Dear Dr. Boli: I find myself in need of a new desktop computer, since my Atari 800 is beginning to show signs of age. But I’m a bit bewildered by the choices when it comes to operating systems. How do I decide which kind of computer to buy? —Sincerely, Fred, Who Doesn’t Leave the House Much.

Dear Sir: There are three major operating systems for desktop computers today, and which one you choose depends on what you plan to do with the computer. To help you make your choice, Dr. Boli has compiled a handy table that shows the most common uses of each operating system.

MacOS	Linux	Windows
Publishing	Video editing	Installing Windows updates
Graphic design	Image editing
Image editing	Writing
Writing	Software development
General office work	General office work