Operating systems

  • 8.2 7.5

    Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6)

    27 Aug 2009 6:06 PM

    Intel Mac users will like Snow Leopard's smartly designed interface enhancements, and its Exchange support is a must-have (especially with Outlook for Mac on the way). With a ton of technological improvements, Snow Leopard is worth the AU$39 upgrade fee.

  • 9.0 7.4

    Microsoft Windows 7 (Home Premium)

    18 Aug 2009 4:32 PM

    Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been — it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.

  • 9.0 6

    Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)

    18 Aug 2009 3:43 PM

    Windows 7 looks like the operating system that we've all been waiting for. Despite its imperfections, it shows a lot of promise for the future while presenting a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X.

  • 9.0

    Microsoft Windows 7 (Ultimate)

    09 Jul 2009 12:31 PM

    Windows 7 looks like the operating system that we've all been waiting for. Despite its imperfections, it shows a lot of promise for the future while presenting a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X.

  • 6.4

    Windows 7 pre-beta (build 6801)

    29 Oct 2008 1:27 PM

    At first glance, Windows 7 appears to be an advanced iteration of Windows Vista, but more consumer-friendly, with many user interface enhancements.

  • 7.0 7

    Microsoft Windows Vista SP1

    08 Feb 2008 10:14 AM

    Microsoft pushes its first service pack for Vista out the door. Is it a salvation, a non-event or a flop?

  • 8.0 9

    Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

    26 Oct 2007 3:33 PM

    The grace of Leopard's interface enhancements makes productivity more pleasurable with a Mac, as more than 300 functional and fun features top off this update.

  • 7.4 9.1

    Ubuntu 7.04

    18 Jul 2007 11:55 AM

    Ubuntu is very user-friendly but not right for everyone. Oddly, both casual and advanced users will find this operating system wonderful, while day-to-day users may rail against Ubuntu's incompatibility with certain popular software applications.

  • 7.0 5.9

    Windows Mobile 6

    21 Feb 2007 3:01 PM

    Though it doesn't offer earth-shattering new features and interface issues remain, Windows Mobile 6 brings a collection of noteworthy improvements that makes its mobile devices easier to use and equips mobile professionals with more robust productivity tools.

  • 7.0 4.7

    Microsoft Vista Home Basic

    30 Jan 2007 3:07 AM

    If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, it is not worth rushing out to purchase Vista Home Basic. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

The Explain Series

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Articles

  • Burn an ISO image in Windows 7

    Windows finally makes it simple to burn a disc image to a CD or DVD.

  • Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard: Prizefight

    Microsoft and Apple face-off in an operating system battle of biblical proportions. These two titans started all the smack talk in tech, so who will reign supreme?

  • Windows 7's Aero: A photo tour

    Introduced for Vista, the translucent Aero skin has been heavily developed and expanded in Windows 7. See what this key design and interface feature looks like and behaves like in the new operating system.