ENTERPRISE

Google vs Apple vs Microsoft (Part 3)

4/13/2013 9:10:13 AM

COMPUTING

Hardware

Samsung Series 3 Chromebox

Website: www.samsung.com

Samsung Series 3 Chromebox

Samsung Series 3 Chromebox

As far as tiny PCs go, Samsung's Series 3 is up there with the Mac Mini for design, fast boot and connectivity. But Google's Chrome OS is threatened by its own Android OS for low-power usage and web apps.

Alternatively: The portable Series 5 Chromebook lets you take a walk, but you'll need net access.

Pros

·         Small and well designed

·         Cheap to buy and run

·         Smooth video playback

Cons

·         Not much use without web access

·         No local storage

Chrome Browser - Special skill

Chrome OS is essentially Google's Chrome browser in a desktop wrapper, but that doesn't mean it's rubbish. There are web apps for everything from photo editing to great games such as Bastion

Apple MacBook pro with Retina Display

Price: from $2,815

Website: www.apple.com

Apple MacBook pro with Retina Display

Apple MacBook pro with Retina Display

Apple's latest 15-incher uses style cues from the Air to reduce the size and weight to an almost-ultraportable, despite its 16:10 ratio screen, quad- core processor and Nvidia GT 650M graphics. Damn pricey, though.

Alternatively: No Retina display, but Apple's 27in IPS-screen iMac is still a stunning desktop alternative.

Pros

·         Retina screen

·         Excellent performance

·         Thin design

Cons

·         Eye-watering price

·         Relatively small SSD storage

Retina Display - Special skill

The 2012 MacBook Pro will be remembered for just one thing: the Retina display. The massive 2880x1800 resolution more pixels than in a hi-res 30in panel - makes text and images look truly beautiful.

Sony Vaio Z series

Price: $3,310

Website: www.sony.com

Sony Vaio Z series

Sony Vaio Z series

The holder of the title of world's lightest Ultrabook seems to change weekly but who's going to topple this tablet- taunting Sony? There is more to the Z, of course - it matches the latest MacBook Air for power and has an optional            256GB SSD for practical space.

Alternatively: For a Windows desktop, try the touchscreen Lenovo A720 ($1,565, www.lenovo.com).

Pros

·         Full-spec processor

·         Full HD screen

·         Full featured!

Cons

·         Holy mother-of-God price tag!

Incredible Thinness - Special skill

Folded for travelling, the Vaio Z is skinny - 16.6mm at its thinnest and weighs just 1.1kg. If only there was a touchscreen too, the end would almost be in sight for tablets. We do love a proper keyboard.

Computing - OS

Google Chrome OS

Price: free

Website: www.getchrome.com

Google Chrome OS

Google Chrome OS

Chrome is built around the thing you use most: the web browser. Because it's limited to web apps, it's more for docs and email than professional design work - but it stores your stuff in the cloud, so files are accessible from anywhere

Speedy start-up: Google's minimalist architecture makes Chrome fast out of the blocks. Today's Chromebooks can boot up in under ten seconds, but 'Coreboot' tech could soon get this down to five or even less.

Appy day: The Chrome Web Store offers a fine array of free apps for you to download. Handily, Google has recently added a section dedicated to offline apps, so 'no internet doesn't have to mean 'no fun'.

Safe and sound: Since it stores so little locally, anyone who nicks a Chrome computer isn't going to get much in the way of personal details. Unfortunately, if your broadband goes down, you won't be able to access them either.

Pros

·         Speedy

·         Decent suite of apps

Cons

·         Power limited by web apps

Aura - Special skill

The once painfully basic Chrome OS now looks more like a Windows and Mac rival thanks to this new UI and window manager. Aura brings visual treats such as a task bar and shortcuts, while a new status area has arrived for Android-style notifications.

Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Price: $19.99

Website: www.apple.com

Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Every update makes the mighty OS X more like its mobile counterpart (and one big cat closer to opening a zoo). Facebook and Twitter are now integrated, and iCloud ties all of its features together (not literally).

Sending out an iMessage:  Desktop Macs can now join conversations between iThings thanks to iMessage, which replaces iChat. It collates all of your conversations, and lets you switch to Facetime from within the app.

