Have you ever wondered which operating system is the best for your computer? Chances are you’ve heard of one or more of the following operating systems: Windows, Mac OS, Android, and ChromeOS. But what do they have in common? What makes them different? And which one is the best choice for you? If you’re having trouble deciding, don’t worry! We’ve got some answers for you.
How to Choose an Operating System for Your Needs
When you’re picking an operating system, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Robustness and stability. In the first place, you’ll probably want to consider the robustness and stability of the operating system. You want something that will work well for you without hiccups or crashes. The more stable an operating system is, the less chance there is that it will crash or give you trouble while working on your computer.
- Support and cost. Additionally, you want to consider the support and cost of the operating system. Some operating systems are free but require more work on your part to maintain than others. Others are expensive but come with good support options and can make managing your computer easier overall.
- Security. Finally, security is an important consideration when choosing an operating system as well. If there are security vulnerabilities in your chosen OS, then it’s possible for malicious actors to exploit those vulnerabilities in order to gain access to your data or hardware through them.
However, if you need more professional help with choosing an operating system that meets your needs or your tablet is not working, you are always welcome to ask Howly technical experts on their official website. And, in the meanwhile, we will proceed with revising and comparing Chrome OS, Windows, Mac, and Android.
Chrome OS
Chrome OS is an operating system built on the Linux kernel, with a user interface based on Google Chrome. It was developed by Google and released in 2009. It’s an operating system that uses Google Chrome as its default browser and has a lot of applications that are web-based. The user can install apps from the Chrome Web Store or from third-party app stores, like F-Droid or Amazon Appstore for Android.
- Set up experience. The setup experience is quite fast and easy: you can sign up with your Google account, set up your Wi-Fi connection, and choose which apps you want to install.
- Included apps. There are a lot of pre-installed apps like Gmail, Calendar, Play Music, Hangouts, Photos, etc., but if you need more you can always install them from the Chrome Web Store (or another third-party app store).
- Performance. Chromebooks come with up to 8 hours of battery life, so you can go days without having to charge them (or worry about finding an outlet). And because they boot up in under 10 seconds, you can spend less time staring at a screen and more time getting stuff done.
- Interface customization. Chrome OS also gives you the flexibility to customize your browser window, so you can set up your laptop exactly how you want it. You can change the size of the window or make it full-screen, and you can even choose different themes and colors for different apps.
- Speed. Chrome OS is really fast when it comes to opening apps and performing tasks on the web—you can open new tabs in less than five seconds! And since all your data is saved in the cloud, you don’t have to worry about losing anything if something goes wrong with your Chromebook or if you need to reset it.
- Stability. Chrome OS is also very stable. It doesn’t crash as other operating systems do. It’s built for users who want an intuitive experience without all of the complications that come with installing software on a traditional PC.
- Security. Chrome OS also comes with a number of security features that make it ideal for active users who are at risk of being hacked such as two-factor authentication; automatic updates; verified boot; encrypted local storage; protection against phishing sites; device encryption; password manager integration; private browsing mode and so on.
- Suitability. Chrome OS is great for students because it’s so lightweight and fast—you can run multiple programs at once without bogging down your system. It’s perfect for multitasking between homework assignments, research articles, and social media!
- Drawbacks. The biggest drawback of Chrome OS is that it can be very limiting for advanced users. If you’re looking for a system that offers a wide range of functionality, Chrome OS might not be the right choice for you. While the system works perfectly well when it is connected to the internet, many users say that the moment they lose their connection (for whatever reason), they become almost completely useless.
Windows OS
Windows OS is a desktop operating system that runs on personal computers, including laptops and desktops. It’s the most popular operating system in the world, and it can be used to run Microsoft Office, browse the web, and play games. Windows 10 is the latest version of Windows. It was released in 2015 and has been updated since then with new features for both desktop and laptop users.
Windows 10 comes in two versions: Home and Pro. The Home version offers all of the features that you would need to use your device for work and play, but the Pro version includes additional features like BitLocker disk encryption, Remote Desktop host client, Hyper-V virtualization technologies, and more.
- Set up experience. The setup process for Windows 10 is straightforward: you’ll download an installer from Microsoft’s website, run it as soon as it finishes downloading, then choose whether to keep or delete your previous version of Windows (Windows 7 or 8). You’ll need to enter your product key if this is a new PC; otherwise, it will automatically activate itself using the internet connection on your device.
