Stable OS Which operating system to choose for your computer - comparison and selection of the best

Modern operating systems are well optimized. This thesis has been confirmed many times by Windows 10, which runs on the lowest-power PCs, and various Linux distributions aimed at speed lovers. The user today does not have that much choice - some a priori do not want to give up Windows. Others, in search of speed and reliability, look towards less popular operating systems.

Which operating system will be optimal for a laptop?

For a laptop, the speed of programs is especially important - machines of this class are not as powerful as their desktop counterparts. And that’s why well-optimized software comes out on top. Let's look at some alternative options.

Numerous builds of Linux-based operating systems definitely deserve attention. In addition to Ubuntu, which is beloved by home users, there are about 300 different distributions, a third of which are well optimized for mobile computers. Let's pay attention to Linux-based OS options for a weak laptop.

This small and beautiful operating system gravitates towards macOS. The appearance of the start screen, as well as a nice launcher bar, makes Elementary OS a clear choice for Apple fans. It uses its own shell called Pantheon. This means that the system cannot be confused with another popular distribution. Except with macOS.

Elementary performs well on a PC with 1 GB of RAM and a low-power processor (from 1 GHz). Therefore, it can be recommended to all owners of old computers who envy the beauty of new operating systems.

The Elementary distribution is easy to set up and use. It can be accused of considerable consumption of resources and increased consumption of battery capacity. There are a lot of reviews online from users that Elementary is not fully ready. But overall it's reliable enough for most everyday tasks.

This Linux release has not yet gained much attention from the community. It’s quite strange if you note its obvious “+”:

1. The system is quite fast and stable.
2. A good set of built-in applications (including cloud ones).
3. Low energy consumption.

The disadvantages of Peppermint include its not entirely modern and standard interface. This is unlikely to prevent you from choosing it if the laptop's resources are used only for work.

The system requirements for the build are low. She needs at least 512 MB of RAM (more is better), at least 4 GB of hard drive space and Internet access.

The most popular release of Linux has served well to popularize free software since 2004. They started talking a lot about this system a few years later, when Canonical sent out a free CD with Ubuntu to everyone.

Unfortunately, in 2011, Canonical stopped supporting Ubuntu Netbook, a release specifically for low-power laptops and netbooks. But Ubuntu to this day boasts good (in general) suitability for weak computers and laptops. It uses more battery power than the notorious Windows 7, but is slightly faster and supports more hardware.

The expandability and appearance of the system are also noteworthy. Ubuntu is easy to customize, although in earlier releases (prior to version 14) it was possible to configure many more settings than now.

With the hardware requirements, everything is not so smooth:

• The standard shell requires at least 2 GB of RAM. Third-party ones (Openbox, Mate) can get by with half a gigabyte.
• It is better to use a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz or more.

Linux can be used as the main system without any problems if you purchased a weak laptop without an OS and do not want to spend a considerable amount on a Windows license. Or you are disgusted by piracy. But keep in mind that compatibility issues and the relatively small number of applications for these operating systems do not allow us to recommend them to everyone.

Microsoft Windows

So much has been said about this system as about no other. De facto, the world's best compatibility with programs and games, a huge selection of drivers and fast operation. This is complemented by a beautiful interface, as well as comparative simplicity for a beginner.

Technical requirements are relatively low:

• Processor - single core, from 1 GHz.
• 1 GB RAM.
• The OS occupies 16 GB on the hard drive.
• Requires the video system to support at least DirectX 9.

ADVICE. "Seven" is well optimized for working on laptops and even tablets. If you got it licensed, bundled with an old mobile PC, it hardly makes sense to “transfer” to another OS. If only for...

If you managed to snag a free upgrade to Windows 10 in the summer of 2016, we sincerely envy you. “Ten” develops the basic ideas of Windows 7, and this can be seen literally in everything:

1. High loading and operating speed (especially with SSD).
2. An even more beautiful interface (although there is a lot of controversy about convenience).
3. Optimal support for almost all existing programs for Windows.
4. Improved (compared to 8.1) touch mode.
5. Regular security updates.

