The Operating System
Windows and the Competition
For most Personal Computer owners Microsoft Windows is the operating system. An Operating System (OS) is a program (and a lot of sub-programs) which allows your computer to operate. It enables you to control the PC using the keyboard and mouse (input devices), it enables the computer to recognise and make use of all its components, and to communicate with you and the world using the monitor, printer, modem and other output devices.
It enables the transfer of information to and from the computer using floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and a number of different types of external data storage devices.
It serves as a platform for running other programs which may be installed once the Operating System is up and running.
Microsoft
Windows XP is not the latest Windows operating system
for the home PC, but it's currently the most popular and commonly used. Many Apple and Linux users will argue that their systems are
better and more secure. There's some truth in that: each OS has its
pros and cons.
Justified or not, Windows is king at the moment.
A newer version of Windows, Windows Vista was released in 2007 and, like its predecessors, has stirred some contorversey. It's resource hungry and there were serious problems of incompatibility with some other software and a lot of hardware. Those problems have almost all been overcome with subsequent updates from Microsoft.
These problems always occur with a new version of Windows. If you're buying a new PC with Windows Vista you probably won't have any difficulty. If you're upgrading your old system to you may find that you have compatibility problems with some existing programs and with some devices like printers and scanners.
Major programs like Microsoft's Office suites (and their other software) and Adobe's CS3 and CS4 software suites are fully compatible with vista.
You may find that some utility programs which come with, for instance, printers and cameras, are not compatible and there may or may not be updated versions available from the manufacturers. That's not Microsoft's fault, it's lethargy on the part of the manufacturers and in many, maybe most, cases it's because they want you to buy a newer version of their product. It's as much the fault of our unsustainable consumption-based culture as it is the fault of the industries which sustain it.
Linux
Linux is a free operating system and saves a buyer several hundred dollars. The useability of Linux has improved rapidly in the last year or two. Watch this space Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. If you would be comfortable re-installing Windows on your computer, you'd have no trouble installing Linux. Even if you're not yet sufficiently geeky, if you know someone who is and can get them to install Linux and set it up for you you'll find it no more difficult to use than Windows.
And a lot cheaper. ☺
It's my opinion that the latest editions of the Ubuntu and Mandriva Linux distributions (distros) are ready for use by the non-geek public. If you don't need to use high end PC games and you don't require specialist software, Ubuntu 9.04 and Mandriva 2009 are excellent, and free, Linux alternatives to Windows.
For people who use their computers for word processing, spreadsheets, digital photos, playing music, Internet and email I definitely recommend it. For new users there's a learning curve, but it's arguably less steep than for a person new to Windows.
Wine
Many Windows programs can be run in Linux using Wine software. Wine is an open source translation layer (a program loader) capable of running Windows applications in Linux. Wine is undergoes continuous development and new updates are released every few days. Even Microsoft Office 2007 can be run almost flawlessly under Wine.
Apple's Mac OS X Snow Leopard
That's pronounced oh-ess-ten, not oh-ess-ex.
Apple has a big following with users in the high-end graphics and web design market and at one time was popular in schools and universities. Factors against it at present are the high cost of hardware and the Windows stranglehold on business and games.
Apple will not allow their Operating Systems to be used on computers other than their proprietary machines. There's no denying that these are good machines and beautifully designed and so is their software.
It's also undeniable that Apple were and still are, the innovators. They were using a mouse and a graphical interface employing windows and icons long before Microsoft collared the ideas. Their new PCs have always been at the leading edge of design. And, unfortunately, price. I suspect that they will remain a niche market until they allow their OS to be legally installed on non-proprietary machines.
We've stuck with Windows on this site for the past 3 years, but I'm going to cover the Mac in some detail very soon.
For new Windows PCs — which Windows version?
Most users should buy a PC running Windows 7 Home Premium edition unless you intend to run two or more machines on a network or unless you need to run some old Windows XP software which has compatibility problems, in which case you should pay the extra for Windows 7 Professional edition.
It's unlikely that home users need the extra languages and the file encryption capacity of Windows 7 Ultimate, so don't waste your money on it.
Windows Vista
Don't buy a new PC with Windows Vista unless you get a free Windows 7 upgrade included. Windows 7 is a big improvemnent on Windows Vista so you should not allow any vendor to fob you off with Vista. Any machine sold after October 22nd 2009 should have Windows 7 included. If it only comes as a free upgrade bear in mind that you'll need to pay for the cost of delivery - usually about $10.
Used Windows machines
If you only have one stand alone Windows computer, you need Windows XP SP2 Home Edition o, Windows Vista Home Premium. If you're using XP and have two or more computers which you wish to connect in a network you would benefit from upgrading to Windows XP SP2 Professional Edition or Windows 7 Professional on the newest of them. The Professional editions make setting up a network easier and the network is more secure. Note that if you wish to network six PCs or more a Professional Edition is obligatory on at least one of them.
SP1, SP2, SP3
In case you were wondering, SP stands for Service Pack. These are major overhauls and bug fixes for Windows XP and Vista. If you buy a used PC with the Original Windows XP version, ask the seller if they can supply the SP3 upgrade on CDs. Otherwise it's a very big download over the internet.
XP SP3 has recently been released. Get it as a download using Windows Update. If you can't do that get it on a CD here.
