Linux and Windows have been around for decades. Which operating system offers more potential for the user in the long term? With Windows 11 released, and macOS Monterey, a lot of people are wondering if they should upgrade or switch anytime soon.
Here are 9 reasons why the Linux operating system is better than Windows or macOS.
1. Linux is “Open-Source”
Linux is free to use and obtain, but more importantly, it is not controlled by companies like Microsoft or Apple.
In addition, established open source applications such as Firefox, LibreOffice, VLC, and many other available applications do not push the boundaries of user privacy.
With the constant erosion of privacy by Windows, Mac OS, and iOS, it’s refreshing to know that the Linux environment respects users’ privacy.
2 . Linux is More Secure Than Windows
The Windows operating system is vulnerable to various types of attacks (or hacks). However, Linux is not as vulnerable as Windows. It’s certainly not invulnerable, but it’s much safer.
It is precisely the way Linux works that makes it a secure operating system. Overall, the package management process, the concept of repositories, and a few extra features make Linux more secure than Windows.
When Windows is installed, you need to download/purchase an antivirus program to protect your computer from hackers and malware. However, Linux does not require the use of such antivirus programs.
Sure, there are a few more software tools to protect your system from threats, but this is often not necessary if you have a Linux system.
Being naturally safe would make it easier for you and also save you money as you don’t need any premium antivirus software!
3. Bring Back Old Computers to Life With Linux
As operating systems evolve, their hardware requirements increase exponentially. For example, if you buy a genuine copy of Windows 11, you must meet the minimum hardware requirements to run it successfully, and you can’t run it on just about any low-end system.
With Linux, however, you can even use one of your older computer systems to perform a task. However, that doesn’t mean every Linux distro would run on 256MB of RAM paired with an outdated processor. However, there are also options that you can install on these low-end systems (such as Puppy Linux).
Being an efficient operating system, Linux distributions can thus be adapted to a range of systems (low or high). On the other hand, Windows operating system has a higher hardware requirement.
All in all, even if you compare a high-end Linux system and a high-end Windows system, the Linux distribution would have the advantage. Well, this is why most of the servers around the world prefer to run on Linux rather than a Windows hosting environment.
4. Linux is Perfect for Learning
Linux supports almost all major programming languages ​​(Python, C/C++, Java, Perl, Ruby, etc.).
In addition, it offers a wide range of applications useful for programming purposes.
The Linux terminal is superior to the Windows command line for developers.
You will find many libraries developed natively for Linux. Many programmers also point out that Package Manager in Linux helps them do things easily.
Interestingly, the possibility of bash scripts is also one of the most compelling reasons why programmers prefer the Linux operating system.
Linux also offers native support for SSH, which allows you to quickly manage your servers. You can include things like apt commands that make Linux one of the most popular choices for programmers.
5. Linux Offers a Ton of Customization
One of the main benefits of using Linux over Windows is customization. If you want to polish up the look of your system, Linux is just perfect for you.
Besides installing themes, you have tons of beautiful icon themes. If you don’t like the way your Linux setup looks, you can swap it out totally for something entirely different by changing desktop environments.
6. Variety of Linux Distributions
There is no separate version of Windows. Yes, you can have different plans and packages that differ in license, activation period, features, and price.
On the other hand, you will find numerous Linux distributions to meet different needs. So you can choose to install any of the available Linux distributions based on your needs.
For example, there are Linux distributions for hackers, there are Linux distributions for programmers, there are Linux distributions for extremely old computers, and the list goes on. There is a Linux for everyone.
If you’re curious, you might want to learn what Linux is to find out why there are hundreds of Linux distributions. Here’s a chart listing most distros and their origin.
7. Linux Offers Better Documentation and Community Support
You don’t need to hire an expert to fix a problem on your Linux system. You just need to search the internet for a similar thread for a solution or post a thread for others to solve the problem.
Within minutes of posting a discussion thread on one of the Linux forums, you can expect a response with a detailed solution that will eventually help you solve your problem for free! Not to mention that you should find solutions to the most common problems in well-explained forums without the need for a lot of research.
There are many active Linux users who are always ready to respond to any relevant thread they may have created. The number of active community users on these forums is greater than the number of active members on a Windows-based forum.
You also have access to detailed documentation about parts and software under Linux. You can easily read and troubleshoot most problems here.
8. Gaming on Linux
For the longest time, gamers have stayed away from Linux and stuck on Windows due to incompatibility of their hardware or games. However, that has changed by far and keeps improving.
Read Our Article Linux Gaming
Thanks to Steam’s PROTON compatibility layer and WINE, most Windows games run smoothly in a Linux system. Issues like Anti-Cheat and DRM are also being solved.
New hardware support for Graphics cards, controllers, RGB light controls, and gaming modules are regularly being added.
Valve recently announced the Steam Deck, its entry into the handheld PC market that would be fully integrated with Steam. Alongside some impressive specs for its small size, Valve has confirmed that the Steam Deck will be a Linux-based system. With a new version of SteamOS based on Arch Linux, the Steam Deck will likely feature a user-friendly experience and function as an actual Linux PC.
9. Linux is More Reliable Than Windows
Windows, as we know it, gets slow every day. You will want to reinstall Windows after a while when you experience crashes or slowdowns on your system.
If you’re using Linux, you don’t have to worry about reinstalling the system, just to enjoy a faster, smoother system. Linux helps your system run smoothly for a longer period of time (much longer, in fact!).
Also with Windows, you will have to adapt to a habit of rebooting the system for just about everything.
If you just installed software, reboot!
If you recently uninstalled software, reboot!
If you just installed a Windows update, reboot!
If the system seems to slow down, reboot!
However, in the case of Linux, you will not have to reboot for the above cases. You are free to continue your work and Linux will not bother you.
Wrapping up
Another fact that proves Linux’s reliability is web servers. You have seen that most of the Internet giants like Google and Facebook run on Linux. Even almost all supercomputers run Linux.
So why is Windows not preferred over Linux for critical tasks? This is because Linux is much more reliable than Windows OS. Period.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Linux doesn’t have problems. But when we look at the big picture, Linux is reliable by design.
If you’re planning to try one of the Linux distros for your computer, you might want to try Pop OS (my favorite) or one of the best Linux distributions we’ve mentioned.