| Most people consider their computer to be the box that sits under the desk & all the whizzy things attached to it, but really that is only the beginning. Without software it would simply be a useless collection of electronic nothingness. The operating system is the single most important piece of software installed on your computer in the sense that it binds together all the components into a useful platfom on which we can perform the tasks we take for granted like email & word processing. Of course, Microsoft WindowsTM was the inspiration of Bill Gates, who had the foresight to lock IBM (the then dominant force in computing) into a licence agreement which would see his creation installed on all their machines from the mid 1980s onwards. That agreement was then adopted by nearly all manufacturers & has led to Microsoft WindowsTM residing on 90% of all the world’s computers today. Indeed, what was Bill Gates’ success was ultimately the downfall of Alan Sugar’s AmstradTM, since the latter failed to embrace the fact that an operating system defines a user’s experience each time they switch on their computer. His failure to adopt a good operating system was the primary cause of the catastrophic downturn in sales of the AmstradTM personal computer. THE CONTENDERS Microsoft WindowsTM – the undisputed winner in terms of usage worldwide. The system has had many faces since it was introduced & the next iteration is number 7 in its history. It, however, is fundamentally, unchanged since it uses the same kernel (inner workings) as the earlier Windows 95. · Pros & cons – Users are totally familiar with it, from the famous Windows logon sound to the extremely popular Outlook Express. All manufacturers of hardware such as printers & webcams devleop their products to be compatible with the system. It is typically preinstalled when you purchase a new computer & is generally easier to integrate into a network of other Windows computers. Despite its ubiquity, Windows has many serious flaws. This is partly due to its unparalleled early success. Because its uptake was so great Microsoft has been force to make only subtle changes over long periods of time in order not to ”break” their own software & to appease the populace. It is difficult to see how this pattern can be broken since creating a new operating system from scratch without the flaws would cripple 90% of the world’s computers. The most serious flaw is that of security. Each month Microsoft releases “patches” to prevent Windows from crashing to a halt from viruses / spyware. Maintaining a Windows computer has become an industry itself, hence companies like “Compute This.” Another problem with Windows is its voracious appetite for processing power & memory. Each month that passes sees a greater requirement to update a computer to run at an acceptable speed. It is generally accepted that a Windows computer becomes slower after a quite short period of time unless one invests in additional memory etc. You may be interested in reading the following recent article I came across which tells the Microsoft story in greater detail: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/microsoft_corporation/index.html Apple OSX – at about the same time that Bill Gates was pioneering Windows, Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak became partners to create the Apple Macintosh with a focus on a better user experience. · Pros & cons – It is true to say that Apple has always had a greater focus on producing aesthetically pleasing hardware & are true innovators. One could debate the benefits of the Mac OS over Windows & vice versa forever but it is essentially designed to perform the same function as its competitor. However, it does it with considerable aplomb & tends not to suffer the same performance issues as Windows. Notably, it also seems more resilient to viruses but many argue that this is more due to its reduced presence in the marketplace & lack of interest by the virus writers themselves. Probably the main reason for its niche following is the cost of Apple computers generally. Expect a price premium of 50% compared to a Windows PC. This is fine for those with the budget but is probably the single most reason for its lower dominance. Here is a brief history of Apple Computers: http://lowendmac.com/time/index.shtml Linux – Considered for many years to be a hobbyist operating system, Linux can now consider itself ready for the home user. Developed initially by Linus Torvalds, it has grown into a plethora of diverse “distributions,” each aimed at different levels of user. · Pros & cons – The fundamental principle of Linux has always been that it should be free to all. Since Windows is shipped with most PCs there is the perception that it too is free but a large part of what you pay for the computer contributes to the cost of the operating system. Its most appealing characteristic is that is extremely efficient in its use of resources, resulting in blazingly fast performance. It remains fast over time, & like Mac OS seems immune to virus attack. It has recently been adopted large scale on the newer generation “netbooks” due to their limited resources. So why is Linux not the operating system of choice? It is almost entirely down to history & had it been invented before Windows then it would probably have won the race. Its limited adoption will always be stifled by user inertia & the fact that it is unfamiliar but this should not prevent you from experiencing it, because it can be installed alongside Windows. I have included a link to my personal favourite Linux distribution so you can see what it looks like: http://www.linuxmint.com/screenshots.php If you are interested in experiencing Linux but find the prospect daunting Compute This will be happy to install it on your computer. When you switch on the machine you simply select Windows or Linux. Please call for a quote on 01270 617490 or 07910 012790. | 