At the same time, Windows 10 works well on computers that can barely handle Windows 7. Today, the system has been tested enough and has gotten rid of the childhood diseases of early releases. A significant drawback is the excessive curiosity of developers - the OS collects a lot of your data and honestly warns about it. If this is not a problem for you, one of the best operating systems of our time is at your service.

conclusions

We looked at the most suitable, in our opinion, systems for weak laptops. Only macOS remained outside the scope of attention - but it can be classified more as a universal solution (for all types of PCs).

Which laptop OS did you choose? Would you like to offer your own version of a “somewhat better” operating system? Then welcome to the discussions!

Probably, practically all computer users have heard that, in addition to the well-known operating system for PC Windows also has other systems.

Let's look at the main pros and cons modern operating systems.

Windows XP

The Windows XP operating system has been operating on various devices for quite some time. Its release was made on October 25, 2001, and the last update of this system occurred on April 21, 2008.

Pros:

• one of the main advantages operating system for PC Windows XP is that it is very easy to use and for many of its users the interface of other operating systems may be incomprehensible and inconvenient;
• There are a large number of programs and games for this OS that would be difficult to run on other systems.

Minuses:

• Windows XP requires more resources to operate than other systems, since it does not have such an abundance of settings;
• In most cases, paid programs are released for this OS, so you will have to pay not only for the system, but also for the software. Of course, experienced users can find free alternatives to the programs they need, but they can be much more difficult to work with.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is type of operating system, which is widely used at the moment. With its release, Microsoft Corporation solved many of the problems that arose with Windows XP, but new ones appeared in their place.

Pros:

• the functions of the Windows 7 operating system allow it to produce high-quality visualization, which makes working with it easier;
• When you connect a new device, you don’t have to look for a driver, the OS itself will find it on the Internet and install it.

Minuses:

• Since this system belongs to a number of Windows operating systems, it has the same disadvantages as XP, although this OS has significantly fewer of them.

Windows 8

The developers of Windows 8 OS are the transnational corporation Microsoft. The system was released on October 26, 2012.

Pros:

• works much faster than its predecessors;
• The Windows 8 operating system allows you to synchronize data between personal computers and a smartphone or tablet;
• The OS has an attractive interface and is very convenient for tablet PCs.

Minuses:

• Windows 8 has an interface that is not very mouse-friendly;
• Almost all programs for it are paid.

*nix-like operating system was created by student Torvald Linus. It differs significantly from Windows and is used mainly for servers or by programmers in their work. Although there are many distributions for ordinary users, for example, Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 10.04

Let's consider the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version, since it has big differences from the previous ones - this is Ubuntu 10.04 lucid lynx OS. This system solves the main problem of Linux - connecting to the Internet. Unlike previous versions, you don’t need to configure anything, just install the Wicd program. IN modern operating systems It is very important for Linux to have the Internet, since updates are released almost weekly, and with its help you can Russify English-language software. A new version of Ubuntu is released every six months.

Pros:

• Ubuntu starts up twice as fast as Windows, and changing users is also very fast;
• Installing drivers and programs is very easy using the Internet;
• to download programs, you can go to the application manager and find it there;
• interface customization is carried out down to the smallest detail, so you can completely customize the system for yourself;
• The Ubuntu operating system does not require installation of an antivirus to operate, since it is completely virus-free;
• video and audio codecs are installed as needed.

Minuses:

• setting operating system functions Ubuntu for the first time turns out to be long and difficult. Of course, you can do without it, but you won’t be able to get all the pleasure from working with Ubuntu;
• the system has a limited number of portable programs. Therefore, if you want to use the same programs as Windows, you will most likely have to install a virtual machine;
• Most programs are not in the application center, so you will have to manually search for them on the Internet;
• There are not many games for Ubuntu OS.

Later, versions of Ubuntu 10.10 and 11.04 were released, but they are no different from this version, except for the alternative graphical shell.

The Mac OS operating system was created by the well-known Apple corporation. Its main difference from other operating systems is that it is not sold separately, but you can purchase this operating system for PC only possible with Apple computers and laptops.

Pros:

• powerful built-in protection against virus programs;
• convenient and pleasant interface. Operating system features Mac OS is designed to be easy to use;
• Almost all programs that are created on Windows are also created on Mac.

Minuses:

• it is only sold with an Apple computer and has a high price.

