6 reasons why startups should stick with Windows

When it comes to choosing your desktop computer as a startup enterprise, it might be better to stick to the tried and trusted Microsoft Windows.

By Craig Falck for Africa Report
Photograph: © Ron Chapple | Dreamstime.com

We love Apple technology. But we also love Windows. They may have an element of status, but when you’re a startup, going for an Apple might not be the best choice for you. Here are a couple of reasons why you should opt for Windows machines as a startup…

1. Back in the day, Bill Gates and Microsoft did everything in their power to become the number one computer operating system in the world. And nearly 30 years down the line, they are still doing just that. While Apple sales equal hundreds of thousands of machines a year in countries, the same country will see millions of Windows-run machines sold in the same period.

2. Windows machines are cheaper than Apple. That’s a fact. And when you’re a startup, the cheaper things are, the better.

3. There is more software available for Windows OS than Apple. Sure, Apple’s App Store is quite something to behold, but there are apps for Windows too. The fact that most software is first designed for Windows means it’s more regularly updated and bettered, too.

4. Everyone likes a flashy new toy, but sometimes simpler is better. As a startup, all you need is the basics to get started off. This means something simple that gets the job done – Windows PCs are just that.

5. Although Apple’s popularity has risen in the last couple of years, with its market value even eclipsing that of Windows in the past year, a number of suppliers (from software manufacturers through to broadband ISPs) prefer to work on the Windows platform and often don’t have an Apple department who will be able to assist with technical issues. The last thing you want as a startup is to be held back in the initial stages because of something as minor as this.

6. Upgrading Windows machines is much, much, much cheaper than upgrading Apple machines. And they’re far more customisable in terms of upgrading parts. Also, Apple technicians are meant to be the only people working on Apple machines, and these people aren’t always around. Not every country is Apple-friendly, while Windows-based PCs are available around the world.

Apple and Windows operating systems have been trading blows since the 1980s, and their rivalry is as intense today as ever. While Apple has become more popular, Windows-based computers offer a far cheaper alternative that gets the job done at the same time. Startups aren’t making millions of dollars off the bat, so it makes sense that they keep their costs to a minimum at the beginning of their life cycles. For this reason, and its popularity around the world, it makes sense to stick with Windows OS for the time being. That is, if you’re a startup of course.