Operating System Comparison

The following table describes the most commonly used operating systems:

Operating System / Description
Windows / The Windows operating system was developed in 1985 by Microsoft and has since become the most popular operating system, encompassing approximately 90% of the market.
Key features of the Windows operating system are:
  • Windows serves multiple levels of users and businesses by offering both a professional and a home version of Windows.
  • Windows is highly compatible with commercial hardware and software.
  • Windows is structured so that most common tasks can be done with little computer knowledge.
Common drawbacks to the Windows operating system are:
  • Windows is susceptible to a variety of viruses.
  • Windows is prone to system crashes.

Linux / Linux (also known as GNU/Linux) is used mainly as a server operating system; however, its Unix background, flexibility, and low cost make it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Key features of the Linux operating system are:
  • Unlike Windows or Macintosh, Linux is a non-proprietary open source development. A system that is open source has the following qualities:
  • The source files are distributed with the executable software.
  • End users can modify and recompile the software to meet their needs.
  • The software is usually developed as a community project.
  • Open Source is a certification mark for software that adheres to the Open Source Initiative standards.
  • Linux is packaged into distributions. A Linux distributionis a collection of components packaged to work together as a complete system. Important things to know about Linux distributions are:
  • A package is the collection of components (tools, software, utilities, devices, etc.) put together by an individual or group to make up a distribution.
  • A distribution contains the Linux kernel (the core operating system file) and other utilities and services packaged to work together.
  • Various organizations produce their own distributions. Two common distributions are Red Hat and SUSE Linux.
  • Linux was created to be very similar to Unix. Linux operates similar to Unix and shares many of the same services and utilities.
  • Linux has gained support from major corporations such as Sun Microsystems, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Novell.
  • Linux offers security, expansibility, freedom from vendor association, and affordability.
Drawbacks to the Linux operating system are:
  • Linux operating system's compatibility with hardware varies from distribution to distribution.
  • The extreme customizability of Linux can make it difficult for non-experts to use.

Macintosh / The Macintosh Operating System (also referred to as MacOS) is a unique operating system developed by Apple Computer for their line of personal computers. MacOS was originally released in 1984 and was the first successful personal computer operating system to use a graphical user interface and a mouse.
Key features of the Macintosh Operating System are:
  • MacOS can only run on Apple computer hardware. Tight control of approved hardware increases system stability, but can restrict choice of system components.
  • MacOS is known for being reliable and very user-friendly.
  • MacOS is popular with graphic artists, animators, and video editors.
  • Earlier versions of the Mac OS used a proprietary operating system. With Mac OS X, the operating system is based on a Unix core. For this reason, the characteristics of Mac OS X are similar to the Linux operating system.
Drawbacks to the Macintosh Operating System are:
  • MacOS-compatible applications can be more expensive.
  • The smaller market share of the MacOS means that many popular software titles are not available.

The following table contains a quick comparison of the basic components and qualities of the Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems:

Windows / MacOS / Linux
Platform / X86 / X86/Motorola / X86
Application Support / Very high / High / High but quality is variable
Cost / Moderately high / Very high / Free for a basic distribution, but additional cost for documentation and support
Ease of Use / Good / Very good / Moderate
Server or Workstation / Both / Both / Both, but is widely used for servers
Adoption / Wide / Moderate / Low

Note: Applications are written to work on certain operating systems. For this reason, it is important to choose the operating system that supports the types of applications you wish to run.