In the previous post about how to choose and buy a computer, I focused on what is likely to be the main function for this particular user, that of writing, creating, editing, updating office type documents, either word processor documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Depending on what the needs of the user will be the choice of operating system then becomes the next main question. as it stands today there are four main options from which to choose: Apple OS, Google Chrome, Windows 10, Linux. For the Linux option my personal preference is for Ubuntu, currently using the Unity desktop. But in the grand tradition of BBC impartiality, other Linux distributions are available.

Apple.
Despite what many people believe, Apples operating system is derived from BSD, a Unix like system which started it’s development at the University of California, Berkeley, America. BSD is now an open source operating system. Despite that laudable heritage, Apples OS is far from Open Source and has, on more than one occasion been at the centre of controversy, as Apple will remove applications from devices which they feel are inappropriate. I’ll will not include Apples tax avoidance here, nor their immoral activities of forcing users to buy from Apple and then making the seller pay Apple upwards of 30% of the sale price.

Apples OS is inextricably entwined with Apple hardware. For some this is wonderful, for others, this is a major draw back as one is limited only to Apple, with restricted choice, especially when compared with the multitude of vendors offering Windows hardware and the vast range of choice of quality and price points that offers.

The same also, broadly applies to software. The cast majority of software is supplied by Apple, either included in the OS itself, restricting access to alternatives, or paid for solutions.

Apples OS also work differently to everything else, which means that, if one is moving to Apple from something else, there will be a learning curve, a new set of commands to learn and a new set of muscle memory to train. CRTL X is not “cut”, for example. This will not be for everybody. Also works best if you “buy in” to the eco-system, which means integrating your laptop and mobile, which means, basically, buying an Apple mobile device as well.

With Apple, you either love it or hate it. Those who love it, love it. Those who hate it, hate it.

Google Chrome.
Google’s Chrome OS, in a similar vein to Apple, has it’s roots in the Unix world, being a fork of the Linux kernel with Googles own desktop sat on top of that. Just as Android does.

Chrome is an online OS. In very simple terms it is like an Android mobile ‘phone on a computer. Assuming one has a Google / Android device and therefore a Google / Android account your mobile and laptop will be integrated together. If one loves Google, one will love this. Advantages are that the hardware is generally a bit cheaper, everything Google is integrated, and is “instant”. It is mostly laptops, but there are one or two lost cost, slim desktops available.

Other advantages are that one does not need to do anything new; turn it on, log into your current Google account and you’re good to go. Because it is on line, you can also log into Outlook.com and use MS Office free of charge. And of course there is the world of Google Doc’s and access to any other online office suite, such as MS Office and Zoho.

The disadvantages are numerous: it is all online, so there is no C:/ drive, so you can not save anything to the machine. Everything is intended to be in the Google cloud. You can save stuff to a USB stick, once you have added it to the Google universe. Also, there are no “programmes” to install, as Google provide everything. Which means you can not use your favourite programmes and you have to rely on Google. Google encourage the user to download applications from their own Play Store. I will let you decide the quality of the applications available through the Play Store.

The final point about Google Chrome OS is that, much like the vision that Apple propose, the hardware that OS is available on is limited. Google produce a tight set of requirements to manufacturers who wish to add the Chrome moniker. However, and this is a major consideration, ChromeBooks, as they’re known, start at circa £200, or CHF269 at Digitec in Switzerland. By comparison, the cheapest Apple is CHF 1029. Yes, a £200 laptop does not have the quality threshold if a laptop five times more expensive, but if budget is a consideration, Chrome is worth a look.

Just as long as one does not intend to travel too much.

Windows 10.
For the vast majority of users the name Microsoft means computer. For the vast majority of users, Windows, in any one of its ten* desktop versions, from Windows 3.1 through to Windows 10 now, will be their only experience of using a computer. Windows 10 contains enough similarities with previous versions that most users will not be perturbed.

However, underneath, things are very different. It is now an online OS. It will work 100% ok when you’re not connected to the internet, but Microsoft can and do add and delete things when they think it is ok. Just like Apple. Most of the stuff that is provided is basically a web front end to the thing behind. So the Outlook client that comes with it is not real. It is showing your emails on line, nothing is downloaded. Of course items, attachments can be downloaded, but Microsoft, like Apple and Google are encouraging users to embrace the cloud. Of course, Microsoft’s vision of the cloud, as discussed in the Office post previously, may not be a bad thing, depending on what the user is looking for. Many people are very happy with Office online, for example.

Of course, you can download an email client, such as Thunderbird, LibreOffice etc, and many programmes that would work in previous versions of Windows will also work in Windows 10. Not all do, as in many cases an update to the programme may be required, but Windows does have the largest choice of quality software; a legacy of 25 years of Windows, since Windows 3.1.

Perhaps not surprisingly Windows 10 gives the user access to a host of free Office suites as well as a selection of proprietary and paid Office services.

* : the ten versions I am including in this list are:

  1. 3.1
  2. W95
  3. W98
  4. WIndows 2000
  5. Windows ME
  6. Windows XP
  7. Vista
  8. Windows 7
  9. Windows 8
  10. Windows 10

Ubuntu.
for full disclosure I am an avid user of Ubuntu, currently with the Unity desktop. And it is what I have used since about 2002 / 2003.

What can you do with it: anything / everything. Whatever task you want to do, there is some free / open source software to do it. You can access MS Office online, Google Docs, use Evolution or Thunderbird to manage your email, LibreOffice, Clementine for you music ad podcasts, VLC, for Videos, Shotwell for pictures. If none of these tickle your fancy, there is a plethora of alternatives, including free and open source Office packages and Project software.

Advantages: there is nothing more stable and secure than [Linux] Ubuntu. The internet [the severs that pass info from place to place] is, basically Linux. Apple OS is based on a version of Linux and Android is also a version of Linux. Apple and Google control how you use it and sniff around your desktop. Ubuntu do not. Of all the Linux distributions, Ubuntu is one of the very best : Mint is also very good, Budgie is very nice, Lots or people like Elementary, but Ubuntu has been around for a long time, has the widest level of support and is, by far, the most stable OS there is, including Apple, Microsoft and Google.

Disadvantages: there will be a little learning some, although not much, as you will be using different programmes. Some people are also opposed, ideologically, to open source software. Apparently collaboration is a bad thing. The only real potential issues with Linux are with peripherals, printers, scanners or any specialist hardware for which there are Windows only drivers. I have to say, I currently do not have anything that can not connect to my Ubuntu computer. Bluetooth speakers, my Brother printer, Blackberry Playbook and a number of other things all connect to Ubuntu. I admit, my FujiFilm X30 does not connect. But I just pop the SD card out of the camera, drop it into the computer and directly transfer that way. Does one really need to connect the camera directly to the computer, any computer?

One thing to keep in mind is that there are very few Linux powered computer on the market. There are some, but not many. The way that Ubuntu ends up on almost all computers is people installing it manually, either in a dual boot situation with some version of Windows, or directly over Windows, or Apple OS. It does mean one is paying the Apple or Microsoft tax. Which is a draw back.

Linux perhaps offers the best solution for those wishing to build there own computer.

Finally
In the next post, Buying a new Computer; Part Three, I’ll look at how the computer will be used, which will be the final thoughts to deciding which sort of computer to buy.