Solution Overviews » General Hardware & Software » Operating Systems

Operating Systems

Author: TechShortcut Staff | Article updated: July 9, 2008

1. Overview

One of the first questions you'll likely ask yourself when looking for a new computer is, "Which operating system should I use?" Depending on your company's business and budget, there are three major choices: Mac, Windows or the open-source Linux. In this article we will explore the pros and cons of Mac, Windows and Linux and give a basic rundown of each system.

An operating system, or OS, is the software component of a computer system. Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s Leopard are two examples of OSes.

The OS is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer and acts as a host for application programs that are run on the machine. Almost all computers use some type of operating system.

Windows— with more than 90 percent market share—is the most popular OS, making it the obvious choice for many businesses. However, depending on your company’s needs, a Mac or Linux OS might be a better solution for you.

Options

1. Windows	2. Macintosh	3. Linux
The go-to OS for small business users, Windows has an almost universal third-party programming support, which allows it to run many more pieces of software than Mac OS. (Plus, if you like to play video games in the office, Microsoft's game library is miles ahead of Apple's.)	Apple computers come with OS X's Leopard (Version 10.5). The operating system, based on Unix, is considered by many to be more user-friendly than Windows.	Linux was created by Linus Torvalds and is based on the Unix operating system. There are many flavors of Linux which are referred to as "distributions".

2. Option Comparison

	1. Windows	2. Macintosh	3. Linux
Overall Ease of Use Show/Hide details Ease of use can be subjective so here are some general observations. It is important to consider what employees will be more familiar with.	Windows is simple to use, frequently updated and the most commonly used operating system in the world.	Mac software is praised for its graphics, so if your businesses is a creative one, a Mac might be just what you need.	There has been a push to make Linux-based OSs easier to install and configure. Ease of use depends on the distribution of Linux.
Computer Platform Compatibility Show/Hide details Computer platform compatibility is the ability for a computer to work with an operating system.	There are many manufacturers of computers that can run the Windows operating system.	You must have a computer manufactured by Apple to use a Macintosh operating system.	Same as Windows
Hardware Device Compatibility Show/Hide details Hardware compatibility is the ability for hardware to be recognized and usable by the OS. Some hardware devices require special software to communicate with the OS while others don't. Devices that don't require additional "device driver" software are usually referred to as "plug & play". Some devices will only work with specific operating system versions.	Microsoft maintains a list of compatible hardware.	Apple maintains a list of compatible hardware.
Software Compatibility Show/Hide details Some software will only work with specific operating systems.	The Apple operating system can't run on a Windows-based computer.	Apple offers a program called Boot Camp, which allows you to run a Windows operating system on you Mac keeping the original Mac OS too. While many programs designed for PCs are also available for Macs, most of the software designed for Mac OSs is not compatible with PCs, which can be problematic if you are switching between machines or sharing files.	The Apple operating system can't run on a Linux-based computer.
Security	Security could be an issue. Windows is known for having many bugs and suffering crashes and malware attacks. Keeping up with updates is vital. Running Windows Updates helps protect against the many bugs it encounters and, since Windows often drastically revises its OS, running an older version could lock you out of some features.	Mac operating systems are often praised for being more secure against online threats because Windows operating systems are more often targeted by malware writers.	Same as Macintosh
Support	Assistance provided by Microsoft or Microsoft partners.	Assistance provided by Apple or Apple partners.	There is a large array of Linux distributions and consequently a large variety of support options.
Cost Factors	Hardware
	There are many manufacturers of computers that can run the Windows operating system. In general, prices are lower than Apple computers.	You must have an Apple computer to use a Macintosh operating system.	Same as Windows
	Software
	None	None	Some Linux based OS options are free

3. Next Steps

The primary driver to selecting a computer and operating system should always be your business needs. If you need to run specific software for your business you will need to determine whether it is available on your prospective OS. If you already have hardware or software that you want to continue using you will need to check for that compatibility as well. Changing operating systems or even upgrading to a new OS can create time consuming issues.

	1. Windows	2. Macintosh	3. Linux
General Advice	The standard for small business computing. If you want a utilitarian solution this is your best bet.	If your business lives and breathes creativity then an Apple computer may be the best choice.	The cost savings are attractive but you must do your homework to ensure it will meet your hardware and software compatibility needs. There is also a dizzying array of distributions for Linux that you will need to pick through to find your best match.
Find Local Tech Specialists Search TechShortcut's tech profiles for specialists in your area	Microsoft Windows	Apple Macintosh	Linux
Find More Information Use Research Helper to find related web articles	Vista Microsoft Windows Operating System Microsoft Windows Operating System	OS X Apple Macintosh Operating System Apple Macintosh Operating System	Linux Operating System
Examples of Products and Services These are not endorsements, simply some product or service names we encountered in our research to get you started finding your best fit.	Microsoft Windows	Apple Macintosh OS X	Fedora ¹ openSUSE ¹ Ubuntu ¹ ¹ Free and open source