Windows vs Mac vs Linux

Windows vs Mac vs Linux

Posted by: Edmundo Mendiola
Posted on: September 27, 2005, 7:51 PM PDT

Windows, Linux and Mac are the most prominent OSs for consumers and professionals.

Windows is the most expensive OS. Next is Mac. And the cheapest is Linux.But Mac requires an Apple hardware, which is generally an expensive PC. So Mac, in effect, is the most costly investment upfront.

Windows and Linux enjoy the popularity of branded and cloned PCs which make Windows and Linux cheaper. But since Linux is generally free, Linux is the least costly investment upfront.(However, it is an on-going debate which OS is cheapest in the long run.

So I won't dwell on that...)Windows enjoys its status of being the top selling OS, making it the most targetted platform for consumer and professional software products. Linux, on the other hand, is a favorite target platform for the many open-source products now available in the market. Mac, however, has fewer business partners to develop applications for its platform, though there are great applications available that are best in Mac than anywhere else.Depending on a users PC need, the best OS is the one that best serves the user's need.As a professional, if my needs require me to use Windows compatible products, then go Windows. If my needs require me to use Linux based products, then Linux it is. If my needs require Mac, then its Mac.But as a consumer, everything else are just wants.For the most part, I'd choose Mac for the eye candies if I want them. For example: Do you really need the water rippling effect when adding a dashboard item on the screen? Or does the screen really have to rotate when switching between users? But they're there and they're beautiful.Otherwise, it's Windows or Linux for me.