Which operating system should you choose? It's up to you, and don't let anyone tell you any different. You do have a choice, and you should spend the time doing your homework to make the right decision.
Here is a brief overview of some of the choices.
| DOS | |
| For many people, good old DOS is fine. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it, but you can get old CPUs and hardware for very cheap prices (if you do this be aware of Y2K issues). | |
| Linux | |
| I don't yet have any experience with this operating system, but i hear tell it's great. I wouldn't really recommend it on a home system, but it might be good to do if you want to learn how to use it for business purposes. This is a great choice for any business. | |
| Macintosh | |
| I've done quite a bit of work and play on the Macintosh computers, starting with the old Mac Classic and Lisa systems many years ago. I love this operating system but ... it can be frustrating to find Macintosh versions of programs at times. Also the systems tend towards the expensive side and hardware options tend to be more limited. An excellent choice if you want to do graphics or desktop publishing. | |
| OpenVMS | |
| If you can get an old dinosaur MicroVAX system or a new Alpha box and you want to run it as a home system, then I take my hat off to you. One of the best operating systems ever created, OpenVMS is a bit more than most home users can handle. The older hardware tends to eat lots of power and need too much cooling, but the experience of running these old machines is great. Running OpenVMS for Alpha is a good choice for any business. | |
| Unix | |
| If you are familiar with Unix, then by all means use that operating system. It's got many advantages, and if you use Unix and learn it on your home computer, you will gain skills that you can use when searching for jobs. Unix tends, in my experience, to require a bit more savvy than Windows or Macintosh systems, usually more than a typical home user is willing to provide. Unix is good for business purposes. There are many great web products available. | |
| Windows 3.1 | |
| Some people still insist of this operating system ... and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. But if you must ... Note, this operating system is good for many games. | |
| Windows 3.5 | |
| Reliable, flexible but old and outdated. I really wouldn't recommend it, but if you've got an old machine this might be the operating system for you. | |
| Windows 95/98 | |
| A good choice if you want a powerful system. Supports just about all software and has many hardware options. Good for laptops and home computers. | |
| Windows NT 4.0 | |
| An excellent choice if you've got some money to spend. Very stable as long as you install the most recent service packs, runs most software available on the market (32 bit anyway). Games tend to have problems and does not have DirectX support (needed for many high-end games). Not a good choice for laptops. Excellent choice for business, although the cost of running Windows NT can be higher than Unix or Linux. | |
| Windows 2000 | |
| Another good choice if you've got some money to spend. Personally I have not yet done much with this operating system, but have been told by many people that it is very good. This operating system is still young, but give it a year and I believe it will be one of the best choices for any business. | |
Unless otherwise noted, all photos and text is Copyright © Richard G Lowe, Jr.