Conclusions:

After reviewing the described pros and cons, determine which operating system is better, very difficult. Of course, you could take a Mac, but due to its high pricing, not everyone can afford it. Although Ubuntu is considered acceptable for ordinary users, it is still Linux, which causes many problems for users in setting it up. If you have been using Windows for more than one year and do not want to say goodbye to your quiet life, then it is better to continue using it.

But still, if your budget allows you to buy a Mac, then it is better to do so, although you need to understand that, for example, such a popular accounting program as 1C will not work on it. And if you need to run it on your Mac, you will have to buy the Windows Polaris emulator program, and this again will have to be spent on both Polaris and the Windows operating system. But with Mac OS you will get stability and better interaction with the hardware.

Windows:

Compatibility: almost any program either works or has analogues under Windows; drivers for any devices; a lot of games.

Support: Considering that most people use Windows, finding someone who can help with almost any task will not be difficult. Lots of materials online. Easy to install.

1. Functionality: if you are a fairly advanced Windows user, then you know that it has very, very many useful functions (which very few people use).

Viruses: Most viruses target Windows. You will have to buy (or use a free) antivirus. Constantly update, monitor which one copes better or worse with the task.

Speed: "We have a swimming pool, a tennis court, a restaurant and a disco area on the plane. Now let's try to take off with all this crap." Windows eats up a lot of resources. It contains a lot of unnecessary things for the average user, and naturally the average user will not be able to figure out what is unnecessary and what is not.

1. Price: if you don’t have a broken one, and not a factory installation, you’ll have to exchange a hundred or two green friends.

Viruses: there are practically none.

Reliability: an operating system written for a specific set of hardware (computer configurations). Based on this, it functions as it should. Rarely breaks.

1. Design: don't be fooled, they often look better than PCs. :)

Price: earlier in this column I would have written that “look what you buy from the filling for the poppy seed, and what you can get for the PC for the same price,” but now everything has become more measured. Macs are still more expensive in terms of price-filling ratio, but not as much as before, and this is compensated by plus No. 2.

Physical computer: As mentioned earlier, Mac OS is designed for specific configurations, and therefore it is highly not recommended to install it on a non-Apple computer. This doesn't mean it won't work. It will work, but you'll have to tinker with the settings.

1. Compatibility: the number of programs written for Mac is much smaller than the number of programs for Windows. If there are ports (programs transferred from one system to another so that users can work with the same data and formats on both Windows and Mac) - then usually they have reduced functionality and work rather crookedly. There are very few games on Mac (if that's important to you). :)

It is quite difficult to give a definite answer here, since there are many Linux distributions and they are sometimes very different. In general terms:

Price: A lot of distributions are free. You can install and contribute to the development. Completely modify the system to suit your needs. Naturally, for this you need to understand what and why you are doing. Lots of free programs and applications.

Variety: as mentioned above, there are many versions. The fact is that Linux is only a kernel. To use it, you need a lot of additional software. There are on the order of several hundred different distributions. Considering that there are so many of them, you can be sure that there will be one that will meet all your needs. Perhaps the most popular are Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS and Mint.

1. Viruses: there are practically none.

Difficulty: Some distributions are quite easy to use, but in most cases you will need to really know the computer and the system itself well to use it effectively.

Compatibility: in short, see the same point on Mac. Here, however, everything is less clear, due to the fact that there is a lot of open source software where you can make your own changes. It takes a lot of time and effort. There are times when drivers for your devices do not exist, and you have to either write them yourself from scratch, or use something suitable for all types of a given device. Naturally, the functionality of the devices suffers from this.

Of course, this is very short and a book would probably not be enough to compare everything.

Windows. Pros.
In the case of using powerful hardware, the speed of work increases nonlinearly. That additional functionality that slows down the system on “weak” machines on powerful ones increases significantly in performance

Linux. Pros.
Simple enough, unlike Windows and MacOS, that if you want to understand how your system functions “under the hood,” you can keep all aspects of the OS in your head.
Feels great at “weak” and “very weak” powers.

These groups have been waging an almost equal struggle for market monopolization for a long time, and this struggle is expected for a long time - it is difficult to single out a favorite in it. Let's try to figure out which product is of the highest quality.

Windows

At the moment, there are three current versions of the OS of this corporation - 7, 8, 10. Windows XP has already gone out of fashion - now it is installed mainly on old computers. The newest version is Windows 10, but not the most popular version from the company. Windows 7 is firmly in the ranking of the most used systems: 52% of personal computers in the world are serviced by it.

