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Windows vs. MacOS vs. Chrome OS vs. Ubuntu Linux: Which Operating System Reigns Supreme?Microsoft Windows 10We break down the top four desktop operating systems and compare them on features to help you pick the one that's right for you.
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You don’t have many choices when it comes to operatingsystems, but the choice you make can have far-ranging effects on your computingexperience. The four OSes included here are the most viable options. Though that's not a huge number, they definitely are options, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Threeof them come from gargantuan commercial tech giants, while one, the Linux-based Ubuntu,is a free, open-source option. Windows and macOS are generally the mostpowerful in terms of hardware and software options as well as interfaceconveniences and utilities, while Chrome OS is more lightweight and runs oninexpensive hardware.
Of course, if you need to run software that only runs on aparticular operating system (usually Windows or macOS), then you're somewhatlimited, though there are ways around those obstacles with multi-boot setupsand virtualization software. For example, you can run Windows on a Mac insidea virtual machine (VM) or dual-boot using Boot Camp. You can also create a Linuxpartition on a Windows PC and boot to that when the need arises.
In this mini-roundup, we're just talking about consumer operatingsystems. We'll leave IBM i, Suse Linux, server OSes, and the rest for another day. Even further from the scope of this article are some bizarre and obscureoperating systems most have never heard of.
For a blow-by-blow comparison of the two leading choices,Windows and macOS, read macOSvs. Windows: Which OS Really Is the Best?
An operating system is the software that makes your computerwork at all. It talks to all system and external hardware, loads programs intomemory, connects to the internet, and manages storage on disks. Today's modernoperating system includes slick user interfaces and loads of utilities, tools,and included apps that let you do a lot without even installing third-party applicationsoftware. Those apps include things like photo editors, video viewers and video editors, webbrowsers, email clients, calendars, text editors, and music players.
An operating system also includes tools to keep yourcomputer running smoothly, safely, and malware-free. Most even include built-insecurity features and support for VPNs.Much of an operating system's security and stability is maintained by anautomated update process that makes sure the system receives timely fixes tohardware and software compatibility and vulnerability issues.
With smartphones such a prevalent part of modern life, agood desktop operating system needs to work in concert with those devices. The cloud(aka online storage and syncing) is another prevalent theme in today's technologydomain, and most operating systems integrate with their own cloud services,with varying degrees of functionality.
While Ubuntu is what's known as Free and open-sourcesoftware (FOSS). Chrome OS is based on the company's open-source Chromiumproject, meaning volunteer coders can contribute to the code and third partiescan put out their own versions, but Chrome OS is Google's proprietary versionof that codebase. In fact, you can't even install Chrome OS proper on computerhardware that's not sanctioned by Google, something you can do with Windowsand Linux.
In our linked reviews of the four operating systems discussedbelow, we take into account the following criteria, and they can help informyour choice of OS:
As mentioned above, if you need to run software that's only supportedby one of these operating systems, your choice is already made for you. Forexample, if you want use Final Cut Pro as your video editor and Adobe PremierePro just won't do, your only option is macOS. If you want to run AAA videogames, you'll want to stick with Windows 10. The same holds for peripherals. Youmay have a VR headset or 3D printer that only provides drivers for one type ofsystem.
Without further ado, read on for a summary of each oftoday's top four desktop operating system choices, in order of usage share. Forfar more detail, click the links in each to read our full reviews.
Microsoft Windows 10
Windows powers over a billionPCs, making it by far the most popular desktop operating system on earth. Thisalso means it works with the most hardware and software of any OS, too. Windowshas had its ups (Windows XP, Windows 7) and downs (Windows Vista, Windows 8)over the years, but the consensus is that Windows 10 makes up for a multitudeof past transgressions. It's still not perfect: Glitches still rear theirugly heads now and then, but the current version beats the pants off any of itspredecessors.
In terms of interface clarity, wealth of included tools, andusability features, Windows 10 is hard to match. Full touch-screen support, voiceassistance with Cortana, flexible screenshot and clipboard tools, photo andvideo editors, stylus input, and even basic 3D modeling all come along with it. Those are in addition to the standard tools like (much improved) Mail, Calendar, Notepad, and Calculator apps. The Action Center is a convenience that consolidates notifications and gives quick access tofrequently needed settings.
