Windows has been a very dominant operating system. It took its most revolutionary turn with Windows XP, which completely changed the way we use our computers and paved the way for future OS variations such as Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and now Windows 10.
While Windows has a long and proud history holding a significant market share worldwide, let’s explore why it is so, and figure out what made so many people loyal to the brand!
GAMES!
While Mac OS and Linux are picking up momentum, Microsoft has always had the upper hand in this department.
As it stands today, the games library available on Linux and Mac is perhaps 1/10th of what is available on Windows. The gap widens even further if we take into consideration the variety of genres & classes such as AAA titles, indie titles, freemium and many others.
The dominance is such that video games today are primarily developed for Windows OS, and only if successful, is ported over to Linux and Mac OS. The most recent example that comes to mind is the recent integration of Steam porting their games over to Mac and Linux OS’s.
Lastly, there are a plethora of gaming platforms on Windows. We have digital outlets like Steam, GoG (Good ol’ Games), GmG (Green Man Gaming) and the recent Humble Store. And these are only a few of the many places you can buy games for a Windows OS.
Customization / Variety of Configurations:
Based on your needs, you can make your purchase decision accordingly. You have an open choice of processor models, graphics cards, RAM, size of the display, look of the computer / desktop, etc.
If we deviate from the desktop PC market and focus on the laptop sector, we still see many variations being presented to us. We have Dell, HP, Samsung, Acer, Lenovo, Razer and many others brands to mix and match our preference based on our needs.
We can further customize the looks of our computer extensively, so that we have a match made in heaven of owning a laptop/desktop that turns a few heads and helps get our daily routine through of watching TV shows, movies, getting our academic work done on time and many other activities important to the owner.
Troubleshooting:
If you are ever faced with a problem, be it software or hardware, there are a variety of solutions and home remedies available to help counter your problems. There’s widespread support in online communities, forums, and blogs which offer simple to follow instructions to fix just about any problem with your computer.
And if the push comes to shove, you can always find a repair guy as they are dime a dozen.
Attractive User Interface
After Windows 7, the User Interface was given a significant overhaul and saw the Windows brand name take a huge jump in user install base.
While Microsoft took a bold step with Windows 8 and its introduction of Metro, there is no denying that those who know how to properly utilize metro will be able to do more in a limited screen space.
Having personally utilized the combination of Metro and the desktop to have apps share a screen is extremely convenient.
Windows 10 is looking like the next Windows 7 if the screenshots and impressions from the testing are anything to go by.
Massive Applications & Developer Support:
Whether we are talking about applications that perform a specific or a broad number of functions, you can rest assured that it will almost always have a Windows version first. You are never short of an alternative to a paid app, since you can always seek a freeware, shareware and a whole world of options!
Whether we are talking about productivity, leisure or anything in between, there is a whole world of apps to explore and experiment with.
What’s your reason for choosing (or NOT choosing) a Windows PC? Do share in the comments!
