![Operating Systems for PC](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Operating-Systems-for-PC.jpeg)
There are 3 major operating systems available for a PC, i.e., Windows, Linux, and macOS. This article discusses their suitability, advantages, drawbacks, and more to help you choose the right one for your build.
For years, the choice of OS was down to the supported resources i.e. the software. But that criterion is almost out, with all leading software solutions available across the platforms. The choice now depends on licensing, hardware compatibility, and, most importantly, upgradeability.
So, let me help you decide on the OS your PC needs!
Contents
How To Choose an Operating System for Your PC?
Here are a few things to consider:
- Hardware Compatibility: List out the number of hardware you would want to use and see if the operating system you want supports a third-party solution.
- User Interface and Ease of Use: All the main functionalities must be a few clicks away. The user interface has to be simple and lean.
- Available Software and Applications: List all the software you will need for your work or leisure and see which operating system has a version of it.
- Security Features: The OS should have default blocking features for third-party access. The authority to share your storage and data access should only be yours.
- Customization Options: It should be flexible in its user interface and should offer customizable accessibility settings too.
- Price and Licensing: Many use a computer for light work and leisure. The licensing fees of the OS matter the most when we look at our usage type.
Suitability of an OS for Different Needs
Before I discuss different operating systems that can be used on a PC, you should be clear about what you want from them. This means defining your purpose. You can narrow down your choices depending on the following different usage profiles.
1. Study
![Study using Windows OS](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Study-using-Windows-OS.jpeg)
Students back in the day wrote notes and documented them on their computers. Students in today’s times have access to the internet.
Most of their chores involve a lot of browsing, online studies, and documentation. The range of economical laptops and computers that run on Windows makes the decision pretty easy for students regarding their OS.
2. Professional Work
![Professional Work using Window OS](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Professional-Work-using-Window-OS.jpeg)
For any bookkeeping tasks, professionals use a lot of documentation tools locally or over the Internet to prepare reports and presentations. Windows, in that regard, offer great tools. Some professionals who work in IT (coding and programming) or with graphics and/or video editing need faster and more efficient systems.
3. Gaming and Streaming
![Gaming and Streaming](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Gaming-and-Streaming.jpeg)
Apart from great graphics, gaming, and simultaneous streaming require a robust memory and a highly efficient system. Processing graphics is a tough ask, and with the evolution in graphics, its processing units also evolve.
An operating system for a gaming PC needs hardware that can be upgraded regularly, like Windows.
4. Creative Work
![Creative Work on macOS](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Creative-Work-on-macOS.jpeg)
As iterated earlier, processing graphics requires a lot of agility in terms of hardware and software. The system must be responsive enough to design and test creative projects. Like gamers, designers need frequent updates in their hardware.
But given the tremendous display and visual features of macOS coupled with how strongly design applications work on it, it is a clear choice for designers and editors as of now.
5. Coding or Mining
![Coding or Mining](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Coding-or-Mining.png)
Programmers usually opt for dual operating systems. One each for their coding and personal usage. Dedicated programmers like Windows and alternative systems like Linux that are not too heavy on graphics and function super smoothly.
They don’t mind having minimal aesthetics and user interface if it ensures faster deployment and testing of their codes, which are anyway in a color-coded text format. Similarly, mining to does not require fancy graphics or sound.
Features/OS | Windows | macOS | Linux |
---|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Features | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ |
Functionality | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
Software Compatibility | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★ |
Costing | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★★ |
Hardware Upgradeability | ★★★★★ | ★ | ★★★★★ |
Security | ★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Operating Systems for PC: Explained
Let me now briefly talk about the three most popular OS available for PC. They all have their own assets and limitations.
For decades, Windows, because of its open-source nature, had the upper hand over its peers, but since Apple launched its range of mobile phones and other compatible devices, the popularity of macOS has risen.
1. Windows
One of the biggest USPs of Windows for years has been its open-source nature. Any computer or laptop manufacturer can license this OS. Individuals can also build a PC from scratch and license Windows by paying licensing fees.
System Requirements for Windows OS
System and its components | Minimum required Configuration |
---|---|
Processor | 1 GHz |
RAM | 1 GB for 32-bit | 2 GB for 64-bit |
Hard Drive | 32 GB or larger |
Graphics Card | DirectX 9 with WDDM 1.0 driver |
Display | 800×600 |
Connectivity | WiFi & Bluetooth |
What I Like
- Open Source
- Range of documenting and utilitarian software
- Wide support
- Upgradeable components
What I Dislike
- Slow in booting
- Prone to malware
2. macOS
macOS is Regarded as one of the safest operating systems in the world. It blocks third-party access and provides more control over the privacy of your storage and programs across devices.
Apple’s strong ecosystem of devices allows you to access all your computer’s data and softwares from other devices like mobile phones, tablets, or even smartwatches.
System Requirements for macOS
System and its components | Minimum required Configuration |
---|---|
Processor | 867 MHz |
RAM | 4 GB |
Hard Drive | 32 GB or larger |
Graphics Card | 512 MB with OpenGL 2.0 driver |
Display | 1280 x 1024 |
Connectivity | WiFi & Bluetooth |
What I Like
- Super-fast
- Great integration with all k Apple products
- Safest and the most secure OS
What I Dislike
- Only compatible with Apple’s native devices
- Expensive licensing fees
- Non-upgradeable components
3. Linux
Linux is a community-operated, lightweight, lean operating system unlike the other two. It is used by institutional computers, servers, mainframes, and even embedded devices.
It is an open-source system and has garnered a lot of popularity among web servers for being lean and efficient.
System Requirements for Linux
System and its components | Minimum required Configuration |
---|---|
Processor | 2 GHz |
RAM | 512 MB |
Hard Drive | 32 GB or larger |
Graphics Card | 512 MB with OpenGL 2.0 driver |
Display | 1280 x 1024 |
Connectivity | WiFi & Bluetooth |
What I Like
- Lean user interface
- Simplest of them all to learn and use
- Lightweight enough for complex programming
What I Dislike
- Inferior graphics support
- No major updates
Once you decide on the OS for your PC, you can learn how to install it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. An operating system is an interface between user inputs and device outputs. Without that, you can’t execute commands. It acts as a system that operates all your commands and the designated hardware.
It depends on your usage type. Define your usage, chalk out needs for future upgrades, and define a budget. These 3 criteria should be enough to help you decide which OS you should get.
Military computers, like the rest of us users and enterprises, mainly use the three most popular operating systems – Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Considering that you can customize the software and upgrade the hardware as many times as you want in a Windows OS, it is the most popular choice for most computer users worldwide.
Gaming will need custom cooling & frequent RAM and GPU upgrades. All that is very easy for a PC with a Windows OS. Thus, the best choice of OS for gamers is non-other than Windows.
Conclusion
macOS gives better integration with many other devices we regularly use, like watches, home devices, mobile phones, tablets, and even TV. Windows, on the other hand, is limited to computers only. The massive difference between the licensing fees of both decide the choice for most people, though.
Leave a Reply