Even today, the vast majority of users have one or other version of Windows installed on their computers and this is the only operating system that they know, but Mac OS X and Linux are two other great operating systems that come with their loyal supporters as well.

Which is the best operating system and more importantly, which operating system is the best for you?

Windows

The most widely used operating system, with an estimated 90% market share, is still the one that is best suitable for the average computer user. Windows comes with its pros and cons and although might not be the most secure system and networking might not be as easiest as all of us wish, it still has a great number of advantages. The most obvious one is the abundance of developers that create their software applications for the Windows platforms – no matter what task you are trying to accomplish and what software you need, it is likely that it has been developed for Windows first and only later adopted for the other operating systems, if adopted at all. The security risks are mainly due to the popularity of the operating system rather than its own flows, and Microsoft is constantly improving the protection of the personal computers against the various threats. The latest version of Windows, Windows 7 is a huge improvement over the not entirely successful Windows Vista and offers faster boot-up, easier networking, higher security, quick access to files and programs, and easier way to share printers and files. If you have to choose an operating system for your computer and have set up your mind on Windows, then consider Windows 7 for a newer computer with sufficient RAM and faster dual core processors, and Windows XP for older hardware and slower machines. Although Windows Vista came with a few improvements over Windows XP, its many flows easily overshadow them!

Mac OS X

Loved by many, this operating system is easy to use, elegant, and offers various features that are not found in Windows or Linux. The marriage between hardware and operating system seems to be stronger, especially in the case of the Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6), which uses the Grand Central Dispatch technology and has the capabilities to get the best out of the multi-core processors. Another great advantage, although arguably one that is due to the lower popularity of Mac OS X compared to that of Windows, is the fewer security threads – a Mac OS X user is unlikely to have to deal with countless malware, spyware, and viruses and does not have to run multiple programs and updates in order to stay protected. This operating system is also considered to have an easier to use interface and use less hardware resources than Windows, but comes with some major disadvantages as well. Since it is far less popular, only a few vendors create programs, games, and other content for Mac OS X specifically and even though a user can install Windows on its Leopard Intel Mac, this somewhat defeats the purpose of running an operation system different than Windows. Mac OS X is also difficult to customize, not compatible with great number of peripherals, and far fewer games can be run on it.

Linux

The most often cited advantages of this operating system are its cost, performance, stability, network functionality, security, and easy installation. However, this is an operating system that is far more difficult to use for the vast majority of the non-tech users, comes in way too many versions and variations, does not have nearly as many applications developed for it, and is capable of running Windows programs only by using emulators. The verdict on Linux is that even though it still remains the choice of operating system for hosting servers, it is suitable for a desktop computer only to users that do not mind the higher learning curve, the limited amount of available applications, and the not always compatible hardware.

Even though this article does not list all pros and cons that the three reviewed operating systems have, it should serve as a starting point and help you out when choosing an operating system. After all, it also boils down to your personal needs and preferences and what is ideal for one user might not be suitable for another. What operating system do you prefer and why? Please let us know in the comments.