Alternatives to Microsoft Windows

Weren't computers supposed to make our lives easier? Shouldn't your computer do what YOU say, and not vice-versa? Why should you have to spend your hard earned cash on a computer that doesn't do what you want, when you want it to? You probably shopped around before buying most of your other household appliances, why not look at some alternatives to Microsoft Windows?

Whether you're looking for simplicity, security, or just peace of mind, something brought you here. Operating systems aren't only developed behind the closed doors of Redmond. There exist quite a few alternatives to Windows and some of them you've probably heard of. Before getting into the specific alternatives it's necessary to give a little background information - mainly on Unix and Open Source Software.

Unix was an Operating System originally created by AT&T employees in the 1960's. It was meant for portability, security, and clarity. The Unix philosophy splits tasks up to be accomplished (and accomplished well) by groups of smaller programs rather than a large complex kernel. There's a familiar filing system for Unix based Operating Systems; files that configure your computer are editable in plain text. Unix was made to be simple and usable. The Open Group that sets the standards for computing defines Unix with the Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standards.

When software is free, it can be free as in "FREE BEER!" or free as in "Free to distribute, edit, reproduce, and use" (Open Source). Microsoft Windows is not free in either sense of the word. Much of Windows is closed source and they take great pains to insure their software is not pirated. Some versions of Linux are Open Source - but you have to purchase the software.

Mac OS X:

If any operating system is competing with Windows in the market, it's Mac OS X. Mac OS has the security and stability of a Unix based system - and the marketing of a successful company that's been around for a few decades. For the average user, Mac OS is an excellent choice for your browsing, email, and word processing needs. There is a variety of software for Mac OS, as well as paid support.

Solaris:

Sun Microsystems created a Unix based Operating System (originally called SunOS) and through years of development they've now released Solaris 10. Once again, Solaris has all the features of a Unix based Operating System. It's free to download and Open Source. There is a large amount of Open Source software and support available.

BSD:

The Berkeley Software Distribution is a Unix based OS developed originally by the University of Berkeley California. It's Open Source and free to download. Many BSD enthusiasts claim that BSD is the most secure OS around - and they might not be far off. Technical support is provided by the BSD community, but generally speaking, BSD isn't as user-friendly as Mac OS or Windows. BSD is often used as a server OS, like Linux.

Linux:

Is Linux a rumor? Maybe a fad? Linux is a free alternative to Microsoft Windows that's popularity is growing exponentially. It's a Unix based OS focused on security, stability, and simplicity. Linux has many developers who create or modify their own version of the Operating System (called "distributions" or "distros" for short) - each with individual strengths and weaknesses. Linux is also growing rapidly - major computer companies such as Dell and HP are considering selling computers with Linux installed. Support is found in a huge community; paid support is available as well for some distributions.