Laptops Workstations

Linux or Windows for Data Scientists? – Here’s a Third Option

by Sayan Dey October 12, 2022 0 comments

Many data scientists work on a wide number of data science tools. Some of these tools work well on Linux while others on Windows. Linux is used as it’s known for its reliability, security, breadth of open source tools available, control, resources management, interoperability, and better community support. Likewise, Windows is known for having the latest applications, swift operations, user-friendly UI, compatibility, and multitasking. Therefore, data scientists must keep both operating systems on their systems. One way to do that is to configure the system in dual boot mode, but then it becomes very inconvenient to keep switching between the two operating systems. You could also use virtualization, but that is also resource intensive. There is a third option where you can use both operating systems simultaneously. Read on.

The third option is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which acts as a bridge between the two Operating Systems. Now in its second edition, WSL 2 can help power users from Data science, ML, and Deep learning fields to work with both OS simultaneously without any performance loss.

How WSL 2 is a better Solution for Data Science?

Data science innovations are shaping just about every industry’s future business landscape. Business leaders have realized the advantages of leveraging data for their organizations and therefore encourage their data science teams to use as many tools and applications as they deem fit. This is why data science teams need to work on tools across Windows and Linux.

Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) offers a groundbreaking solution for data science teams by integrating the advantages of Linux into a single Windows OS. Initially, Microsoft was the sole distributor of WSL, but HP has managed to introduce WSL 2 pre-installed on their Z Workstations.

With WSL 2 pre-installed on select Z workstations, customers gain the ability to run Ubuntu natively within a Windows operating system. This new OS capability, paired with pre-loaded Z by HP Data Science Stack Manager and powerful GPU and CPU hardware acceleration, unlocks new levels of productivity and efficiency for data science workflows.

Some benefits that this setup offers are:

• Seamless switching between systems and the ability to share files increases productivity. It eliminates dual boot giving data scientists more time to focus on their workflow.
• WSL 2 presents a whole Linux kernel to data science practitioners granting optimal performance all the time. It features the ability to run command-line tools and utilities directly on Windows.
• It provides Ubuntu’s well-known development environment along with productivity and enterprise manageability of Windows, both in a single system.

Why HP is the Best Choice for a Data Science Workstation?

Z workstations by HP come pre-installed with WSL 2. Plus, they also come pre-loaded with Z by HP Data Science Stack Manager. This is the world’s first workstation with an OEM-developed GUI for customizing data science software available on Ubuntu and Microsoft WSL 2. It provides fast, convenient access to software and open-source tools for data science and updates them automatically, making it easier to customize and manage your PC environment.

Within a Linux kernel, empowered by WSL 2 on a Windows OS, data scientists can use apps like NVIDIA RAPIDS, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and others. It becomes easier to use the popular software tools and libraries out-of-the-box.

Z by HP transforms data science workflows for data users enabling organizations to effectively adopt data science. It allows them to discover insights to drive growth without sacrificing the technical infrastructure or getting exposed to cybersecurity threats. With WSL 2 and Z high-performance workstations, there’s no need to dual boot or run a two-computers setup. Work on open-source projects, explore massive datasets in real-time, or utilize business tools, all from within a single OS.

For Data Scientists, IT Decision makers, and Future professionals, HP Z Workstations are the best . You can check out the HP ZBook FireFly 14 G9 if you are looking for an entry-level Workstation laptop, but I recommend checking out the HP ZBook Power G9 Mobile Workstation if you are a power user or investing for business use.

Verdict

A laptop is the go-to choice for professionals in a hybrid work culture. However, power users like Data science pros or analysts using ML or deep learning tools, are also opting for laptops these days. HP Mobile Workstations have been the best choice for such users for years. Now, with WSL 2 pre-installed along with the HP Data Science Stack Manager, it gives the system a huge competitive advantage over others.