Moving and arranging windows in Windows 10 is unmatched inconveniences and ease, as is using multiple virtual desktops, with its uniqueTimeline feature. Windows and macOS both include app stores with vettedprograms, automatic updates, and multiple PC capability. Sadly, developers andusers don’t give the attention to these stores that they do to mobile appstores. Unlike macOS, Windows can comfortably slip into a very usable tabletmode, with touch gesture support that negates the need for a keyboard.
If you're into gaming, and particularly VR gaming, Windowsis the only way to go. It also ties in snugly with Microsoft OneDrive cloudstorage and syncing service. OneDrive not only can serve as cloud storage, but letsyou access any files on a PC remotely, automatically save screenshots, and syncOffice documents with autosave. As far as mobile integration, macOS has it beatwith the ties between iOS and macOS, but Windows' story is improving with someimpressive Androidintegrations.
Windows, of course, is not without its flaws. The operatingsystem, though far more secure and stable than it was in the past, still doesn'tmatch macOS or Linux on those criteria. Its interface, though continuallyundergoing polishing with updates, still presents some inconsistency, especiallyin control panels. Speaking of updates, you still hear complaints about problemsresulting from updates. But with a billion copies installed on a myriad of differenthardware and software combinations, the number of affected systems issurprisingly small, though those get the headlines.
Read our full review:Microsoft Windows 10.
Apple macOS
You'd be hard-pressed to find more ardent supporters oftheir operating system than macOS users, who tend to be creative producers ofart, video, and photography. Indeed, Apple's desktop operating system isslick, capable, and reliable. It also ties in well with iPhones and all theother devices from the Cupertino-based tech giant. The choice of computerhardware vendors is limited to a single option, but it's a good one, andthere's a decent selection of form factors, from the Mac mini to the MacBook tothe iMac AIO and the new super-powered Mac Pro.
The interface of macOS is as slick as it gets, with moreconsistency than any of the other choices included here. The dark mode is more uniformly rendered throughout all OS tools, and the Finder (equivalent to Windows' File Explorer)offers tabs and handy preview capabilities lacking in Windows. I do prefer thewindow-manipulation options in Windows, which among other things lets youeasily snap an app to fill half the screen exactly.
Apple's desktop OS is document-based, rather than program-basedlike Windows. That means that every app has the same menu provided by the OS atthe top, rather than inside its own window. This may be the biggest stumblingblock for those moving between the two OSes. Another could be the differencesbetween Windows' Taskbar and macOS's Dock. The Taskbar is more informative andflexible: Sometimes I click on a Dock icon and no window of the programappears on-screen, because of that document-centric approach.
Macs are well endowed with included software and utilities: fromthe very useful Preview utility that offers a quick peek at just about any filetype, to the included office and media apps. You also get Apple Maps, Podcasts,Mail, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, and we can't forget the fine web browser, Safari,which offers good synergy with its mobile counterparts.
Even though the very large iPad Pros appear to be horning inon laptop territory, those tablets can now serve as second screens for Macs,thanks to the recent Sidecar feature in iPadOS. Sidecar also addsa bit of touch-screen functionality to macOS, which only offers touch on theTouch Bar on MacBooks, compared with Windows 10's full touch screen support.Macs do benefit from many clever gesture taps and swipes if you use a trackpad,however.
Gaming has long been something of a weak point for Macs.Though there is a version of Steam for them, you won't find the selection ofAAA titles available for PCgaming, nor is there support for VR gaming headsets(with the exception of using an HTC Vive with Final Cut Pro). The arrival ofthe Apple Arcade game subscription service may improve the prospects for gamingon all of Apple's platforms, but PCMag's gaming expert Jeffrey Wilson has somereservations, which you can read about in I'mNot Excited by Apple Arcade, But Maybe You Should Be. Fans of casual gamesmay beg to differ.
Apple includes good parental controls in macOS with Screen Time, and the systemthat already has a sterling reputation for security has been hardened evenfurther in the latest Catalina version, which keeps the OS and user data onseparate partitions.
