Windows vs Mac vs Linux in 2025: The Battle of the Operating Systems

[@MarkyGoldstein]

Humanity is now at the point where switching to Linux makes most sense

[@JamesMcCloskey]

Zorin OS is an excellent option for those new to Linux or anyone else who wants a simple, elegant, and stable experience.

[@sonsieface]

Definitely agree, it’s a nice, polished choice. If it were up to me, I’d encourage every “normal” pc user with Windows 10 to migrate to Linux in October. I try to do that in a few of my little videos, but don’t want to get obnoxious about it, y’know?

[@Tropics09-o6d]

stable x2

[@fecklesstech929]

My very first Linux installation (in 2018) was Mint Cinnamon. It refused to boot. Sad. My second attempt was Zorin, and it ran like a champ! It looked good, it worked good--even my Kodak printer/scanner ran like a pro. Once I got used to Zorin, I went on a 2-year distro-hopping binge, but I still think Zorin is tops.

[@johanb.7869]

I would go with Linux Mint because development on Zorin is slow.

[@echobucket]

This is like the most fair version of this sort of comparison I've ever seen.

[@anmarm.9487]

Who say its a battle, to me its about preferences. I dont like to be spyed on and watched therefor i use Linux.

[@The-Cat]

I'm currently slowly moving from Windows 10 to Pop OS! Both for personal as well as professional use. I'll still be needing Windows 10 as a dualboot setup but only for drama-free gaming and some proprietary shit for work that I cannot do through virtualbox on Pop Os! I've tried mac in the past but it's in my opinion extremly frustrating to use as a poweruser so even on my Mac Mini (model 2014) i've got Windows on it so that my wife can actually DO STUFF on it. Even in 2025 it's still usable while running Windows lol.

[@pradyumnsingh3555]

what do you mean by having windows 10 dualboot setup , is it supported or cracked version ?

[@sonsieface]

Yeah, I’m eagerly waiting for the full release of the new Cosmic desktop!

[@Wahinies]

Protip: every year is the year of linux

[@sonsieface]

Preach! 😎

[@johanb.7869]

For me is has been since June 2017 when I dumped Windows and installed Linux (Peppermint 8) Currently using MX Linux Xfce.

[@df3yt]

I think learning MacOS has the largest learning curve. Most of the keyboard shortcuts are out of whack, from ctrl "arrow".to the awkward cmd c. The lack of ctrl f and then F3 to search. It's multitasking and multi monitor setups are very buggy compared to Win / Lin too. It also has certain dialogs than can't be used via KB. Windows users can use Linux, Linux users can use Windows, MacOS is a special breed. There are many design elements of MacOS that you can see was designed for dummies. Try using HOME/END/PGUP/PGDN. And when typing in Safari, like now, if you type too fast it skips letters as the "text" predictor is too slow. This on MBP. Heck no collapsable system tray! WinXP had this.

[@kpbendeguz]

Well if you set windows key combos as a standard then no surprise that windows fits to that standard better. Macos has standard key combos since 1984 and obviously macos developers priorize current macos users' needs than windows users'. I've found no bugs in macos multi monitor setups or multitasking especially compared to windows.

[@df3yt]

@@kpbendeguz I agree with your comment to a point, the issue is many of these shortcuts are inconsistent between apps, yet are consistent in Linux / Windows. Additionally when evaluating an OS we need to see how well it plays in the world and MacOS just doesn't.

[@kpbendeguz]

@@df3yt Inconsistent because those apps don't apply the macos standards. If native macos apps would be released on windows and linux without applying the windows standards then those platforms would be inconsistent as well. When evaluating an OS we should not base it on personal preferences for the first place.

[@sonsieface]

Yes, I thought it was just my “Linux” prejudice, but I still find macOS a bit of a chore even after a few months. Can’t speak to the display issues, but I don’t doubt what you say. I mean, they did a good job of putting a pretty face on Unix, but I still feel more comfortable in Linux with Gnome or Cinnamon, etc.

