In the past, Windows was known as a monopoly among the computer business. It was the only operating system available to consumers. But everything changed April 1, 1976 when Steve Jobs debuted a competing company — Apple.

Ever since then, Apple and Windows have always butted heads in operating systems, laptops, phones and tablet competition.

One feature both are in hot competition for is having an advanced operating system.

“Windows 8 is the new operating platform built for every individual to personalize,” Jim Massey, general manager at the Oakbrook Windows Store, said. “They can adjust in size, and you can switch which tiles are actually displayed.”

Apple’s operating system is Mountain Lion. The main features of the OS are actually the smaller features. They range from a notification center to Air Play. One important feature is Air Drop, which allows you to send files directly to another Mac user close by.

Online Internet storage and across device synchronization are big features in both operating systems.

Consumers have longed to be able to use multiple devices and have the ability to update information on one device and the rest will follow suit, as opposed to entering the same information on different devices multiple times.

Apple’s solution to doing this is iCloud which was previously MobileMe. iCloud stores up to 5GB of data on the online network and you can increase the amount of data by purchasing more data space on the cloud network.

Antonio Vargas / Daily Vidette Staff Photographer: In Milner Library, students complete homework and surf the Web on Windows PCs. The library also has a few Macs located in the computer labs on the main floor.

 “If you have a few different Apple products, you can synchronize them,” Emily LoCicero, TechZone employee, said. “For instance, if you have the Nook app on your iPad, you can save a bookmark, go to a different Apple device, and you are able to pick right back up where you left.”

Similarly, Microsoft uses an Internet storage system called Skydrive.

“Online storage space,” Massey said, “you automatically get Micorsoft Office applications, upload documents and access them, as well as calendar
access and email that you can access from the devices.”

Ultrabooks are definitely paving the way for new standard in technology. It simply uses flash storage, which is storage used for phones and smaller devices, instead of hard drive storage, which is storage used by desktops computers.

On Jan. 4, 2008, Apple’s Macbook Air was the first to debut this type of flash storage technology while making it available to the consumer.

Apple used the flash storage from iPad models in its laptop, which allowed them to produce the laptop super thin — only 11/16 of an inch.

The HP Envy Touch Smart Ultrabook 4 is Windows’ best ultrabook on the market. It features a touch screen, which complements the large tiles in the Windows 8 operating system.

Finally, Apple has reigned over music listening devices and phones. Apple has an extensive line of iPods which developers update every year.

On the other hand, Zune is no longer supported by Microsoft. Microsoft has recently decided to challenge Apple’s iPhone by creating an OS for cell phones too.

What has led to the success of both companies is simplicity. Patrick Spenner of Forbes.com said consumers enjoy the idea of simplifying work, and increasing maximum production of themselves and the household.

After all, with such exuberant forces pushing us in our lives, in the end, we want to believe we have a choice.