Chapter 33: Alternatives to Windows

Overview

The vast majority of personal computers use some version of Microsoft Windows, but that's not the only option. In addition to the Apple Macintosh, which used a quite different architecture until recently, several other operating systems can use the same hardware that supports Windows. These include the most recent incarnation of DOS, the Disk Operating System that was widely used before Windows replaced it as the dominant operating system, and several versions of Unix, Linux, and BeOS.

This chapter briefly describes each of these alternate operating systems and explains where to find them and how to load them. If you are reading this book, it's a safe bet that your primary interest is in using your computer with Windows, but it can be helpful to know that other operating systems are out there, and how to recognize them. If you're serious about using a computer with Unix or Linux, you might want to look for one or more books that describe them in more detail, such as Linux Bible by Christopher Negus or Beginning Unix by Paul Love et.al.

Because Windows is the most widely used operating system, it's also the most popular target for the bad guys who distribute viruses and spyware. Linux and Unix viruses are not unknown, but they are extremely uncommon; keeping Windows off your computer is one very effective way to improve your system's security.

Other users choose to install Unix or Linux because they don't like or don't trust Microsoft, or as a political act in favor of open source software that isn't controlled by one giant corporation. This book and its authors do not take sides in this debate; we're glad the choices are out there.

Obviously, this is not a book about how to install and use Linux or any other version of Unix. But even if you are a satisfied Windows user, you should know that other operating systems are available that work on your desktop or laptop computer. If you want to try one of those alternatives, this chapter provides enough information for you to make an informed choice and tells you where to obtain them.