Abstract
A business enterprise that uses computerized systems, at one point, has to choose the right operating system to run its applications. Automation of tasks and the use of various Information Systems such as Office Automation Systems (OAS) have to be supported by reliable operating systems. Windows Operating Systems, developed by Microsoft Corporation is one of the most commonly used operating systems in enterprises. The decision to install windows in desktops and other networked nodes within the enterprise’s networks follows a critical analysis of the pros and cons that are likely to be involved in using it. This is at the heart of the essay. A comparative analysis of the pros and cons involved in using Windows operating are analysed from a multidimensional point of view, after which a conclusion is drawn, based on a summary of all the points illustrated.
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"Pros and Cons of Using Windows O/S in Enterprises".
Pros
Enterprises that have put into operation Windows OS have given the benefit of ease of use in all the sections of their enterprises. The employees that are familiar with ancient versions of Windows find it easy to use the most recent ones. The ease of use is widespread among desktop operators, network controllers and other computerized sections of the business organizations.
Enterprises that use this operating system also stand to experience the benefit of compatibility of this OS with vendor-off the shelf software as well as in-house developed programs (Evans, 2009). Information systems as well as document processing programs that are used by enterprises are easily installed on Windows and successfully executed. Due to this unlimited compatibility, enterprises that have been using this operating system find it challenging to shift to other OS such as Linux or Mac.
Backwards compatibility is another benefit that has been associated with this operating system. An organization that used older versions of windows-related applications such as Microsoft Office programs can easily access their files with the newer versions of the operating system. Software that was installed in the previous versions of Windows can also be installed and run in the latest versions of Windows O/S. The benefit of backward compatibility has increased the confidence of its users in the O/S, despite the multiple updates that Microsoft Corporation makes to its products.
Enterprises are now acquiring new hardware equipment that is designed in the latest technologies. For instance, most of the output devices that are multi-media enabled have been on the rise. As opposed in the past where most of the input was in the form of keying in values to the computers, recent developments in technology have led to development of audio and even gesture input devices. Windows operating system supports multiple of these hardware devices.
There is a high rate of compatibility between Windows operating systems with Microsoft driven websites. Windows having become the most popular desktop operating system, it was noted that Internet Explorer became the world’s most popular internet browser software. From the time of the demise of Netscape’s Navigator browser, there are multiple advancements that have been done to Windows OS to make it support all the network and server operations. However, most of these features are mostly exploited by users of Internet Explorer, which comes along with any version of Windows Operating System.
The introduction of advanced information systems which also incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI), the need to support plug and play (PnP) gadgets has been on the increase. The recent versions of Windows OS all support plug-and-play capabilities. Robotics and other automated systems can now be fully put into operation by Windows Operating Systems. This has contributed towards making business transactions simpler and more efficient.
Cons
Windows OS has high resource requirements. Unlike makers of other operating systems like Linux, Windows programmers tailor make OS that require enterprises/ users to invest in most of their hardware. These include faster Central Processing Units (CPUs), large internal memory/ working storage (RAM) and large disk space (Carpenter, 2012). These resources are costly to acquire and effectively maintain by a business organization.
The other limitation of this operating system among enterprises is that it is a closed source. This makes it challenging to troubleshoot its applications since it is only the manufacturers that have access to its source codes. There are also no log files generated with the package at the time of the design. Consequently, enterprises are not in a position to customize any of the features of this operation system to meet extreme requirements.
The security levels offered by Windows operating system is weaker compared to that of Linux or Mac. As a result of this, business organizations prefer using it only for desktop applications and not in the networks. The increase in cyberspace insecurity levels makes Windows not recommendable for running operations within networks.
Finally, the virus susceptibility of the operating system also discourages enterprises from using it in sensitive departments. The fear of loss or corruption of data is at the heart of reasons why users prefer other operating systems like Ubuntu.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Windows Operating System has been in use for several years, this product of Microsoft Corporation needs more advancements. The benefits are numerous, but there is need for the corporation to invest in solving the major cons that enterprises have experienced with this operating system. Data security and integrity are sensitive issues that have attracted the attention of enterprises in the information age. Despite all these, Windows OS still remains the most popular operating system in use by business organizations.
- Carpenter, T. (2012). Microsoft Windows operating system essentials. Indianapolis, Ind: John Wiley & Sons.
- Evans, D. S. (2009). Microsoft, antitrust and the new economy: Selected essays. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
