Mac OS X or Windows Vista: How Do They Compare?

Mac OS X is the totally upgraded successor of the original Mac OS and has a completely different code than its predecessor. Many of the changes made to the new Mac OS X include its new user interface, new security features, and better stability.

Windows Vista, on the other hand, is the new operating system released by Microsoft. It is a major update to Windows, and portrays some of the same features as its primary competitor in the Operating System market, the Mac OS X.

Just like Mac OS X, Windows Vista uses an entirely different code from its predecessor, Windows XP. It also utilizes a new graphical user interface, called Windows Aero. Suspiciously, however, Windows Aero is very similar to Mac OS X's Aqua theme. Some say that Microsoft based its graphical user interface on Apple's Aqua.

Despite the many similarities in the two operating systems, Windows Vista is in fact very different from Mac OS X.

A primary difference between the two dates back to the first operating systems created by the two fierce competitors, Microsoft and Apple. These differences include the graphical user interface, security, and software. Mac OS X has a different user interface, meaning that users will need to go through different processes to complete similar tasks. A Macintosh computer has a very different look and feel than Windows.

Another major difference between Mac OS X and Windows Vista is the relative security of each operating system. In a sense, the Mac OS X is considered the more secure system, because there are not as many viruses and worms written for the Mac. Windows Vista, however, has far more viruses and mal-ware written specifically for it, despite its relative newness. If you are very concerned about the countless viruses replicating in cyberspace, then purchasing the Mac OS X is highly recommended. However, even if you do decide to switch to Mac, you will still need a reliable anti-virus application.

The most prominent difference between the two operating systems is the software. Windows Vista is more suitable for office-related software such as word processors and database programs. Mac OS X is more of a multi-media operating system. Even though Windows Vista has media capabilities, multimedia applications work much better on Macintosh.

The main factor you must consider when deciding which operating system to choose is software compatibility.
Keep this in mind:
Windows Vista = office applications
Mac OS X = multimedia applications

Useful Links:
www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml
www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/
www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx
www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/default.mspx