- Included apps. Once you’ve completed the initial setup, you’ll notice that there are some apps included by default on Windows 10: Microsoft Edge browser, Photos app (which works with SkyDrive), OneNote app (for taking notes), Mail app (for emailing people), Calendar app (for scheduling events), People app (for managing contacts), Music app (for playing songs), Video player (for watching videos), News app (for reading news articles), Weather app (for checking the weather), Store app (where you can download more apps).
- Performance. Windows 10 is fast and stable, even if it’s not always as quick as some other operating systems like Linux or Mac OS X. You can customize the performance of your computer by changing settings in Control Panel or using third-party tools such as CCleaner.
- Interface customization. Windows has an intuitive interface with lots of customization options, so you can make it look like you want. The design is simple and clean, and there are many different themes to choose from. You can also change the color scheme or add more personal touches through themes and custom desktop backgrounds.
- Speed. The speed of a computer depends on its hardware components, the software installed on it, and how well it can handle multiple tasks at the same time. Windows OS is known for its speed which makes it ideal for multitasking tasks like gaming or watching videos on YouTube.
- Stability. Windows OS is stable, which means that it will never crash or freeze on you. It’s also built to withstand multiple updates and support for long-term use.
- Security. The security model in Windows has been criticized as being weak compared to that of Unix-like operating systems such as Linux and OS X, and the lack of support for user-level password management has been criticized by some security experts as a major weakness of the operating system. Also, there are no built-in mechanisms to protect against viruses or other types of malware, though third-party antivirus software can be installed.
- Suitability. Windows OS is a great choice for gamers and business owners. It has many features that make it suitable for both of these markets, including the ability to run multiple applications at once, support for virtualization, and an easy-to-use interface.
- Drawbacks. First of all, it requires advanced computer hardware to run seamlessly. The same applies to running multiple applications at once; you’ll need a powerhouse machine to do that. The high cost of getting a licensed operating system is another drawback. Finally, Windows has significant security vulnerabilities, however, you can overcome some of them by subscribing to an antivirus service with advanced protection features.
Mac OS
Mac OS is the name of the operating system that Apple uses on its computers. It’s a little more complicated than just “the Mac,” but it’s also more powerful and user-friendly than Windows. Mac OS comes in two versions: macOS (High Sierra) and Mojave. The newest version of macOS is Mojave, which was released in 2019.
- Set up experience. The Mac setup experience is super easy! When you first turn on your computer, you’ll be asked to sign into your Apple ID account and accept some terms and conditions. Then the computer will ask for your location (if you want it to), set up iMessage and FaceTime, and install updates automatically. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes.
- Included apps. The Mac OS is a great operating system for people who want to get more done. It’s easy to use and can be personalized with third-party apps and extensions. The OS comes pre-installed with a lot of apps that are useful for productivity, like Calendar, Reminders, Mail, Safari, Notes, and more. You can also get apps like Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop to help you work on big projects at home or at work.
- Performance. Another feature that makes Mac OS X stand out from other operating systems is its ability to run multiple applications at once without slowing down or crashing on you. This means you can have multiple programs open at once without worrying about losing data or crashing your computer—which can happen with other operating systems like Windows or Linux due to the way they’re programmed.
- Interface customization. One of the main features of Mac OS X is that it offers users a lot of customization options when it comes to using the computer’s interface. You can change the color scheme, switch between different window themes, and even choose what kind of window animations you want to use.
- Speed. Mac OS is fast—especially in comparison to Windows 10. The Mac operating system is light-years ahead of its competitors in terms of speed and responsiveness, so you can get through your workday faster.
- Stability. Mac OS is a great choice for anyone who wants to get more done, faster. It’s incredibly stable, so you can feel confident that your computer will keep running when you need it to. It also comes with some handy features like Spotlight, which can help you find anything on your computer quickly and easily.
- Security. Mac OS also has a number of security features that make it more secure than other operating systems. For example, it’s protected by Gatekeeper, which prevents malicious software from being installed on your machine; FileVault 2 encrypts your data so that if your computer is lost or stolen no one can access it, and CockroachDB automatically replicates data across multiple servers in case one goes down.
- Suitability. Mac OS is designed for creative workers. The operating system is fast and stable, making it ideal for working on design applications and other creative tools. Mac OS also comes with a number of tools that make it easy to use your computer with a single mouse button. There are built-in apps for photo editing, video editing, music creation, writing applications like Scrivener and Word Processor (for those who write fiction or nonfiction), and many more!