The same philosophy applies to used Vista machines. If it doesn't have SP1 installed you're in for a big download.
If you're really stuck, contact mistywindow via feedback, and I'll send you an SP3 CD at cost.
Are You Getting the Windows CD or DVD you Paid For?
When you've been through mistywindow's Buying Guide, and you know what you need as far as hardware is concerned, the next question to ask is: does the vendor provide a full Windows 7 program disk with its own licence and Product Key?
This is the most satisfactory situation and an important consideration when comparing deals.
Many new PCs, especially from the big name brands, are sold with a Windows licence and a valid Product Key but no CD. This is not a good practice from the owner's point of view and can cause difficulties down the track.
Restoration disks
If you don't receive a Windows CD or DVD, you should at least receive a set of restoration disks. These can be used to restore your PC to the exact state it was in when it left the factory. This is not a satisfactory solution but it's better than nothing. More about that below.
As mentioned previously, sometimes you receive the licence and the Product Key but not even the restoration disks. The installation software should be on a hidden partition on your hard disk. A restoration can be done by following the instructions given in your manual, which usually consists of tapping a specified key when booting (starting). If this is the case, at the very least you should be able to create a restoration DVD on your CD/DVD writer, otherwise if your hard drive fails, you have no means of reinstalling Windows on a new drive. A new full copy of Windows would set you back almost as much as a cheap PC.
What's Wrong with Restoration DVDs or CDs?
- You've paid for a Windows licence and, in my opinion, you should receive a full copy of the program.
- For a number of reasons, your installation can become so corrupt
that you can't access your data, or perhaps you can't even start Windows.
With a Windows XP disk you can do a Repair installation and with a Windows Vista disk you can do something similar. That is, if Windows
is playing up and you're having trouble fixing it, you can reinstall
it over the top of your current installation. With a bit of luck your
programs, data and settings will still be there on completion.
You can't do that with a Restoration set. You can only do a restoration during which everything is wiped off your C:\ (main) drive. it's restored to the way it was when it left the factory. A lot more work ensues reinstalling all your programs and data and you have a really BIG problem if you haven't been backing up your precious files! - If, in a year or two, you want to upgrade to a fancy new version
of Windows, you can buy a (much cheaper) upgrade version. Unfortunately,
if, as is usually best, you want to start with a clean installation
of the new operating system, during that installation Windows will want
proof that you qualify for the upgrade.
For the purposes of proof, XP will not recognise a restoration disk. So you have to either do a dirty installation of the new product over the top of the old one, or you have to do a restoration of the original version and then do a dirty installation. Neither option is completely satisfactory.
If you get in this position, and you do have a valid licence, try to borrow someone else's disk for verification during installation. - Some repair and maintenance operations are difficult or impossible without a Windows CD or DVD. Find out here.
Help From the Vendor
If you decide to ignore my advice ☹ and to
buy a system which requires the creation of restoration CDs by the buyer,
insist that the vendor does it for you. You must clarify with your potential
vendor exactly what you're getting. Otherwise it will cost you. I have (almost)
always insisted on a full Windows CD.
Buying Used Computers
If you're buying second hand, Windows 98 SE (SE stands for Second Edition), Windows 2000, Windows XP (with SP3) and Windows Vista (with SP1) are good stable operating systems. They're no longer available on new PCs—except some netbooks which have XP—and Microsoft no longer provide full support for them. Updates http://www.Microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp.
Windows 2000 and Windows Me were interim versions and have been less popular than 98 & XP. Avoid Windows Me like the plague. It's a dog — up there with the 1959 Skoda.
The CD shown here is an OEM (supplied with a PC by the manufacturer) version of Windows 98 original (it's not 98SE).
I would advise sticking with Windows 98 SE for older PCs or Windows XP for a PC produced after 2000. Don't buy any PC built before 1998. They're virtually worthless and anything more than 5 years old should be going very cheap.
Do NOT buy any used computer without an original Windows installation
CD! 
That CD is worth more than the computer.
Original Windows CD
Lets say it again. Don't buy a used PC without an original Windows CD and Product Key (serial number - 25 letters and numbers). The product key will be on the back of its jewel case or cardboard slip case (Windows 98 case picture on the right with a red Second Edition star) or on a sticker on the PC.
More often than not, the Windows CD is worth more than any old computer. Without that CD you may face expensive problems to avoid the machine being anything but a doorstop.
Be
aware that, because of the activation process, Windows XP or Vista can only
be installed on one PC. The seller should satisfy you that the copy on the
machine has been activated on that PC and no other.
Upgrades
If the Windows CD is labelled Upgrade, then the seller must also supply you with the qualifying older Windows version on CD or floppy disk, unless you already have a qualifying product. That older version should not be an upgrade or you'll need a qualifying product for that one too!
Versions of Windows prior to XP do not require activation, however the software may not legally be used on more than two PCs, and those two are only allowed to be used by one user at any one time. This is to allow you to have a desktop and a laptop machine for your own use.
If your computer, software, and ancillary equipment are more than 5 years old and you decide to upgrade to XP from an older version of Windows you may find that the required XP software (driver) is not available for some of your hardware - such as printers, scanners and modems. In this case you would need to buy new hardware or stick with your old version of Windows.
Generally speaking, most older PCs don't have sufficient power to run Windows Vista satifactorily.