Read our full review: Apple macOS Catalina
Ubuntu Linux
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/9/5/119586287/361568374.jpg)
What Linux has over all the other operating systems includedhere is that it's completely free and open source—not the product of a hugetech company with profit motives. You can install Ubuntu Linuxon any hardware of your choice: It runs on any hardware that Windows does. Youcan even run the operating system from a live USB stick, averting the need forinstalling it on your computer's storage. You can buy a few computerswith Linux preinstalled, such as the privacy-focused PurismLibrem Mini, and Dell offers versions of its powerful XPS 13 laptops thatrun Ubuntu, mostly aimed at developers.
Despite being free, Ubuntu offersa pleasing interface and a workable selection of included apps. It comes withan office suite, browsers, email and media apps, but there are also apprepositories where you can get more. Its interface resembles that of macOS morethan Windows, but unlike macOS, it supports touch screen functionality (though not as full as Windows' touch screen support).
Linux in general is also customizable with completelydifferent interface shells, and you can find different flavors, also known as distros—Kubuntu,Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Mate, and Xubuntu. These have different preconfiguredsettings, apps, and designs for different purposes and tastes.
Some drawbacks are that Linux requires more tech savvy thanthe other choices here: If you're squeamish about seeing a command line ever,choose another OS. Another is that the support for hardware peripherals andpopular application software is well behind that of Windows, macOS, and evenChrome OS.
Another shortcoming of Ubuntu is the lack of major applications,such as Photoshop and Microsoft Office. Sure, you can find substitutes that do thebasic functions of those, but you miss out on the slickness and rich tool setsof the genuine software.
Ubuntu is notable for being about as secure and stable anoperating system as you'll find—no doubt this is why Linux powers so manyservers that demand a high level of uptime. Ubuntu also includes built-inantivirus, and its publisher, Canonical, provides regular security patches andupdates.
Read our full review:Ubuntu Linux18 Bionic Beaver
Google Chrome OS
Google's desktop operating system started life as a simple wayto deliver a web browser and web applications to a computer without muchcomplexity. The idea was for it to be an entirely cloud-powered app, usingGoogle Drive to store all your data. Chrome OS has movedway beyond that, now letting you run Android apps from Google Play. It alsooffers true desktop features like file folders for local files, the GoogleAssistant voice AI, a night mode, screenshots, and tight integration withAndroid phones.
You can find a wide variety of inexpensive Chromebook laptopsand Chromeboxes (the desktop version), as well as more-expensive devices fromGoogle itself, including the Pixelbook ($999 and up) and the Pixelbook Go ($649and up). The OS also supports touch screen and stylus input (in the form of thePixel Pen) and many printer models (though not as many as macOS and Windows).
The operating system's interface is clear and simple, somuch to the point that there's no real desktop like that on macOS and Windows—youcan't pin apps or documents to the desktop—it just sits there looking pretty. TheDock is fine, though not as functional as Windows' Taskbar, but the program launcherand settings are well implemented.
There are two key drawbacks of Chrome OS: One is that it hastwo very different app stores—the Chrome Web Store (which was the only one atfirst) and Google Play, and it's not clear when you should use one and when theother, since there's much overlap in the apps they offer. The even biggerproblem is that Android apps behave inconsistently on Chrome. This is becausemost of the apps were programmed for the small, portrait-mode phone screenrather than the wide computer screen.
In addition to the app store situation, you won't find high-endprofessional applications on Chrome OS, such as the full Adobe Photoshop, MicrosoftWord, or truly powerful video editing software. On the other hand, Google has createda full suite of apps and services for the education market, and there are third-partyofferings for that market as well. One cynical take is that this is a play to hooknew users on the platform young, but the program has indeed made technology ineducation affordable and efficient.
The bottom line is that if you're a student or someone on alimited budget who can do everything you need in a web browser, Chrome OS maybe for you. If you want to play the latest AAA video games, do hardcore video orphoto editing or run advanced hardware like VR headsets or 3D printers, you'rebetter off with another OS.
Read our full review: Google Chrome OS
Is Windows or Mac better for programming? Another in a long line of questions about which of the two is better for what activity. The Windows vs Mac debate has been going on for as long as the two have existed.
When you choose a laptop for programming, it seems as though the internet is rife with opinion posts about which is better for what subject whether it be personal use, photo or video editing, web development, gaming, cat video playing, etc. Today, we take a look at whether Windows or Mac is better for programming. By the way, read this if you are unsure about a laptop or desktop for programming.
