Computers have become our necessity in this modern era. Everything we do is aided by computers. In Malaysia, Microsoft Windows is common among citizens due to the cheap hardware price, compared to the expensive Apple and Linux operating systems. Since people keep arguing which operating system (OS) is the best, I write my first simple review on the three famous OS in this world based on my experience and opinion, i.e. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.6 and Ubuntu Linux 8.04.
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows Vista is the new OS released in 2007 after XP. The most significant features of Vista are the new graphical user interface and visual style called Windows Aero, and a sidebar with some useful gadgets. However, it is criticised for its vulnerable security and slow boot up compared to XP. Many features such as Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Internet Explorer etc are upgraded. Instant search is also a great feature in Vista. As you type in the search bar, results will keep refreshing. This is much faster and more in-depth compared to the previous versions of Windows.
In general there is no much difference between Windows Vista and the previous versions of Windows. You may feel hard to get along with it at first, but you will catch up fast if you are a PC user.
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is the OS developed by Apple Inc. Unlike Microsoft Windows, this is a Unix-like OS, so it does not have a start button or taskbar where you can access all your applications and softwares. It only has a dock similar to quick launch where you can put whatever shortcuts you want into it.
The transculent top bar will have everything you need such as File, Edit, View etc.
The significant difference between Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows is the window buttons are on the left, therefore PC users hardly get used to it. Its dashboard enables user to run some useful widgets such as iCal, Dictionary, Calculator etc.
Even though Apple Macintosh is not common for home users, it has some credits that Microsoft Windows does not possess. Until now, Mac users do not need any anti-virus or anti-spyware software to protect the computer because there are no virus spreading in Mac world. Moreover, Apple has develop multi-touch trackpad for its laptops and it is applied on the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard. This will surely create a unique experience communicating with the computer.
Ubuntu Linux
Linux is a term that refers to the Unix-like computer OS based on Linux kernel. Linux is widely used for programming, and is installed on a wide variety of hardware, ranging from embedded devices and mobile phones to supercomputers. Linux is free and open sourced, and Ubuntu is one of the popular distributions for desktops and laptops.
Ubuntu Linux is different from the other two OS above. It uses both Command User Interface (CUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI). Therefore you may find it not user friendly to do daily tasks if you are not familiar with Linux.
The funny thing of Linux is it does not necessary to run with a “desktop”. The desktop shown above is Gnome desktop, one of the popular desktop ( or GUI) developed. If you are familiar with Linux language, you can customize your Ubuntu. All the softwares and applications can be accessed and downloaded from the Linux server.
Starting Up
The startup time of OS is very important. No people would enjoy waiting the machine to boot up without doing anything. In this case, the machine that is used for testing is Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3405 laptop with Intel Core 2 duo T5200 1.60GHz, 2GB DDR2 RAM and Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family (up to 256MB). Before we start the test, please be notified that Ubuntu Linux is installed on an external hard drive and booted via USB. Besides that, Mac OS X installed is not an legal copy. Therefore the results may not be accurate.
So this is the results. The fastest startup time (loading screen and logging in profile) for Vista is about 1 minute and the fastest shutdown time (logging off and shutting down) is about 20 seconds. For Mac OS X, the fastest startup time is about 25 seconds and the fastest shutdown time is 5 seconds. As for Ubuntu, the fastest startup time is about 45 seconds and the fastest shutdown time is about 15 seconds.
Performance
Actually it is very hard to compare the performance of OS because the architecture is totally different. However, Mac OS X can operate fastest and smoothest on same hardware, followed by Ubuntu Linux and Microsoft Vista. Mac OS X handles applications well while maintaining the graphic performance. Ubuntu Linux performs moderately, and its usage can be expanded unlimited with all the third-party applications. On the other hand, Vista requires better hardware to run faster and smoother.
Conclusion
Even though Mac OS X performs better than other OS, it does not mean that the other two are bad. Most of the popular softwares and games are compatible and available in Vista, while Linux is often used by programmers in their work. To me, Mac OS X is the easiest OS to be used. It is user-friendly and direct, you do not need to understand any complicated computer language while enjoying the simpler interface. However, it depends on what you need and what you want to do. Choosing the right OS will double up your efficiency on work.
Some Whispers