- Drawbacks. First, Mac devices are expensive. If you’re looking to buy a Mac, you can expect to pay a lot more than you would for a Windows PC. Another drawback of using Mac OS is the limited number of apps available for this operating system. While there are many apps available for Mac OS users, they tend to be more expensive than similar apps designed for other platforms (like Android or Windows). There are also fewer choices when it comes to finding free software that runs on Mac OS systems—although there are some free options out there.
Android OS
The Android operating system is one of the most popular and widely used mobile operating systems in the world, with millions of users worldwide. The Android OS is designed to work on a large array of devices, from smartphones and tablets to televisions and even cars.
- Set up experience. Android OS’s setup experience is easy and fast, so you can get to the fun stuff like downloading apps and playing games. You can also get it for free on most phones, which is great for people who aren’t sure if they’re going to like it yet.
- Included apps. The setup process is straightforward and simple—just follow the prompts on your phone or tablet to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data networks and set up your Google account (if you don’t have one yet). You’ll have access to all of your favorite Google apps from day one: Gmail, YouTube, Chrome Browser, Calendar, Photos…the list goes on. And if there’s ever anything that needs fixing or improving? Just tap “Settings” from your home screen to see what’s available—you can uninstall apps or disable notifications for individual apps if need be!
- Performance. Performance is one of Android’s biggest strengths. It’s got lots of cool features that make your phone work better, but it’s also lightweight enough that you don’t have to worry about it slowing down your phone or draining your battery.
- Interface customization. Android is known for its customization options, which allow you to easily change your home screen and add widgets, shortcuts, and other elements that help you get things done. The keyboard on Android is also very customizable, allowing you to add emojis and auto-corrections as needed.
- Speed. Speed is another thing Android does really well—you can access all kinds of apps and services on your phone without any lag between commands or clicks.
- Stability. Android has been around since 2008 and has been updated regularly ever since then with new features like virtual assistants like Google Assistant. This means that it offers stability because there are plenty of people using it every day—so if you run into problems with your device or software update, someone else has probably already experienced something similar so it will be easy for you to get help and support.
- Security. With the latest updates, Android has become one of the most secure operating systems on the planet. It’s also completely open source, meaning you can see exactly how it works and make sure it stays that way. Android is secure because it has fewer security vulnerabilities than other operating systems, so you can rest assured that your data and files are safe.
- Suitability. In fact, Android OS is suitable for any user – from kids to business owners. The system is made in a simple and straightforward way to cover the necessities of any user group. What’s more, Android is open source, which means that its code is available for anyone to use or modify. The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) hosts the official version of Android’s codebase and provides a reference for developers looking to create their own custom versions of the OS. The AOSP also allows developers to build their own custom software on top of Android, including apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps—and they can do so without having to pay any royalties or licensing fees! This makes it possible for anyone to create their own version of Android without worrying about whether they’ll be able to make money off their work.
- Drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks of Android OS is that it is prone to viruses. Another drawback of Android OS is that there are constant ads within the apps themselves which is annoying and distracting. It can also take up more storage space than necessary on your device if you don’t clear out these ads regularly by deleting them from your device’s memory cache or uninstalling unnecessary apps.
Conclusion
In our comparison of the features of ChromeOS, Windows, and Mac, we found that each operating system has its own advantages and disadvantages. ChromeOS is lightweight, easy to use, and fast. However, it doesn’t have as many features as Windows or Mac. Windows has more features than ChromeOS but it’s slower than both of them. Mac is also very fast but has fewer features than both ChromeOS and Windows. Android is much faster than any other operating system but lacks many useful features like File Explorer for example.
So, ChromeOS is a great option for those who are looking for something that’s simple and easy to use. It’s a great choice for new computer users who don’t need a ton of bells and whistles.
Windows, on the other hand, is better suited for those who want more flexibility and options in their computers. Those users will appreciate how customizable Windows is and how easy it is to make their computers work exactly how they want them to work.
Macs are also great options for people who want something simple but still want some customization options available. Macs tend to be more expensive than either Windows or ChromeOS devices but they offer more features out of the box than either of those operating systems.
Android devices are also great choices if you’re looking for something that has lots of built-in functionality right out of the box at an affordable price point. They’re often less expensive than macOS devices or Chromebooks, which makes them appealing to many users who aren’t interested in spending a lot on their devices but still want something powerful enough to do all kinds of things with it!
