25/09/2024
Today, Let's talk about the 3 most popular Operating System Options.
If you’re looking to get a new computer, maybe upgrade one you already have, or just want to try something different, you will find yourself with three major options regarding operating systems (OS): Windows, macOS, and over five hundred Linux distributions in many shapes and sizes.
LINUX
A Linux distribution, or distro, is an entity composed of the Linux kernel plus all the necessary software and utilities to make it work and be used as an operating system. Linux is just the kernel or core of all the Linux-based operating systems. It was released as free and open source in 1991. Developers from all over the world worked together in collaboration with creator Linus Torvalds. Nobody owns it; many of the distros like Ubuntu, for example, can be downloaded and installed at no cost. Linux users believe it to be a superior OS. You don’t need to reboot every time you install an application, it is the most customizable option, and it runs on a wide range of hardware. It also needs a smaller number of resources; it was designed to be efficient and secure. A downside for many users is that widely used software like Microsoft Office is not compatible, although there are several “better” alternatives, according to Linux users.
MAC OS
Apple has its own operating system, called macOS. The OS has undergone several major changes and updates since its first release in 1984. Today’s macOS runs on a Unix Kernel named Darwin, which is a modified version of an even older kernel named BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution). BSD was an academic adaptation of the original Unix, designed and created by Bell Labs. Apple’s OS is a closed system; that means that only Apple has access to the source code and it only runs on certain hardware chosen by the company. The hardware on which it runs is extremely well built and long lasting, but it is also more expensive equipment. The good news is that it has a very clean and easy to use graphical interface, all the preloaded software and updates are free-of-charge, and there is an ecosystem that surrounds it, allowing you to integrate your phone, tablet, watch, TV, earphones, pods, etc. However, every device must be an Apple device.
WINDOWS
Windows is the most common choice for the average user, and dates back to 1981. It was first built as a graphical interface for Microsoft’s Command Line Interface OS, named MS-DOS. It has the greatest number of users worldwide in comparison with the others, owning around 80% of the market. It has the biggest amount of customizable hardware, because almost every hardware company provides drivers for Windows in most of its versions, and many people use it because Microsoft Office is a must in the business world. In addition, software companies develop their software to run on Windows first, before considering other platforms. One of its major drawbacks, though, is that it consumes more resources: users need a greater amount of memory, processing, and storage to have a good experience. When it comes to costs, the range is wide, from options around half to double of what a macOS computer costs.
No matter which option suits you the best, no operating system is perfect.
Which OS do you use?