New builder for PC here! OS choice..

[jerry79xx]

I have found a recent interest in building a PC and therefore have started to do so. I am finishing up since money was an issue. But now comes the real choice, the operating system. Now I really really really want to put the new Mac operating system on it but i was told by a friend that he doesnt think it is possible, so I am wondering if this is true I am sure almsot anyone reading this thread knows whether this is possible or not. But if I can't put Mac OS on my newly constructed computer, what would probably be the best choice knowing i am normally a Mac user who needed a new computer!

[noneoftheabove]

windows vista is out to challenge the intuitive design of the mac os why not try that? or there is always linux

[dogdude16]

You can not install OSX (mac operating system) on a pc. OSX will only work on mac hardware, i know it sucks. For a pc you can pick any flavor of wndows ( i perfer vista) or you can pick some type of Linux. For Linux i would recommend Ubuntu. :)

[bd1886]

The newest Ubuntu release is 7.04 "Feisty Fawn". This thing looks to be loaded with convenient installation tools and has a huge and growing following. (Just picked up an install disc and looking forward to checking it out myself.) Guess it has new partitioning tools for dual booting and helpful install prompts for media apps. (Nice to see Linux maturing into something so user friendly.)

[ghost2003]

(Nice to see Linux maturing into something so user friendly.)
When was it not user friendly (to those who take the time to read man pages)?
Not to hijack the thread but I really would like an answer to a question that
has been bugging me for a long time. Why say "windows is evil, I want to use
linux" then say "linux sucks, lets turn it into another windows!"?

[bd1886]

Was just meaning to say that stuff is built in that is ready to use or easily installed. I'd like to see linux take a bigger share of the market and this is what it takes. Don't even want to get into the Windows vs. Linux thing. Just saying that a distro like Ubuntu is comfortable and is more readily usable as a tool (with immediate gratification),and just not another science project for the computer uninitated. That's what it'll take to gain more market and more adherents to Linux in general. Again... Ubuntu is NICE!!! ("Erector Set" style Linux os's abound and these newer distro's are a welcomed break.)

[etownguy]

I would suggest going with Win XP Pro, haven't made the leap into Vista yet and not sure if i want to.

We have vista installed on a single computer at work and there seems to be alot of flaws, so I would wait another yer or so before upgrading to on of the many versions of Vista. On the other hand i do like the interface.

I agree with dogdude16 it really sucks that Mac OS X can't be installed on a PC. As mentioned by others Ubuntu seems to be a good choice as well, peronally I haven't used it but have been looking into it and will be trying it out ths weekend on a test machine.

Good Luck with the built and decision.

[LeftyAce]

To get maximum use out of the computer, put XP on it (you can't do MAC, sorry).

To have some fun (And maybe do everything you want, if you don't want gaming) for free, try Ubuntu. Heck, try ubuntu regardless (it's free, you've got nothing to lose) and if you decide you need windows, grab an OEM copy of XP for $90.

[Kareeser]

The entire goal of user-friendliness is to eliminate obfustication and confusion caused by feature creep.

The entire goal behind *nix is to be able to do "everything". Those are opposing goals.

It's as simple as that.

Combined with the fact that Windows is 90% GUI based, and the typical user will never use the command prompt, and the fact that Linux is 90% Terminal (arguably 100% terminal) makes for a very user-unfriendly interface.

The most user-friendly programs DON'T NEED MANUAL PAGES.

[ajd344]

Probably go with Windows Vista Home Premium (basic version doesnt give you much). I've heard of people who got mac os x to work on a pc, but I think was illegal. Linux might be an okay choice, but chances are you'll need a program that only runs on windows. I think Ubuntu is probably the best, and make sure you get 7 so you get the desktop effects. I'm not sure if you should buy xp now, I mean it's already outdated, and vista isnt as bad as you might think with software/driver support (it was pretty bad in the beta though).

Good luck!

[etownguy]

I guess since it is a new built go with Vista since I'm sure you wont have any issues finding drivers for your components.