I'm currently studying about Linux in general and what it is. I see that Linux is a high-performance operating system that breathes life to old hardware. Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux.
But I'm uncertain whether Ubuntu is an embedded system. Embedded systems execute applications without an overhead kernel, and Android is a prime example in the mobile world. Is Ubuntu an embedded system as well?
Whether it is or is not, how does this fact account for the high performance of the system?
Best Answer
Ubuntu is not an embedded operating system in it's default incarnation regardless of supported chipsets.
As @Rinzwind commented,a mobile build exists specifically for embedded devices.
The performance you are referring to is in relation to Linux as an operating system (more correctly called GNU/Linux as strictly speaking Linux is only the kernel). The performance is gained by keeping the system simple. Obviously if you start throwing windows managers and application frameworks on top then performance is affected as memory requirements increase.
The modular nature of the GNU/Linux operating system allows old hardware to be used where the latest versions of Windows(TM) have excessive requirements just to perform simple tasks. As such, GNU/Linux can provide a more resource efficient system.
Do not confuse embedded systems and real-time operating systems ... the two are often used in conjunction but there is a distinct difference.