Play time: Another iOS staple, Game Center, has made the leap to OS X. It'll let you indulge in gaming tussles with friends who are using an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, and sledge them over in-game chat.

This is the news: Neatly tying together all of your alerts from Twitter, email clients and other third-party applications is Notification Center, which is activated by a 'right-to-left' swipe gesture on your trackpad. Lovely.

Pros

·         Simple

·         Powerful

·         Affordable

Cons:

·         Only available for Macs

Power Nap - Special skill

Even when it's in sleep mode a Mac running Mountain Lion will periodically fetch new emails, download pics to your Photostream, sync calendars, suck down software updates and back itself up, all without a peep. If only our power naps were this productive.

Microsoft Windows 8

Website: www.microsoft.com

Microsoft Windows 8

Microsoft Windows 8

Windows 8 is the most significant update to the world's most popular operating system since 1995, and it's been remade from the most basic level. Here's why it'll consign Windows Vista to the recycle bin...

It's brand new...: Windows 8 is designed for tablets and Ultrabooks - touchy, swipey and live-widgety, with a tile-based, 'Metro' Start menu and an emphasis on saving battery power and delivering apps.

…but still familiar: Behind that you'll find a more familiar desktop which allows you to install your existing software (unless you're running Windows RT) and so make working a reality rather than an exercise in futility.

It’s cheap to upgrade: Buy a Windows 7 PC or laptop before 31 January 2013 and you'll be able to upgrade it to Windows 8 Pro... so you needn't postpone buying that Ultrabook until after Win 8's October launch.

Pros

·         Tons of apps

·         Touch-optimized

Cons

·         Dual personalities

Windows To Go - Special skill

A full version of Win 8 that resides on a USB stick. Plug it into any PC, reboot and you can sign in as if you're working on your machine. It uses all the PC's hardware apart from its hard drives, so even if you plug it into someone's virus-riddled machine it'll come out clean.

Browsing

Chrome

Price: free

Website: www.google.com

Chrome's minimalist aesthetic belies its extensive abilities. It syncs bookmarks and tabs across computer, phone and tablet versions, extensions include music controls and screen capture tools, and in-browser apps range from Tweetdeck to Angry Birds. With all your settings stored in the cloud, it doesn't matter where you are - it's just like sitting at home. Except a little different.

Pros

·         Syncs across devices

·         Minimalist design

·         Multiple platforms

Cons

·         iOS version not as fast as Safari

Google+ - Social

G+ has been overshadowed since its launch, but it's getting there. Split friends into Circles so you don't have to share it all with the boss, while Hangouts take the hassle out of video chats. Not the awkwardness, though.

Safari

Price: free

Website: www.apple.com

Safari

Safari

While Chrome recently launched an iOS version, we doubt you'll ever be able to use Safari on Windows Phone or Android. But its desktop and iOS versions make for an excellent team. Reading List allows you to save web pages for later, while iCloud syncs across your devices, so you can start reading on your iMac and finish on your iPad. iOS 6 does the same with tabs.

Pros

·         Syncs across devices

·         Multi-touch gestures on MacBooks

Cons

·         Mobile version is iOS-only

Ping - Social

Apple's music social network is as popular as a Gary Lawyer comeback tour but you can follow artists, 'like' songs and read your friends' reviews. Word is it'll be phased out come the next major iTunes update.

Internet Explorer 10

Price: free

Website: www.windows.microsoft.com

Internet Explorer 10

Internet Explorer 10

IE10 is one of Windows 8's neatest features. While Chrome and Safari are available for both Mac and PC, Microsoft's is more discriminatory, working only on PC. It supports Flash and HTML5 on PCs and tablets, and offers genuine innovations, such as a 'Flip Ahead' mode for swiping through those annoying multi-page articles. For that reason alone, it's worth a try.

Pros

·         Touch control

·         Flip Ahead mode

·         Full-screen optimization

Cons

·         Windows-only

SO.CL - Social

The new kid on the block, So.cl integrates with Facebook rather than competing against it and allows you to share 'collages of content' with the like-minded - it's like Pinterest (minus hipsters) plus LinkedIn (minus suits).

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