Operating Systems - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, Dec, 2000 by Jim Freund

Now that you have a choice, which is best for your home office?

PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST important factor in your productivity is your computer's operating system (OS). It determines how you store and retrieve files; how you connect to the Internet and to your home network; how you use devices like PDAs and peripherals like printers and CD-RW or DVD drives. Most important, your OS governs your interface or interaction with all your other software--and indeed, dictates which programs you can use.

Not surprisingly, the first thing to do when choosing an OS is to assess your workstyle. Just what do you want your computer to do? What software will perform the tasks you require? What operating system runs that software? For example, if you're a graphics or publishing professional, the Mac OS is the right fit--the best software for you exists on that platform. If you want the broadest choice of business programs or hardware add-ons, you want Windows.

This month, we take a look at five popular operating systems, four for Intel- or AMD-powered PCs and one for Macs. Three--Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Corel Linux OS Second Edition, and Red Hat Linux 6.2--can serve as network operating systems as well, meaning that they can handle more than one user request at a time. The others, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (or Me) and Apple's Mac OS 9, are designed primarily for a single user at a single desktop or laptop, though both can easily set up a simple network for a few systems to share files and a printer or Internet connection.

We used a total of four machines, each with 128MB of memory, to test the five operating systems. Hopping from one OS to another left us cognitively confused, but we found the essential elements of each interface to be the same--clicking and double-clicking were the basic maneuvers we had to perform, and hopefully the only things you'll need to master before getting to work.

Apple Mac OS 9

* ($9g; 800-MY-APPLE, www.apple.com)

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Users either idolize the Mac OS or shrug it off as too far outside today's business standard. Nevertheless, Mac OS 9 provides a worthy alternative to Windows for home-based workers, especially those who create graphics, video, or audio content.

In this version, attention has been paid to convenient access to applications and files. Rather than promoting Layered menus, users are encouraged to use desktop icons and the Control Strip, a toolbar that can reside near the bottom of your screen or be tucked away. Mac OS 9 is billed as an "Internet operating system," with Web tools always within easy reach via hotkey, icon, or toolbar. What used to be simply "Find Files" is now a search engine called Sherlock that integrates Internet searches with Local hard disk hunts. Unfortunately, this also puts considerable memory and performance overhead on what used to be a streamlined task.

One new feature we enjoyed was "speakable commands." By pressing the Escape key and speaking to our machine, we could give a Large number of common commands to most of our applications. Mac OS 9 also shines at switching among multiple users' settings or preferences and managing their various Internet passwords.

Though relatively speedy and stable, Apple's OS has long Lacked the multitasking muscle of its rivals. That should change in early 2001 with the release of Mac OS X, which combines a nearly crash-proof Unix core with a more colorful new interface for new applications. Apple promises most OS 9 programs will run under OS X, though they won't look any different, and that the new operating system will run on all G3 and G4 Macs.

For now, we feel that Mac OS g, while not truly innovative, continues to be a solid and stylish alternative platform.

Apple Mac OS 9 Rating: 8

A Cassy, powerful, crashes are rare

B Fewer apps for the Mac

Corel Linux OS Second Edition

* ($25 Standard, $80 Deluxe with phone support; 800-772-6735, www.corel.com)

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Linux has been the province of computer pros and serious hobbyists. Corel's version goes quite a way to change that, but not far enough to reach the home office mainstream.

We found installation to be easy. Corel Linux even offered to repartition our PC's hard disk so we could switch between Windows and Linux; this is an excellent option for business owners who want to give Linux a proper tryout but may need to fall back on familiar applications.

There are two hurdles for the average user to overcome when it comes to Linux: adjusting to a new interface, and determining whether the software available for the platform will meet your needs. Corel sets you up with KDE, a Windows-like graphical interface that makes the OS easier to navigate. As for software, Corel bundles WordPerfect Office, Sun's StarOffice, and some powerful freeware. Linux applications remain scarcer than Windows or Mac programs.

There's also a daunting learning curve to climb. While it's easy to get advice and technical support from Linux Web sites, it's a good idea to have at Least one person in your office with an information technology (IT) background.