Sherweb

In the past few months computer users have been presented with not one, not two, not even three, but four potential operating systems from which to choose. Microsoft, Apple, Ubuntu and Google have all thrown down in an OS showdown, trying to win your money and market share. They’re new, shiny and each OS purports to be the solution to all of your problems. So which one’s right for you?

Windows 7

Let’s start with the heavy weight in this one. As of October 2009 Microsoft owned 91 per cent of the market share of client operating systems on the Internet. This company has history, with unparalleled product recognition, it is the world’s #1 exchange hosting company, and after the Vista fiasco, Microsoft knows exactly what not to do.

Windows 7 came onto the scene on July 22, 2009, available for retail purchase as of Oct. 22.
Unlike its predecessor Vista, intended to rebuild Windows inside and out, Windows 7 represents an incremental upgrade from the older operating systems, easing users into the new user interface. Imagine that Windows XP and Vista had a (very stable) baby, and that’s Windows 7.

In fact, Microsoft was so afraid of another bug-ridden, fail whale release that Windows 7 has actually gone through one of the biggest Beta tests in OS history. What does that mean for you?

Pros:
This operating system is stable, smooth, relatively bug free and extra polished. A ton of work has been done on the UI; the design is new and slick, but still familiar. The toolbar has been revamped, taking the concept behind Mac’s OS X’s toolbar and tweaking it: you can preview open windows from the toolbar.

Windows 7 has taken some big steps forward in desktop management. An auto-resizing feature makes it easy to work on multiple windows at the same time. All inactive windows are turned translucent allowing users to sort through their open windows more easily without having to constantly minimize and maximize.

Windows Media Player has been overhauled; more file types are compatible, the interface has changed and features a “send to” function that allows you to send media files to any compatible device on the network.

Cons:
This OS might be the Vista that we were supposed to have the first time around, but there are still a few downsides.

According to the reviews, networking and sharing, though a great feature, is still a little complicated for the layman. If you’re running a dual-processor you’ll have to upgrade to either Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate (a price jump of $80-$100) as the baseline Home Premium edition can’t support you. Internet Explorer, despite some upgrades, still can’t hack it against the competition, so you’ll probably end up downloading Chrome, Mozilla or Opera.

Really, the biggest criticism out there of Windows 7 is that it’s not quite innovative enough. But in the face of what they went through with Vista, can you blame them? Windows 7 is a steady dependable workhorse, and quite possibly the savior Microsoft had been looking for.

Price:
To upgrade it costs $49. To buy the program fresh, it’ll cost you around $100 to $200.
System recommendations:
For the 32 bit version
1 GHz processor
1 GB RAM
16 GB of free HD space

Mac Snow Leopard

Mac has been kicking ass and taking names in the user interface realm for years, so it’s no surprise that its latest operating system release didn’t change much visually—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. All of the significant work on Snow Leopard was done on the OS’s fundamentals: coding has been changed; programs have been pimped. This OS release is all about improving speed, stability and efficiency.
Released on August 28, 2009 the OS features all of your favorite oldies but goodies.

Pros:

All of the internal tinkering the Apple people have done has upgraded the classic programs. Snow Leopard’s Finder has been rewritten in Cocoa, something Mac users have been after for years. This means Finder is faster, more effective, and now features a cover-flow display option. Safari has been given a boost in its JAVA and HTML performance. The preview program runs more efficiently and Quicktime has also been given a once-over.

The installation process has been streamlined and simplified; simply pop the disc in, click one or two buttons and Bob’s your uncle. The install program will quarantine all incompatible applications in a folder, allowing you to deal with them after the installation process is complete.

Snow Leopard is capable of supporting a multi-core processor. Finally, this OS is significantly smaller than its predecessor, and users could find from 4 to 10 GB freed up after the upgrade.

Cons:

In a decided choosing of sides, Snow Leopard will no longer support PowerPC architecture or applications. This kitty only runs on Intel. And while the install sequence has been simplified, users are no longer offered the “archive and install” option. Users could find difficulties installing the OS on older computers and the significant changes of the system fundamentals could lead to compatibility problems.

