Windows 11 vs Linux: Which is better?


With Windows 11 launching later this year, it's time to give it a quick once over and compare it with Linux, a popular, open-source OS that is beloved by many. We'll run through some of the key points for each of them, giving you the opportunity to decide which one might be the better system for you. Each of them comes with its own set of strengths. So let's jump right in, and see what they have to offer.

Windows 11

Windows probably won't need any introduction. Various iterations have been around since 1985, and Windows 11 is the newest version, set for release towards the end of 2021. So we need to say, before getting into this, that everything we are about to say is based on what Microsoft have revealed, rather than seeing this software out in the wild. But that being said, there is a lot to like.

To begin with, Windows is almost ubiquitous. You've either got it running on your computer at home, or you used it at school, or at work in your day job. At some point, you will almost certainly have encountered Windows. This familiarity makes it very user-friendly indeed. You don't need to be especially technically minded to be able to navigate it.

In software terms, pretty much everything you might need in software terms is available for Windows. It has far more support from 3rd party developers. And in gaming terms, there is really no contest. Windows already has a vastly larger games library than Linux. And with access to Xbox Game Pass being fully integrated into Windows 11, plus additional features such as Auto HDR and DirectStorage, Windows 11 is regarded by Microsoft as the best Windows for gaming, period.

Read More: Windows 11 vs MacOS Monterey: Is Windows 11 better than MacOS 12?

Linux

Linux meanwhile, might be less familiar. It is open-source, and entirely free of charge. It is highly secure, because almost everyone who uses it has an interest in identifying flaws and fixing them. Linux also tends to run more quickly than Windows. It is a leaner OS, with fewer background processes eating up the RAM of your computer.

Linux is used quite often in cloud computing, servers, supercomputers, and mainframes. It is much less common than Windows in a regular school or office environment. And while Windows certainly has the edge in software terms, Linux certainly isn't short of software packages that it can run. In fact, many Windows programs can also run on Linux.

Linux certainly doesn't have the same ease-of-use that Windows enjoys. For that reason, it tends to be favoured by programmers and other highly-knowledgable computer users. For most, Windows is the more accessible OS.

So which is better?

When it comes to making a decision, the answer really is: it depends. Because these are two operating systems which tend to be used for different purposes. While there is some cross-over between users, Windows 11 will be much more suitable for people with a basic understanding of computing, who want it for basic work tasks, and maybe some gaming. Linux on the other hand, will be more useful for very specific, possibly more technical tasks, and will come into its own when being used for those functions. Running servers, or for security, Linux will almost certainly be the favoured option.

Each of them definitely has its use-case; so for that reason, it's impossible to say that one is better than the other. Each of them will be a better choice for something. It just depends what that something actually is.

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