I’ve used them all.
Call me an equal opportunity technologist. I’ve given them all a try. From Windows to Linux and everywhere in between. Do I have my have opinions? Absolutely. Do I participate in the “Holy wars” for OS? Yes, on occasion, for entertainment in my life. So I thought it would be fun to write a few confessions about my experience. It’s purely for entertainment. 🙂
Mac OS
- The ultimate OS right? Yet so many run Windows Parallels and I find that ironic.
- I inherited a MacBook hand-me-down from daughter. To my frustration, Apple capped the MacOS upgrade level. It also ran super hot around the power cord connector so I had to download a special app for fan control and heat. I found these were common complaints via internet search. In the end, it was not a great experience.
- Can we just agree on keyboard keys and shortcuts please?
- Many Mac OS X zealots may not realize that Mac OS is a Unix based operating system.
- While viruses aren’t as prevalent on Mac OS. Mac OS is not immune to viruses as some have told me with a smirk.
Windows
- Oh please Mr. PC tell me why you get slower with age? If your registry is bloated then give me a way to release the blockage please.
- A breeding ground for viruses. Virus scanners are pricey and taxing to system performance.
- Windows XP and IE 6. A match made in heaven and a marriage that outlived many attempts to kill it.
- I have confirmed how long it takes my PC to boot in the morning. I turn it on. Then I go to the break room to put my lunch away and to get a cup of coffee. When I return, it’s ready to go. That’s Windows 7 and a platter based disk. (I’ve seen better with Windows 8 and a SSD.)
- Windows 8? I get it.
Ubuntu Linux
- It gave a few of my old PCs new life because it has less hardware requirements than Windows.
- You can’t beat the price!
- Software availability isn’t the best. Open Office has the basic features needed for word processing and spreadsheets. But it can lack the advanced features for power users and may not fully read a document prepared in MS Office.
- Support is plentiful on internet forums. But I’ll admit, you have to be a geek to understand it.
Chrome OS
- You’re right Google. I mostly just need a browser to complete my computing activities.
- Google Docs is great. But just wait until someone passes a MS Office document to your non-techy spouse using a ChromeBook.
- Boot-up time is amazing.
- It’s really a “cloud” terminal.
Android
- It works well for me because I’m in the Google ecosystem. Google docs, Gmail, Google contacts, Google+ and Google Voice.
- Performance tends to lag at times. But I realize it’s tough to make judgements on this. Google doesn’t lock and control the hardware. So many combinations, so many possibilities.
- Android phones don’t focus on simplicity. Some customizations can be hard to find, like speed dial and email account setup.
iOS
- It’s not perfect as some make it out to be.
- My daughter had reception problems from a dorm room in the basement of a building. I asked her to use wifi-calling, but found out it’s not supported yet. I’ve been using that for years on my Android device.
- The marketing at Apple is the best. I’m not an Apple fan-boy, but their ads have won over an allegiance and created a brand title wave.
- Let’s be honest, Apple die-hards are a bit snobby.