The most important piece of software running on any computer is the operating system (OS). That's the environment that manages everything on your computer and lets other software (like a word processor) communicate with the computer hardware so that it can run. Generally, the OS is already installed when you buy a computer, and it will most-likely be one of the following:
- Microsoft Windows*: Far and away the most popular OS, Windows runs on computers made by a wide variety of companies, such as Dell, IBM, Compaq, Sony, HP, and many others.
- Apple Mac OS X*: Limited by a license agreement to running only on computers made by Apple Inc., Mac OS X (the "X" is pronounced as the Roman numeral ten) is traditionally favored by designers and other artists, as well as used at academic institutions; it is also well-suited to general users.
Which OS is best for you? To help you decide, we'll give you an overview of each, and tell you about other options as well.
Windows: the household name
If you go into most electronics stores, most (or all) of the computers in stock will have Microsoft Windows installed. Because of that broad availability many of us are most familiar with Windows, and a greater variety of consumer software is also available for Windows than for any other OS. In particular, computer games are almost all compatible with Windows.
The Windows OS has two main versions available today: Windows XP* and Windows Vista*. Each of these versions is available in multiple editions that give you different levels of features. Generally, computers will come with Windows Vista, which is the newer version of the two, although with a bit of extra effort, you can still find machines with Windows XP.
Why would you want Windows XP, if there's a newer version available? Some people may prefer Windows XP because it costs a bit less or because they have software that's not compatible with Windows Vista (although sometimes free software upgrades are available to make them Vista-compatible-check with your software maker for details).
The first thing that the average user will notice about the differences between Windows XP and Windows Vista is that the visual elements within Windows Vista have been updated to a sleeker look. Under the covers, Microsoft has also put in a lot of effort to make it more secure and intuitive to use.
Mac OS X: a dedicated fan club
Available from www.apple.com, Apple retail stores and a growing number of the larger retailers, Apple Macintosh* computers come with the Mac OS X installed as a standard feature. People who like Mac OS X praise it for being aesthetically simple and intuitive. That claim is featured in Apple's long-running "Get a Mac" television advertising campaign with John Hodgman and Jason Long.
Mac OS X 10.5 includes a program called Boot Camp that allows you to install Windows XP or Windows Vista alongside Mac OS X on an Apple Macintosh computer. With both OSs installed, you can choose which one-Windows or Mac OS X-you want to use when you start up the computer (although only one OS can run at a time).
You may hear the different versions of Mac OS X referred to using the names of big cats (the current version, 10.5, is called Leopard). That's because before the first Mac OS X version came out in 2001, the internal codename used at Apple, Cheetah, was widely used in the news media. The same was true for the codenames that followed, and they have been so popular that Apple has begun using the big cat names publicly. In order so far, they have been Cheetah* (10.0), Puma* (10.1), Jaguar* (10.2), Panther* (10.3), Tiger* (10.4), and Leopard* (10.5).
Linux*: limited systems available (for now)
Technical users favor Linux in part because of its historic identity as an OS for large servers in data centers. This OS was developed and is maintained by programmers all over the world, who make it available to users in a wide variety of versions called "distributions." According to Wikipedia, as of January 2008, Linux held only a 0.67% share of the desktop OS market.1 Some industry observers expect Linux to become a more viable and popular desktop alternative in the future.
Making a decision: the bottom line
People all over the world use both Windows and Mac OS X for everyday and specialized computing. With the possible exception of games (which are far more widely available for Windows), you'll be able to find software to satisfy most needs for either OS.
When it comes to choosing an OS, the best guide is often hands-on experience, If possible, go to a friend's house, a local library, or a retail store to try out a machine that runs the OS you're interested in. For a table that compares features of various OSs in an easy-to-use format, see http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/news/9333/Mac,%20PC%20or%20Linux.pdf (PDF 213KB).
Looking for the right hardware to power your OS and coming experience? Look for PCs with Intel Inside® for the great laptop and desktop computing experiences.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_operating_systems
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