Five Things to Consider Before Buying a Computer 3

Choosing an operating system (OS) -- essentially the tech term for Windows, Mac OSX, or Linux -- for your PC can be a tough decision. Macs are sexy and cool, but can you run all the applications you need on them? Windows is the industry standard, but can be a security nightmare, and Vista is bloated and slow. Then there is the dark horse, Linux, which is quick on its feet and infinitely customizable, but could give non-geeks migraines if anything stops working as the indie OS is known for being difficult to use.
Windows: The wealth of applications available for Windows makes it very alluring, but the boatload of viruses and spyware that target the OS can make it terrifying. Windows is the operating system for games -- most popular titles, 'Halo,' 'Bioshock,' and 'Crysis' aren't available on Mac or Linux. uTorrent (the best BitTorrent client out there for peer-to-peer filesharing of movies, TV shows, and the like) is also Windows-only, but the software gap between Windows and Mac OS X has all but disappeared outside of the gaming world (yes, you still have more choices for Windows, but most functions are nevertheless available in some Mac OS X software form). If you've decided you need access to the most applications and hardware, then you've still got to decide between Vista or XP. If you're planning on picking up one of those low-power ultra-portables, or a more budget conscious PC with limited resources, then opt for XP, which is faster than Vista and much easier on your battery. The average user should be fine with Vista Home Premium. While XP may have its benefits, Vista is the way of the future and the standard OS on most new computers, and hoping on board now will save you some trouble when Microsoft stops supporting XP in a couple of years.
Mac OSX: After years of being overshadowed by Windows-based computers, Apple computers, which use Mac OSX (also known as Leopard, in its latest incarnation), are gaining more acceptance. Third-party developers are building a substantial library of software to supplement the already impressive stable of Mac-exclusive applications, such as iTunes, iLife, and Garage Band, that are shipped with every Mac. Macs excel at creative tasks, such as music creation, photo editing, and video production. They're also more or less free of the viruses and spyware that plague Windows users (though it's a matter of debate whether this security will last or not). Sadly, you'll still encounter some compatibility issues with peripherals, such as printers, cell phones, back-up drives, and 3G wireless broadband cards (also, known as WAN cards, more on that later). And unless you're in publishing or graphic design, the corporate world doesn't appear to be embracing Macs any time soon.
Linux: If you're adventurous, or a tinkerer, you can always opt for Linux. Linux comes in many flavors called distributions. Dell sells PCs with the Ubuntu Linux distribution -- which is the Linux operating system plus a collection of useful software programs -- pre-installed. Ubuntu features useful apps including a Web browser, as well as presentation, document, spreadsheet, and instant-messaging software, and is the particular brand we would recommend, as it is the most user friendly and has one of the largest libraries of available software.
Linux has many of the same pros (near invulnerability to viruses and spyware) and cons (lack of games and compatibility issues) as Mac OS X, but has an incredible library of solid free software like Tomboy, a note-taking application, Photoshop replacement GIMP, and the Open Office suite. These aren't perfect programs, by any means, but they certainly get the job done, and on the cheap (meaning, free). Plus, opting for a Linux-based computer lets you take a stand against Steve Jobs and/or Bill Gates.
The downside is that even basic troubleshooting may be a bit much for the novice computer user. Dell will sell technical support, and there is a large community of users out there who are very willing to help you solve your problems if you visit the Ubuntu forums, however solving issues in Linux can often involve complex command line operations or editing cryptic text files buried in hard to find places. If you have to ask what those terms mean, then you probably shouldn't be getting Linux.



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
conor said 7:08PM on 10-02-2008
Linux Mint is far more easier to navigate than a mac it is the best Linux OS out there it is based on Ubuntu so you can fild help pretty easily.
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Matthew said 7:58PM on 10-02-2008
- http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/
Windows Vista Facts
Compatible with 1,600 Laser, inkject and multifunction printers
Written August 2008, 18 months after the launch of Vista, which caters for 90% of worldwide use.
- http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#printing
Leopard now supports over 2,000 of the most popular models from vendors including Canon, Epson, HP, Lexmark, and more.
Written October 2007, 0 months after the launch of Leopard, which caters for ~5% of worldwide use.
Maybe the “Sadly, you'll still encounter some compatibility issues with peripherals, such as printers” line belongs under another heading.
This stat is a credit to Apple who have put in HUGE efforts to get compatibility right with a wide range of devices.
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Willy said 4:23PM on 10-14-2008
Ok, so why don't you mention the fact that if you go with a Mac, you can run OS X, Windows AND Linux, all on the same box, either with Boot Camp, or using virtualization software like VMware or Parallels? Then you can have it all.
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abhi said 6:56PM on 10-14-2008
i think i agree with willy i mean seriously when u can run them all on boot camp wats the point u get mac and watever ur using in the same computer!
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Ray said 9:32PM on 11-15-2008
Me think's Mr. O'Brien know's very little about what Window's has in the oven right now....That being a new OS (to no one's surprize) called Window's 7. I'll bet we will see it out there in the next 12 or so months. Weather it will be any better than there latest bomb....Vista! I have heard of many people having good luck with Vista but, I've also heard some horror stories about hardware issuses (and worse!) with Vista.
I've been using Mac's for many years, I have three right now, one being a Mac Pro with Boot Camp. I do love my PC's to, I've been using this A-Open, P4 running XP Pro for 5 years now and though I have done many upgrades it still is my main computer and boots up in 45 seconds.
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rg said 7:17PM on 11-18-2008
Windows vista is "bloated and slow", what are you running it on, a pentium 4 with 512 Mb of ram? A security nightmare? I have 3 Vista machines with only Windows defender and no Anti Virus and never had a virus or malware. I tried Linux and most of my hardware didn't have linux drivers and the parade of patches was endless and in the end all you had was an OS that had no software written for it.
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