Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard: What to Choose For Your Business

If you are a computer user, you probably have strong feelings in the Apple vs. Microsoft debate, but if you are a business owner, personal likes or dislikes don’t mean as much as the bottom line. So what exactly do Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Windows 7 have to offer business owners?

Because of the issues Microsoft users encountered with Windows Vista, many people have been reluctant to consider Windows 7. Many are concerned that Windows 7 is just a patched up version of Vista. Microsoft insists that this is not so, but instead they took what was good about Vista and made it better. Windows 7 has been receiving many good reviews and is considered a strong competitor of Mac’s OS X and Linux.

What Are Some Of The New Features Of Microsoft 7?

• Windows 7 has touchscreen capability even for programs that were not originally designed to be touchscreen. All you need is a touch screen monitor.
• Homegroup allows you to easily share files, photos, music, etc. with other computers in your network.
• Windows 7 offers faster startup and faster performance.
• Windows 7’s new Taskbar is touted by some as even better than the Snow Leopard Dock. The Taskbar allows you to “pin” your favorite programs to it and preview open windows.
• Snap lets you easily move, minimize, maximize, and resize windows so that you can view more than one window at one time.
• Windows search is as easy as searching on the internet.
• Windows 7 is faster and doesn’t require as much memory and processor usage.
• The Ultimate Edition offers Bitlocker data encryption that prevents hackers and thieves from accessing your important files.
• Jump Lists lets you easily access the programs and files you use most often.
• You can still run many Windows XP programs in the XP mode.
• The Professional Edition costs about $200 for the upgrade and $300 for the full version. The Ultimate Edition costs about $220 for the upgrade and about $320 for the full version.
• Equipment to run Windows 7 can start at around $300.

The Downside Of Windows 7

Some reviews have reported spotty performance with Windows 7, but probably the biggest downside is that this operating system needs to be time tested to evaluate its performance and reliability over the long haul.

How does Mac OS X Snow Leopard Compare?

Apple’s Macintosh operating system already enjoys a reputation as easy to use and reliable, and offers users fast performance and stability. The standard software such as Safari, iPhoto, iChat, and Garageband is well liked by Mac users. Windows 7’s new taskbar is very similar to Mac’s standard Dock. While Snow Leopard is perhaps more like an upgrade than a new operating system, Apple has added some new features to Mac OS X Snow Leopard:

• Snow Leopard offers faster performance and speed, and the new OS uses less disk space.
• Upgraded Expose makes it easier to view all of your open windows while in the Dock.
• Zoom Slider lets you take a closer look at the application before opening it.
• Stacks now has a scroll bar so that you can see all of your applications.
• Exchange support allows you to connect with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

The Downside Of Mac OS X Snow Leopard

• Lack of business applications
• A bug in Snow Leopard caused some users to lose data. The problem has since been rectified, but it is still a cause for concern, especially for business owners.
• While snow leopard only costs $29, you must already be a Leopard user and own a Mac computer, which generally start at about $600.

The bottom line in this debate is that Windows is still the most commonly used operating system in the business world and the most business friendly. While Mac continues to maintain a solid reputation and is frequently used for publishing and graphic design, Windows has more to offer business owners. Windows run personal computers are also more economically priced, and Windows 7 Ultimate Edition is specifically designed to keep business files safe and secure. Even though Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate Editions are more expensive than Mac’s Snow Leopard, it still offers businesses a wider choice of business applications and available programs.

Content by Managed Services Provider University