The previous chapter tackles the hardware part, and this chapter is all about installing the operating system. Which OS should you use? With Windows Vista being the latest, should you go for it and install it on your system? Or should you choose Linux instead? This chapter helps you make the right decisions about your operating system..

In This Chapter:

Choice of OS

After dealing with the intricacies of the hardware, the next thing that you need to learn about is the operating system. What are the pros and cons of choosing a Windows Vista over a Linux OS? Which OS performs better when used for a particular type of application?

Windows Vista - Collecting Information

With the relatively new release of Windows Vista, this OS will be the top choice for PC builders. This section is a mini-crash course on the latest version of Windows.

Windows Vista - Installing Windows

Learn how to install Windows Vista in this section.

Linux

For home and office application, the use of a Linux OS is actually recommended, and this section will give you an overview of the pros and cons of this type of OS.

Conclusion

After learning about the step-by-step process in building your own PC, you are now ready to start and customize your own system.