When it comes to computer technology, there may be nothing more important to your experience than the operating system you choose. The operating system is the foundation of your computing – it is the framework within which you use other programs, and to some extent it governs what programs you may use. There are several types of operating systems, the most popular of which are Microsoft’s Windows OS, Apple’s Mac OS X, and the open-source Linux OS. Each offers a unique interface and strengths and weaknesses which its proponents (and opponents) will passionately argue if given the opportunity.
From a practical perspective, Windows is the most common operating system, thanks to Microsoft’s long-term dominance of the personal computing market. Windows is fairly easy to use and supports almost every program available, so it’s the choice for most people, especially those who find it hard to decide on systems. If you buy a computer that’s not from Apple, the odds are it’s got the Windows OS. The downside is that because of Window’s structure and ubiquity, many hackers have exploited vulnerabilities in the system to create harmful programs, which users must always be on the watch for.
Apple’s Macintosh operating system provides the sleek-looking, streamlined interface typical of Apple’s design philosophy, and much greater security. This could be because of structural superiority or because of lack of market penetration, but that speculation is up for debate. It may become clearer soon enough because more and more people are buying Apple products, thanks in large part to the wild success of the iPhone and iPad.
Linux is free and open-source, meaning people can see the code that makes it work, and modify it all they want. That kind of freedom is very appealing but it comes with a great intimidation factor – Linux is generally more difficult to use and aims more at the savvy computer user who’s interested in behind-the-scenes operations.