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If you are considering buying a computer the operating system and application software are the determining factors on the specifications of the computer.  Make sure you make the right decision.

Operating System & Software

This is where I'm going to stray from the majority of consultants. I have a very strong bias against Microsoft's Windows. You are warned!
 

BSD and Linux

BSD is a true UNIX™, whereas Linux is a  POSIX compliant operating system (Since Linux is POSIX compatible it will run most UNIX™ applications).
 

Source code compatibility is very good across most UNIX™ systems, that is one of the main reasons most open source software available for Linux is also available for BSD, and vice versa.
 

They are generally equivalent to each other in terms of performance, security or stability in a workstation environment. Some BSD variants are better at dealing with heavy network server apps, usage and security. BSD has a longer history than Linux on the high-end server market, so you're likely to encounter it a lot on large servers. Neither is technically ahead or behind the other in any significant way.
 

• FreeBSD is an advanced operating system which offers advanced networking, performance, security and compatibility features.
   
• OpenBSD's guiding principle is intense code review for security problems and therefore makes a good server OS.
   
• NetBSD is notable mainly for running on more hardware platforms than any other OS (i.e. routers and appliances and whatnot). This work usually gets folded into other OS's sooner or later.
   
• Linux has developed into an operating system for business, education, and personal productivity. It supports a wide range of applications in just about every software category and is a good Desktop OS (to replace Microsoft Windows) because of it's popularity.

Microsoft Windows

If you must have Microsoft Windows as your OS then my recommendation is Windows 2000 Professional which is stable. 2000 has a good combination of performance and compatibility with previous Windows versions and while Windows XP (built on the NT base as is 2000) is newer with more features it's intense graphics and whiz-bang features aren't worth the performance drag and instability they tend to cause.

The only real problem with 2000 is the shortage of drivers for it. Happily, 2000 can use many XP drivers with no ill effects. Upgrade to the latest drivers (like DirectX, your video display and sound card drivers, etc. and you are all set to enjoy Windows - at least as much as possible.
 

Open Source & Free Software resources

• OSS/FS for Microsoft Windows.
• Check out my companion site - COSGroup - for more information about Open Source and "Free" Software.

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Last modified: Thursday, May 12, 2005