PCs such as netbook. Most important for some, Ubuntu is free.
The only drawback of using an alternative OS like Ubuntu is that they are incompatible with the security requirements of web sites run by public offices, banks, and some online shopping portals. Windows has been a de facto OS for a long time in these environments, and installing an alternative OS is not yet practical.
As the era of Windows XP draws to a close, companies are expected to jump ship and explore the option of applying other web-based office systems that are not tied to any particular OS, since it is likely that in the future Windows 7 and 8 will meet the same fate as Windows XP.