What's the difference?
For most people that are planning to use their computer at home for internet browsing, homework, simple image/photo editing, Windows 10 Home will be the perfect choice.
For power users, businesses or those that want the full power of Windows, then you'll need to upgrade to Windows 10 Professional.
The key differences are shown below
| Feature | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Create and join a domain (work network) | No | Yes |
| BitLocker | No | Yes |
| Group policy management | No | Yes |
| Remote Desktop | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V (virtualisation) | No | Yes |
| Assigned Access | No | Yes |
| Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer | No | Yes |
| Windows Store for Business | No | Yes |
| Trusted Boot | No | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes |
| Max. supported RAM | 128GB | 2TB |
Windows 11
The latest version of Microsofts Operating System, Windows 11, is a little more complicated. For security and technical reasons, Microsoft only allow it to be installed on more recent devices, specifically those with an Intel 8th generation processor or later. If you purchase a compatible device from us, Microsoft should then offer you a free update to Windws 11 after a short time. More information on Windows 11.
What about Windows 7?
Unfortunately, Microsoft no longer allow us to sell devices with a Windows 7 and it is officially went 'End of Life' in January 2020, so we recommend upgrading to Windows 10.
Apple Operating Systems
If you're looking to buy an Apple computer, all of our refurbished devices will come with OS X El Capitan pre-installed. This isn't the latest version of the software, but as most refurbished devices will be two or more years old, the latest operating system may not be fully compatible.
Operating system updates from Apple are generally free of charge - to update to the latest version, simply visit the Mac App store, sign in with your Apple ID and click on 'check for updates'. This will apply any security updates to El Capitan.
If you want to update your operating system, you'll need to search the Mac App store for MacOS - the current version is Mac OS Monterey.
Linux
Another popular option, particularly for developers, is Linux. Linux is a free, open source operating system and comes in a number of different versions - Ubuntu and Mint are two of the more popular versions.
Linux can be a simple OS to use, but will take a bit of getting used to if you are used to using Windows.
We do not offer Linux as an option, but if you are comfortable installing the OS yourself, you can choose the 'No Operating System' option when ordering your device.
You'll need to make sure you've got the installation disk or USB drive ready for when your device arrives.
If you do opt to install your own OS, please bear in mind that we won't be able to support you with any software or driver related issues.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we've given you a place to start your research on which operating system you should use and helped you eliminate a few choices. Comparing all these operating systems is a tough task.
If you're unsure whether you should opt for Windows or go with one of the many Windows alternatives available, get in touch with our friendly team of experts today! With 30 years in the IT industry, they are more than happy to discuss your options and find your ideal fit.