[@fecklesstech929]

Thanks for a fair, rational comparison. The feature chart was especially useful. As a Linux enthusiast and a hater of all things Micro$oft, I am incapable of objectivity on the subject. Good video--very watchable.

[@sonsieface]

Thank you! I did give it my best try

[@gwgux]

That's a fair comparison. I wouldn't be surprised if in 2026 a follow up video includes a line to compare which has AI capability built into it. I also think 2025 is when the OS debate gets really ugly. Not that it wasn't ugly before, but there's a deadline for Windows 10 support coming up this year. Deadlines have a tendency to have an affect on people in one way or another and often put pressure on people to make a decision hastily that they've been putting off. In that haste, people will go online and try and research their options and find the heated online debate that's been going on with a lot of unhelpful half truths from all sides of the arguments and it'll be very hard to get the actual facts for a lot of people.

[@sonsieface]

Thank you, that’s a very kind comment. I tried to put my Linux Fanboy hat to the side. I belatedly realized I didn’t mention security, which is a whole other minefield of finger pointing 😝. If it were up to me, I’d point the bulk of Windows 10 users to Zorin or Mint and be done with it. I still maintain those are fine for the average home computer/laptop user who is not using video mixing consoles, midi interfaces or needs 3 or 4 displays …

[@gwgux]

@@sonsieface And as someone who's been running Linux for over 20 years, I agree. Those two distros are great for average users and depending how well Cosmic does, Pop!_OS may join those ranks. Plus, Valve working with multiple vendors for more hand helds based on Linux may also have an affect on the market too as people get used to how well gaming works on a non-Windows device that can also be used as a desktop. I'm hoping to see Linux market share climb up to 5% or more this year, but we'll see what moves Microsoft makes. Microsoft didn't get their monopoly status by playing fair...

[@johanb.7869]

Switched to Linux in 2017 when I dumped W10 because a update borked my HP Sleekbook. Started with Peppermint 8. Currently using MX Linux Xfce.

[@kamertonaudiophileplayer847]

I worked only using Linux all my development career. But I bought a cheap Windows PC over last Christmas. I could use it in full after a couple weeks. I can tell that it's better than I thought initially. So I can recommend Windows if you still thinking. Regarding MacOS, I still can say nothing. Never tried it because it's so expensive.

[@sonsieface]

Agree on Apple’s cost; I have an iPhone and an M1 MacBook Air, both used. My Linux laptop was “open box” and I built our Windows home PC

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

When its all said and done if we are being completely honest MacOS is by far the best operating system. I could write a book on why. Its not close unless you are a hardcore gamer. I wont use windows in my house. (after running a computer repair shop for 15 years) I'm all Linux and Mac. Also if we are being honest those minimum specs are not even close to correct. Have you tried running Windows 11 on a 4GB machine? Unbuntu with only 4GB? Really?

[@sonsieface]

Those are the stated min specs. I think I said something about them being MINIMUM in the video. If not, then I should have!

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

@@sonsieface You may have and I just didn't hear it. They are def low. I honestly wouldn't recommend running any modern Linux distro with less than 8GB. And I'd recommend 16 for Windows or Mac minimum.

[@sonsieface]

I absolutely agree, I upgraded my Linux laptop to 20gb and I managed to get my used M1 MacBook Air with 16gb. Very happy with performance on both. Our home PC is Windows 11 with 16gb RAM, but it’s basically my wife’s surfing station. If I used it more, I’d probably bump it up to 32gb.

[@robbylock1741]

Wow you way underestimated the ram requirement for Windows 11 - 4 GB? Start with 8 GB minimum if you want a usable system! 16 GB is better. As for Linux requirements - I have 32 bit Debian MATE running on an old Dell Netbook with an Atom Z520 processor (2 cores) and 1 GB of ram and it was out performing my Windows 11 install on a Dell 7020 with an i7 processor until I upgraded the ram to 16 GB and now 32 GB! I should post the benchmarks some place LOL

[@sonsieface]

Those are the stated min specs for Win 11, I think I said (or should have said) something about that not being very practical. And yep, some versions of Linux will run on a potato - and be quite usable!