Who runs things around here? (OS)
Choosing an operating system can be a difficult choice. If you haven’t made the switch yet to Windows 8, or if you’ve never heard of Google’s Chrome OS, picking might seem daunting because it’s so central to your everyday experience. Thankfully, we’ve compiled some comparison data to make it easier.
OS X: There are many benefits to going with a MacBook in one form or another. Apple’s laptops tend to be very well made and sturdy, no matter how thin they are. They have much longer battery life, simple interfaces, and updates tend to be very easy. A downfall is their price, and the fact that there are so few options in laptops if you decide to go with OS X.
Windows 8: Windows 8 is optimized for touchscreen, so a lot of new laptops are being created with touch functionality. This might be foreign to you if you are a traditional Windows XP/Vista user, but it isn’t all bad. For instance, the system comes with security features built right into it, so you don’t have to download one. Also, there are far, far more hardware choices for a Windows 8 user than for a Win 7, Mac OS or Chrome OS user.
Windows 7: – The main strength in Windows 7 is familiarity. Unlike Windows 8, it has the same pop-up start menu down at the bottom left of the screen that you’ve been using for years. You’ll be trading away cutting edge tech both in hardware and software in order to keep the comfort zone that is Windows 7, but it’s entirely about preference.
Chrome OS: This OS operates on web apps. What we means is that a Chromebook will be useable only with an internet connection (the Chrome browser is basically the backbone of this OS). Everything is saved to the cloud, and only a small downloads folder saves to your actual computer. Its amazing simplicity is its strength, so if you know you’ll only need a computer for web-surfing and e-mail checking, you really can’t go wrong because Chromebooks can easily be found under the $400 range.