Price:
It’s only $29 for the upgrade and for the complete program, around $150.
System Recommendations:
5 GB of HD space
1 GB of RAM
An Intel processor

Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10

Like clockwork Ubuntu issued its latest OS on Oct. 29 this year, with it’s next release already announced for Apr. 29, 2010. This distribution has consistently provided its users with a quality, user-friendly open-source operating system since its release of Gutsy Gibbon in 2007 and Karmic Koala is no exception. Unlike the big two OSs, Koala focused on improving its cloud computing, many of its new features running off of the Eucalyptus server. The Ubuntu people have also implemented “100 Paper Cuts,” encouraging users to report or fix the bugs in the system that a user might encounter on their first day of using a brand new install.

Pros:

Koala features a host of your favourite open-source programs including Mozilla Firefox, the Open Office Suite 3.1, GIMP 2.6, and GNOME 2.28. It also introduces Empathy as its IM service. As previously stated, this OS has put some emphasis on cloud computing which means that in using Koala your computer could be capable of more than…its capable of.

With Ubuntu One, users get 2 GB of free online storage on Eucalyptus. This can be used to back up your system in case of a major computer malfunction or for sharing. And you may need that space because Ubuntu’s software center gives users easy access to a smorgasbord of free open source programs.
Koala is user friendly, light, and good for all skill levels. Oh, did I mention that it’s free?

Cons:

With initiatives like 100 Paper Cuts there aren’t a whole lot of cons associated with Ubuntu releases (or at least not many that stick around for long). One of the reported problems, however, is that Ubuntu One is a bit buggy. But who knows, that could have been fixed already.

And if you’re dealing in state secrets of the utmost importance, you might not want to store that in the cloud.

Price: $0
System Recommendations:
384 MB RAM
8 GB of HD space

Google Chrome OS

So, I know we only got a sneak peek and the real operating system isn’t due out until April of next year, but the buzz created when Google gave the world a look at the beta and the codes for Chrome was deafening.
In fact, I’m not even sure you could call Chrome an operating system in the traditional sense of the word. Completely cloud-based? No hard drive component? This OS is a perfect example of hardware/software synergy, and that hardware is netbooks.

Google Chrome has released a statement about they how see the future, and that future is one where your computer is nothing more than your solid interface with the Internet.

Pros:

Chrome gives new meaning to the term “lightweight operating system.” No part of Chrome will be stored on your computer. That means your OS will never get rusty, your computer won’t get bogged down with software, and the “system requirements” for your computer are laughably low. All you need is a Linux Kernel and you’re good to go.

Because everything is web-based you can actually access your operating system from any computer in the world. Your computer gets smashed? Your roommate pours Pepsi on it? Not a problem. Just buy a new $200 netbook or borrow a friend’s and everything will be waiting for you, just like you left it, once you log on. If you can put it on the web you can use it on your computer.

Because there’s basically nothing on your computer the start up time for your system is between 7 and 14 seconds (much shorter than the traditional 40 seconds). Just turn your computer on and start wandering the Internet.

Cons:

This OS is definitely built for city-dwellers (or people from Estonia) because it’s 100 per cent dependent on the user having access to a Wi-Fi connection at all times. If you can’t get onto the Internet, we’ll then you can’t do anything. It would be like someone giving you a keyboard that isn’t attached to a computer.

Chrome will only run on computers with solid flash memory, not traditional hard drives. So for all those people with standard computers, I’m sorry to disappoint you.

The user interface for the OS is just like the Chrome web-browser…is the Chrome web-browser. Unfortunately for all of you iTunes fans, users will be unable to add any programs to the OS. All applications must be web-based.

And for all of you people that are worried about information security, perhaps storing all of your information in a giant cloud just isn’t right for you.

Price: $0
System Requirements:
Internet
Flash SSD

So, there you are, a plethora of choices. Best of luck in choosing.