Android Operating System: Advantages and Disadvantages

Android is an open source operating system created by Google, Inc. for mobile devices. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the operating system are listed below. Please comment with any experience you may have with Android!

Advantages

• The operating system is very small, making it ideal for use on cell phones and tablets.


• The operating system is open-sourced, meaning anyone can look at, use, or modify the code to their heart's content.


• It has the power and adaptibility of a desktop operating system like Microsoft Windows


• Open-Source also mean that the operating system is free for anyone to use. This allows device manufacturers to build better phones and tablets with the money they save.


• There is a huge community of programmers for Android. These folks are coming up with their own versions of the OS and other tools for customizing it in any way you can think of.

Disadvantages

• As it is relatively new, Google is still spending a significant amount of time working out the bugs in Android. Also, manufacturers like to aid their own software, which means more bugs.


• Accessing settings can be a pain, as the user interface is not as friendly as say, the iPhone.


• The open nature of Android can get a little overwhelming without some research or guidance.


• Android is a fragmented OS, with many devices running many different versions of the OS. Not all devices are running the current version 2.3 Gingerbread.


• Unless you take the time to cusomize the interface, it can be pretty boring.