Is There Life Beyond Windows? Pros, Cons and Costs of the Major Operating Systems
Is There Life Beyond Windows? Pros, Cons and Costs of the Major Operating Systems
The major operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, UNIX and Linux.
Windows decisively dominates the workstation market, with almost 90% of market share. Windows XP is still the major workstation operating system, with 65% to Vista’s 24%. Mac OS increased its workstation market share to about 10% over the past 5 years and is gaining traction in the business world for the first time - from 1.1% in 2006 to 4.5% in 2008. The recent increase in Mac market share is likely attributable to the Mac now being able to run Windows seamlessly, and to user backlash after the introduction of Vista. It will be interesting to see if Windows 7 will reverse this trend.
Windows and UNIX each command about a third of the server market. Linux has a tiny presence on workstations but accounts for 16% of the server market. Mac Server has minimal server market penetration.
Pros, cons and costs
The major advantages of Windows are availability of business applications software, support and resources, and very high mainstream comfort levels. The high cost of matching Windows applications on other systems and the high cost of migration are the greatest barriers to change.
Despite somewhat higher hardware costs, total cost of ownership for the Mac is generally lower than that of Windows. Mac OS offers the advantages of less “user friction interface”, higher productivity, lower maintenance and support costs, and better security.
Windows licensing costs are far higher than the other operating systems. Mac servers include unlimited licences, and UNIX and Linux are free. Estimates were that there would be 500,000 new pieces of malware (viruses, trojans etc) for Windows by the end of 2008. Threats to Mac OS, UNIX and Linux are negligible.
Total cost of ownership findings for servers are mixed, with some studies finding higher TCO for UNIX and Linux, others for Windows – depending on who commissioned the study. Linux and UNIX offer low maintenance requirements, exceptional stability and very good security. Most Web servers run UNIX or Linux, while office servers are mostly Windows. Key business applications server software can often only run on Windows.
Mixed networks often make tremendous business sense, as they allow businesses to match systems to their needs instead of vice versa.
Is There Life Beyond Windows Pros Cons and Costs of the Major Operating Systems - To learn more about this author, visit Linda Jacobson's Website.
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Market share and trends
The major operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, UNIX and Linux.
Windows decisively dominates the workstation market, with almost 90% of market share. Windows XP is still the major workstation operating system, with 65% to Vista’s 24%. Mac OS increased its workstation market share to about 10% over the past 5 years and is gaining traction in the business world for the first time - from 1.1% in 2006 to 4.5% in 2008. The recent increase in Mac market share is likely attributable to the Mac now being able to run Windows seamlessly, and to user backlash after the introduction of Vista. It will be interesting to see if Windows 7 will reverse this trend.
Windows and UNIX each command about a third of the server market. Linux has a tiny presence on workstations but accounts for 16% of the server market. Mac Server has minimal server market penetration.
Pros, cons and costs
The major advantages of Windows are availability of business applications software, support and resources, and very high mainstream comfort levels. The high cost of matching Windows applications on other systems and the high cost of migration are the greatest barriers to change.
Despite somewhat higher hardware costs, total cost of ownership for the Mac is generally lower than that of Windows. Mac OS offers the advantages of less “user friction interface”, higher productivity, lower maintenance and support costs, and better security.
Windows licensing costs are far higher than the other operating systems. Mac servers include unlimited licences, and UNIX and Linux are free. Estimates were that there would be 500,000 new pieces of malware (viruses, trojans etc) for Windows by the end of 2008. Threats to Mac OS, UNIX and Linux are negligible.
Total cost of ownership findings for servers are mixed, with some studies finding higher TCO for UNIX and Linux, others for Windows – depending on who commissioned the study. Linux and UNIX offer low maintenance requirements, exceptional stability and very good security. Most Web servers run UNIX or Linux, while office servers are mostly Windows. Key business applications server software can often only run on Windows.
Mixed networks often make tremendous business sense, as they allow businesses to match systems to their needs instead of vice versa.
Is There Life Beyond Windows Pros Cons and Costs of the Major Operating Systems - To learn more about this author, visit Linda Jacobson's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
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Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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