The Mac appears to hail as the go-to for software engineers but does it really stand out against Windows for programming specifically? The answer is not as simple as you might think.
In short, this choice really comes down to the programming you will be doing and your own personal preference. Before we get into the breakdown between the two, there are a few things to remember when it comes to programming.
Mac Vs. Windows For Programming In 2020
Linux and UNIX
Linux and UNIX are very important to programming. Before Linux came UNIX. UNIX is an operating system and is crowned as one of, if not the best, operating systems ever created, so called for its stability, flexibility, and security.
Linux is an operating system as well, just like Windows and macOS and has become one of the most popular development operating systems available. It powers everything from your phone to your refrigerator. Linux is Unix-like, meaning it is similar in many ways to Unix despite not being the same. You must be able to run Linux on your laptop to be able to program. That being said, both Mac and Windows can run Linux just fine.
…UNIX called for its stability, flexibility, and security . Linux powers everything from your phone to your refrigerator ..
Mac Os X Windows 8
What Are You Programming For
The laptop you choose will also depend on what sort of programming and development you are working on. Simply stated, if you’re doing programming work for macOS, it will likely be easier on you if you have macOS running on your device; likewise with Windows.
Simply stated, there are some stacks which just work better with Windows and some that just work better with Mac. So, before choosing a platform to program on, first think about what sort of programming you are going to be doing.
Personal Preference
To be perfectly frank, this debate really comes down to personal preference. If you’ve been using Windows your whole life, don’t take this article (or any of the opinionated, indoctrinated debates you see online) as proof that you need to switch to Mac or vice versa.
There is really no right answer to this question and it all comes down to your needs as a programmer i.e. what and who you are programming for as well as your needs as a consumer of technology. So, relax and have fun! That’s what programming is about.
Familiarity Of UX
Mac laptops are versatile, high tech machines that can get the job done. They will be able to handle most any coding and programming work you do. Especially if you’re doing programming work for an Apple ecosystem, then a Mac is your best option.
Almost any hiccups can be worked around using alternate software, apps, programs, etc. Some programmers claim that Mac will give you far fewer headaches than Windows when it comes to certain stacks or languages which may be true but the bottom line is your ability to program.
MacOS is Unix-like, meaning it is similar to, but not the same as, Unix and by extension, Linux. This means that development may just be a tiny bit easier and slightly less time-consuming on a Mac as compared to Windows.
Mac Os On Windows Hyper-v
Your Budget
The main drawback to Mac for the first time buyer is the price. Most new Macs range well over $2000 at the time of writing.
If you’re into programming as a career, Mac is definitely an option to consider for its programming ability and ease of use in certain stack development.
For casual programmers though, there are other, more budget-friendly, options available to you that will work for your purposes.
Do You Need Windows Specific Tools
With Windows, you would be developing on the platform used by the most users. Despite the Macs’ popularity in the media, Windows still reigns as the most used platform and thus the most developed for. You’ll find it more popular with software engineers who develop for the enterprise.
That being said, you can’t develop for iOS on a Windows computer so keep in mind the type of development you want to work on.
Windows is not Unix-like, as macOS is, but Linux can be run on Windows now and updates are being made relatively regularly to support it. This can bring Windows nearly up to the level of ease that a Mac gives with more compatibility and stability.
Stability Of O.S
While Windows is great for front end development, for back end developers, the platform can be a pain to use. You’ll be sitting through several hours of updates, drivers, installers, etc. to get a good system running but after that, you’ll find your development easier.
Does This Really Matter
While Windows may be better for some programming and Mac other, most all programming can be done on either with some workarounds. ‘Better’ (in terms of programming) here really means ‘easier’. Both types of laptops are very similar and you’ll find that programming ease often comes with practice and knowledge and not necessarily equipment.
Conclusion
Always keep in mind the type of programming you want to be doing and what your own personal preferences are when choosing between Mac and Windows for your programming needs.
Both types of laptops are very similar and you’ll find that programming ease often comes with practice and knowledge and not necessarily equipment. Always keep in mind the type of programming you want to be doing and what your own personal preferences are when choosing between Mac and Windows for your programming needs.
Mac Os X Windows
Resources
LINFO. Linux for Absolute Beginners, The Linux Info Project.