Second in our buying guide series for businesses and organisations looking to buy new laptops here we consider what operating system to choose.
Our first article was all about setting your budget and what you can expect to get for that budget, as well as understanding what budget might be appropriate for your size and type of business and the operations it needs to perform.
Better than relying on unreliable reviews
The idea is we hopefully give you a better understanding of laptops and the related technology, so you don’t have to wade through millions of online reviews, which are often paid or sponsored anyway, and therefore not exactly impartial.
Building your knowledge on laptops, next up, we look at operating systems and how to choose the right one for your new business laptop/s.
Understanding the three operating systems
There are only three operating systems to choose from when buying your new laptop/s. Apple, Chrome and Microsoft Windows.
Apple is not the ‘must have’ brand it was, although it possibly still is for some Apple diehards and design pros. After Apple, you’re left with Chrome and Windows. And, as a default, Windows is the main business default OS across the world, so if you choose Windows, you can’t go far wrong. But we’ll explain the differences, so you have the necessary knowledge to make the right choice for you.
Like all things in tech – knowledge is power.
Apple’s operating system
Apple laptops are expensive for most businesses, but they are favoured by some creative professionals for the well-designed interface, high-quality screen and the fact they can run hungry programs like Dreamweaver.
But even for design pros, now, Apple is no longer a necessity and newer models feature far less RAM than they used to.
Opting for Apple laptops, unless required for compatibility with software you already use – and you should check with your IT consultant on compatibility issues before you purchase any new laptop – comes down to brand preference or loyalty.
There is always the chance too that you might wish to project a particular image with Apple machines, depending on the business circles you operate in.
Chrome operating system
If you’re happy being solely on the cloud and don’t want to run updates, or download software, then Google Chrome could be a good business-focused choice for you.
They were first made, ideally, for students, as they started at a budget price. Now, there are more sophisticated Chromebook options available and with the increase in cloud-based software, like Adobe’s Creative Cloud, and Office 365, your functionality is not as limited as it would have been with the first Chromebooks.
Windows Operating System
As we’ve said, Windows is the standard operating system for most businesses and the chances are your team are all familiar with the Windows layout and functions. Plus, there are a range of Windows laptops available in just about every budget, so you’ll have plenty to choose from.
Ease, familiarity and comfort of use cannot be underestimated. Plus, IT support professionals will be able to support you, with no tricky specialisms required.
Can’t decide? Get in touch for a chat
We hope that helps on choosing your operating system. If not, or you’d like to chat it through, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our IT experts for a chat.
Next up, something potentially a bit trickier, how to choose your laptop design.
Next in the series of Buying laptops for your business: Step 3 Choosing a laptop design.
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