How to Select The Correct Operating System

Microsoft will be ending support for Windows XP on 8th April 2014, along with Office 2003. This effectively means that whilst you will still be able to access and use the operating system, if something were to go wrong and you required assistance, you will no longer get it from Microsoft. This is part of Microsoft’s support lifecycle policy which vows to maintain support for at least 10 years after an operating system’s release.

Surprisingly, XP still has a 29.53% market share according to Net Market Share - beaten only by 2009-released Windows 7. Christophe Boudet, Managing Director of Akita explains why this percentage is so high.

“XP is generally still used a lot, right around the world. There’s a lot of usage in international, developing countries, but there’s also a shocking amount of UK, US and Western countries still using it. Many larger corporations still run outdated operating systems due to the massive costs associated with system-wide testing and implementation, or their reliance on XP-specific outdated software, but many cash-strapped small businesses still run XP too.”

Windows XP was first released over 12 years ago in 2001, the world and computing have moved on quite considerably since then. There was a time, when Microsoft Windows was the dominant solution as far as selecting operating systems, but today there is far more variation in the market with various flavours of Linux, Mac OS and more recent Windows editions. Therefore, we see it a good opportunity to put forward our strategy for selecting the right operating system for you.

1. What do you want from your operating system?

Depending on what you will want to be using your OS for, whether it is media, programming, or even gaming. There are a couple of factors you will need to consider:

  • Ease of Use: how easy is it to use, both personally but for other members of your family or your staff. Windows has the most recognisable interface and most other operating systems emulate a similar format. 
  • Software and programming: Each platform has software that is native to each platform. Final Cut Pro is Mac exclusive for example. Microsoft Office meanwhile has iterations for most operating systems. When looking at programming environments available on each, there are also some limitations
  • File sharing and collaboration: Most files associated with Windows are universally accepted across all platforms, however Mac and Linux do have some file formats that are compatible only on their platforms.
  • Multimedia: Almost all operating systems are now able to natively play multimedia, however certain lightweight open source editions can come with some core features stripped out for portability.

2. How much do I want to spend?

When you purchase or build a brand new computer, it is very easy to forget the cost of your OS. If you are choosing one of the various Linux flavours, you don’t have to worry, since they are free. Microsoft and Apple OSs will carry a premium charge, but bear in mind, that Apple have the added incentive of having one platform that can be upgraded and updated for free, whilst Windows has several different iterations of Windows, each carrying the 10 year support lifecycle policy and a relatively costly price tag.

3. What is the community like?

Since Windows has the largest market share, you will find a wealth of online communities dedicated to applying knowledge about how to get the most out of your system. In many cases Windows is the default OS when searching for computer advice. That’s not to say that Mac and Linux are under represented. Mac users will have to look for Mac based communities, but since Linux is open source there is a very active and involved community that are very knowledgable about the system and the ways to interact with it and improve interaction.

4. Can I try before I buy?

It is always worth gaining a sense of what the OS is like to use before you buy it. For most systems, Windows is perhaps the most user friendly and most recognisable, with each iteration evolving the interface in new and efficient ways. Mac OS is similar, but it can be difficult switching between the two. Linux and BSD will usually offer an .iso image of their ‘Live CD’ version for download. This will allow you to interface with the OS without even having to install it! This provides a great opportunity for seeing what works and doesn’t work with your current hardware. If there isn't a live CD, you can test the OS by installing it using virtualization (a virtual PC/machine application and/or emulator, such as VMware). Alternatively, just ask your retailer whether you can have a try.

There are many different operating systems out there. Each excel at different things, so you should consider what you want from your OS, before thinking of cost. Last but not least, always try before jumping into a new OS, you’re going to be using it on a regular basis, so you must be happy with the way it handles. If you’re a business user still on XP, you are already too late to meet the deadline, but you will be able to mitigate your exposure to future vulnerabilities by updating to a newer solution.