For consumers looking to boost their computers' security, is Vista the way to go? Or can Linux provide greater protection from hacker attacks? In the face of viruses, worms or other breaches, the answer is obvious. "We don't need a survey or study to determine the answer. The answer is universal with those that actually manage these systems," said John Cherry of the OSDL Desktop Linux Working Group.

As the five versions of microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows' new Vista operating system sit on store shelves, current Windows users are taking their time deciding if they will upgrade from Windows XP or buy new computers with Vista installed. The push for buying Windows Vista follows an epidemic of computer viruses, spyware and adware intrusions and carries the promise of a more secure computing environment.

However, some computer security experts contend that Windows Vista offers little to make computing more secure. They suggest that rather than wait for a half-baked new Windows operating system, consumer and enterprise users would have far better security with Linux.

"For the most part, the relatively slow response to Windows Vista is self inflicted. Vista has offered little to entice those using Windows XP to migrate," John Cherry, initiative manager for the OSDL (now Linux Foundation) Desktop Linux Working Group, told LinuxInsider. "It also comes with a heavy price tag in terms of training, hardware requirements, hardware compatibility and application compatibility."

Anyone debating which system's security is better need only ask a system administrator, Cherry said. In the face of viruses, worms or other breaches, the answer is obvious.

"We don't need a survey or study to determine the answer. The answer is universal with those that actually manage these systems," Cherry declared.