Ubuntu vs mac os x for design drivers#

This is a much bigger factor than the operating system or even the cost. When you choose a machine, it's about the apps you need to run. But if you purchase a less expensive machine from a white box reseller or many of the lower-cost off-branded suppliers, component quality, support, and testing can range from unpredictable to downright unavailable.Īs you might imagine, as the platform with the largest market share, Windows also offers the most applications. If you purchase a machine built for a business buyer from a top-tier vendor, you're almost sure to get excellent quality, better components, pre-shipment testing, and long-term support - at a higher purchase price. You can also build a $100,000 PC, if the urge strikes you.īecause of the vast number of Windows suppliers, product quality can be inconsistent. It'll perform like a dog, but it will run. While machines from mainstream manufacturers like Dell, Microsoft, and Lenovo have prices comparable to Apple products, it's also possible to buy a Windows laptop for under $200. Variable quality and variable costĪnother big benefit of Windows is cost.

Ubuntu vs mac os x for design drivers#

Most Windows users will buy pre-built laptops where all the drivers generally get along with each other and (again, generally) have been pre-tested at the factory before shipping. Finding exactly the right mix of drivers that don't conflict with or break each other can often be a hair-pulling experience.īut if you're building something this custom, you've probably been down this road before. Getting all these independently produced components to work together can be challenging. There are downsides to all this flexibility, of course. Do you want to be able to run 10 drives internal to the machine? Well, of course, Windows can do it. Do you want on-board instrumentation inputs? Windows can do it. Do you want four beefy graphics cards working in tandem? Windows can do it. If you want to build a machine yourself, you can add nearly any configuration of cards and features you want. When it comes to customization, that choice increases exponentially.