Windows, Linux, Unix & Apple

Take any computer related magazine these days and you will definitely see some article related to which among these four (there is not much comparison between Unix & Linux of course) is the best. Here are my two cents.

Each of these has achieved what they set out to be. Take the case of Unix. It began as a research project in AT&T Bell Labs. Ken Thomson & Denise Ritchie wanted an operating system that was stable, had multi-user & multitasking capabilities. Most of the commands of Unix were assignments Ken Thompson gave to his students in MIT. It did what it set out to be beautifully. Later on it was discovered that Unix had commercial value too. But it never was meant to be a commercial product.

Microsoft on the other hand had a different goal - "a computer on every desk and in every home". And it has achieved exactly that. Microsoft opened the gates of the world of computers to the common man. All the products and features of Microsoft are designed for the user’s convenience. Windows is no exception. It’s designed to be intuitive and user friendly. But hey didn't Apple invent the "windows" concept. Yes they did. But merely inventing will not make it accessible to the masses. At the price Macintosh was sold it was beyond the reach of the common man. It took Microsoft's marketing strategy to make computers reach each and every desk and home.

Apple had a different priority. To create innovative and insanely great products that users will love to use. They has achieved this with every product of theirs be it the Macintosh or the iPod. Being an industry leader was not their priority. Apple products are inherently innovative (Macintosh's GUI, iTunes music store, IPod's clickwheel), and has drop dead gorgeous looks. Not only have they achieved what they set out to do but have surpassed any standards.

GNU/Linux had a different goal. To create a system exactly like Unix but which was free as described by the GNU GPL. When GNU set out this herculean task, Unix was the leading commercial product. But Unix was originally a research project. GNU/Linux achieved its goal and has a system that is exactly like Unix and is free. But since Unix was a research project Linux too is like a research project. And it’s rightly called the “Engineer’s OS”.

So what’s the bottom line? If you want a fun, stylish and cutting edge product get an Apple. If you want a easy to use and practical product, get a Microsoft box. If you are a researcher/engineer/developer/philosopher get a Linux box. So what about the magazines that compare Apple, Windows & Linux? There is not much point in comparing a screw driver, hammer and a pipe wrench. They were meant to different things and they do it wonderfully. The magazines need to be more innovative (like apple) to increase readership.