Those who know me know I keep my eyes on technology because I am an avid user. Right now I’m using my 15-inch MacBook Pro to type up this post. I can look just to my right and I see my iPhone 3GS. My old iPhone 3G which a few probably saw me use is my father’s new iPhone.
I build my own computers and I love technology as a whole. For example, I can’t wait till the LHC is fired and every time the firing gets pushed back, I feel just a little sadder for the world as a whole.
One thing that really drives me insane is the whole Apple vs. Microsoft vs. Unix debate.
Now, to get things rolling I have used ALL types of operating systems. I haven’t owned them all, but I have used. I’ve installed Unix, Windows, and Mac on a multitude of systems. I know certain aspects of Operating System detail down to the 1’s and 0’s level. I have a lot more to learn however, but know that I know a significant amount of what is out there.
The whole operating system argument is predicated on one thing…the USER. The user is the one that determines which operating system they need. I can’t and should no one else tell YOU what you should use. I wish I could come down on every criteria necessary to compare, but I’ll try my best.
INSTALLATION
Some would say this is impossible to compare, and they might be right, however it’s important to point out that the operating system needs to get on a machine before you can use it.
Macintosh is an easy thing to point out. It doesn’t get installed by the user and, for all intents and purposes, is proprietary to the Mac hardware line. MacBooks, MacBook Pros, G4’s, G5’s, MacBook Air’s, etc. etc. Meaning if you don’t have Apple approved hardware…you’re not getting the operating system. There are less than legal ways out there to supposedly achieve Mac happiness on any hardware, but I can speak from experience it is not easy and can be at times futile. Usually installation is drop CD into the system, boot the computer and follow the prompts. More advanced customization is allowed for those that need that.
Microsoft Windows is a toss up. Swing and miss or hit a home run comes to mind as euphimisms for installing MS Windows. In the current iteration, Windows Vista and Windows 7, the hardware you need to run the Operating System is steep, and meeting the “Minimum Requirements” can put a hurt on your wallet and bank accounts. Thankfully in most regards because technology leaps and bounds in a matter of days, hardware can be cheap to acquire. Just have to wait and use good, trustworthy sites for quality hardware. Stepping a bit further back, at least on the regular consumer side, Windows XP was a breeze to install, but not perfect. There were instances where I was frustrated with installing the OS on certain hardware because of driver issues and hard drives that could not be found. However the minimum requirements and maximum reqs are HUGE. You can install on a system you purchased back in 1998 and have a reasonably useful system to a system you built yesterday with 3000 dollars from Falcon Northwest. and you’re gonna be happy. It will work and it will not crash. Installation is straight forward follow the prompts and make sure you can meet all requisites and have all the drivers for your hardare. Customization and advanced options really don’t play into the OS until after installation, which is kinda good because it takes some of the guesswork out.
Unix is like a mix of jelly belly’s in a jar because of the literal amount of flavors of Unix. I mean literally make enough changes to a Unix distro and you can claim it as your very own flavor. Like smushing a couple of Starburst together and saying you made “Straw-cherry-lemon-berry”. The unix operating installation can be complex, fdisk your drive, partitioning for swap space, mounting root, to idiotically simple, place CD in try and click next…wait for a complete and then you’re done. Types of hardware is just as extensive that the operating system can be placed on.
USABILITY
Easily the hottest debated topic in the Operating System war. I will do my best to kinda weed out the retail seller jargon and Geek speak. Hopefully to grant you a little insight into what you should be considering when selecting an OS. Simple ideas that are in common across all three(i know Unix isnt’ always like this, but for the average user it most likely will be.) is a combination of Keyboard and Mouse usage. Another important point is the continued usability of a computer system is also based on the user. Take bad care of your OS and it’s going to fail eventually. All OS are just bags, shovel enough shit into them and they will break.
