| Choosing an operating system for a personal | | | | might want to try a free "OS", Unix, or perhaps even |
| computer can be a difficult decision considering the | | | | some variations of Linux. Someone with a high-end |
| wide variety available today. Nobody wants to | | | | computer doesn't need to worry about this problem. |
| purchase expensive software and then find out that | | | | Microsoft currently offers a couple of supported |
| they dislike the software and realize they have made | | | | operating systems, which include Windows 2000 and |
| a mistake. There are some free operating systems | | | | Windows XP. Windows XP is a good choice for |
| available now, but those have faults just like most | | | | someone who wants a very friendly user interface. |
| other operating systems. Another factor in choosing | | | | This would be a good decision for those that are new |
| the right "OS" is whether or not the user is | | | | to operating a PC and want the experience to be |
| experienced or not. You must always consider the | | | | easier for them. Some do not enjoy the user-friendly |
| specifications on your computer as well. When you | | | | interface and would like to have more advanced |
| purchase a retail computer from a store such as Best | | | | control over their "OS". Windows XP has security |
| Buy, they all come with Microsoft products and you | | | | updates quite often as well as Windows 2000. |
| really don't have much of a choice. Some versions of | | | | Windows 2000 is possibly a mix between Windows |
| Linux are popular enough to be purchased at stores | | | | 98 and Windows XP. Windows 2000 offers the user |
| such as Best Buy, but are never included with a | | | | more advanced control over the operating system |
| purchased PC. To obtain the operating system you | | | | and has an interface similar to Windows 98 or |
| want, you will probably have to visit another computer | | | | Millennium. While Microsoft offers a friendly interface, |
| store or to go online and search for it. Although | | | | most Linux operating systems offer a more advanced |
| Microsoft supports other operating systems besides | | | | approach. Some versions of Linux are open source |
| Windows XP, they are not readily accessible to buy at | | | | and can be modified if you are knowledgeable in |
| a lot of stores. | | | | programming. |
| If someone is considering using a free operating | | | | Keeping all of this in mind, one should be able to |
| system, then just understand that there might be limited | | | | choose which road they wish to go down. If you are |
| support and the interface might be for the advanced | | | | more interested in a graphical interface than anything |
| user. Free software might have little or no security | | | | else, it is suggested you choose Windows XP like the |
| updates on a regular basis. When choosing what "OS" | | | | majority of PC users today. Windows XP is most |
| is right for you, you must decide if you are looking for | | | | commonly used because Microsoft is pretty much |
| something with open source-code. The open source | | | | forcing everyone to. If you are in the mood to try |
| operating system would usually be for programmers | | | | something else, go to the store and purchase Red Hat |
| looking to change the "OS" to fit their liking. If you are | | | | Linux. |
| using an old computer with low-end specifications, you | | | | |