Mac has been labeled as “it just works” and “no worries” Operating System. I consider this a huge lie, but only for certain people. For a person that doesn’t give a shit how a computer works, yes. I can admit the Mac OS can make things very easy, but trust me, you still have to learn somethings. Keyboard short cuts. Installing programs, un-installing programs, cleaning the system, keeping it clean, anti-virus, malware. You can’t have an operating system that you don’t take care of. So don’t beleive the hype that Mac is imprevious to viruses and mal-ware. Yes, I can admit Mac has a lot fewer viruses floating out there on the internet, but thats because Mac is not nearly as prevalent as an Operating System. Some will say that the lack of viruses speaks to it’s hardened core and high security. Could be true, but I don’t think it is. Think of how many computers you’ve come across in the last…48 hours that run MS windows. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that a more in use OS is going to get a lot more attention?
Mac is powerful, it’s pretty, and it does work well with a lot of programs out there. It is a very powerful operating system. It’s used highly in the Audio and Video industry. It’s used a lot in graphic design and media work in general. I don’t see it a lot in just straight business as a regular use computer. Word processing and so on. It most certainly can be, I just haven’t seen it yet.
Installating application on Mac is as simple as dragging and dropping the application, straightforward, huh? Removal of programs, still pretty easy, drag and drop into the trash, but there is a problem, sometimes there are files left behind. You need third-party software to get everything out. A short-coming, but for a user that doesn’t care, no big deal.
Windows is a huge beast and powerful across all aspects. It’s got just as large a number of applications for users. It needs to be taken care of and protection and knowledge keep it running well for a user. I’ve seen it used as a corporate backbone for all their industrial applications and for all their users in the offices.
Installing applications is pretty easy, double-click and following the prompts. Pretty easy, things can get complicated with things that have minimum requirements like games and certain high-end applications that require more memory and processing speed than you might have. This can be a problem with Mac’s as well, but really only if your mac is old, I mean, any mac model within the last 4 to 5 years could run applications being made now.
Unix is weird when it comes to usabilty. For someone who hasn’t used anything else, you can pick it up with some investigation and learning. If you use something previous you can be confused by a few things. Installating applications doesn’t come with a wizard all the time, and it doesn’t have an obvious application directory. There’s also a lot of interaction between command-line usage and the use of the mouse to interact and work with the Operating System, especially when installatng certain applications. Even in operating systems that put forth “ease of use” and “simplicity” that’s a very accurate statement, but don’t expect in-depth use and something to learn and become advanced in. You really just have to USE the system and that’s it, don’t try anything wild or crazy. Get what you got and use it. I don’t know how much Unix systems have come along, I know a lot of applications do come with installers like one would expect with windows and mac. So things can start to level out in the playing field.
STABILITY
At this point in time, I can’t speak to the stabilty of Vista or Windows 7. I don’t use them.
Windows XP, Mac, and Unix systems are stable as a rock. I use them all and can defintely say they are rock solid.
Can a person destabilize them? Yes. Install a lot of applications and guess what, your system will suffer. Open mail that looks suspicious and doesn’t appear to be from people you know? Guess what, your system is going to suffer.
Literally, the life and health of your system depends on you no matter what you use. I would certainly say Mac would take longer to corrupt, but in the end all systems will get fucked up if you don’t take care of them.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I can’t really give it to any one system. I don’t think I can synthesize a litmus test for a person who wants to choose. I’d like to try though.
Don’t care how a computer works and don’t wanna learn? Macintosh
Moderately interested in computers and not afraid of learning about hardware and trying crazying things out? Windows
Want to be an uber geek and learn a ton of stuff and try really crazy stuff that involve hours of reading how-to’s and sometimes making stuff up to get things working? Unix.
Your mileage will vary. Some will rush to point out that Mac is now a Unix based OS, very true, but your use of the command line and the unix structure is limited and not required for normal day to day operation.
Bottom line is, use what you like and like what you use and leave the rest of the world out of it.
Pretty simple disclaimer, don’t agree with me, tell me in the comments. I’m not a genius, nor do I know everything about comptuers and Opearting Systems. These are at heart, my opinions and are well open to discussion and I’d be glad to learn something new so please tell me in the comments.