Windows operating systems are optimized and work stable on most computers, with XP and 7 being the most preferred on older versions. Windows is not the most secure product, so if you use Windows OS, you need to take care of installing licensed security software.

Many users compare operating systems based on their interface. Windows is not inferior to its competitors - a large selection of themes for data visualization, window animation and translucency create a pleasant contrast. Newer versions of Windows have retained elements of the very first systems from this manufacturer, which attracts the user.

One of the key advantages is the ability to install programs to perform a wide variety of tasks. This applies to office programs and gaming applications, as well as other applied areas.

Linux

Here, manufacturers decided to release many versions that have a special purpose. Ubuntu is the most widely recognized Linux product. It has become popular with Linux because it is the most optimal for home use.

The Linux product is unique in that you can change everything in the system settings in such a way that the system will be completely rebuilt taking into account the PC parameters. This fact ensures the highest performance, and in this component Linux is the undisputed leader among OS manufacturers. Linux also has the advantage of high reliability and security, since distribution kits provide many mechanisms for restricting access to user information.

As for the appearance, it can be customized in any way. Linux has many variations for choosing an interface - from simple and strict to complex and colorful, with a large number of effects. One of the most important details for Linux is that in order to manage it effectively, the user must learn to work on the command line.

Many professional programming applications are written on the Linux kernel. But as for the choice of applications for performing applied tasks, everything here is not as rich as that of competitors.

MacOS

MacOS desktop

The “OS” itself occurred along with the appearance of the first products from Apple, and accordingly, it is used on these devices. Currently, the latest version of MacOS is version 10.

MacOS are oriented to a certain hardware standard, so their performance is the highest among all available operating systems. It is worth noting that the high performance of MacOS systems is a distinctive feature - all products from this manufacturer are characterized by very stable and productive operation. MacOS systems are very reliable, the total number of virus programs on this platform is not very large, and there is no need to worry about installing additional security software.

Most users believe that MacOS is the most convenient and attractive operating system, judging by the user interface. The manufacturer pays a lot of attention to this component, and it is not surprising that they are superior to their competitors in this component. Developers use a huge range of technologies that are aimed at harmonizing and improving the appearance of controls. Interestingly, the company regularly requires developers of third-party software to use a design style that is as similar as possible to the standard Mac application style, so that users work in the new program in the same way as in the familiar one.

DOS

FreeDOS desktop

There are few users left who remember these operating system developers. It must be remembered that they became innovators in the field of OS development, inventing the entire operation of the operating system. Yes, competitors have moved on, improving all the developments of DOS, but the developers of the first OS have now begun to come up with innovations for previous developments. Since the beginning of the 2000s, DOS has released a couple of OS emulators for PCs, but they were not recognized by users due to low performance and the lack of most of the necessary characteristics for modern OSs.

However, DOS remains necessary for many users. DOS software is the best option for those users who want to use old computers with new applications. To do this, the developers launched FreeDOS and DJGPP, which included several programs that are popular today - a file manager, text editor, web browser, email client, etc. In other words, DOS products are still suitable for running on older PCs.

Safety and reliability

In general, Windows, Linux and MacOS are competing for the title of the best OS group - DOS has already stopped competing with more modern developments. In terms of reliability and safety, the most optimal are Linux and Apple products. The best Linux distribution for this component is Ubuntu. Experts believe that systems with a Linux kernel are preferably used as a keeper of particularly important information, since the protection against unauthorized access to information stored in the system is very strong. By the way, users themselves need to be very careful when assigning passwords and long paths to their necessary files - otherwise they may lose them.

Unlike Linux and MacOS distributions, Windows clearly loses in reliability and security. The Windows product still remains with the title of the most unreliable operating system. Third-party security software is released regularly, but system protection is at the lowest level, and if you value the security of your information, you should not choose Windows as the OS for your PC. As for MacOS, security here is also at the highest level.

The most gaming system

As mentioned above, in terms of the number of programs in different directions, Windows leads, and in the gaming component this developer is the undoubted leader. Quite a lot of gaming applications are also produced for Linux, since these “operating systems” are also quite popular in the world, for example, everyone’s favorite Steam can be found here. But in the end, in the total volume of gaming applications, Windows will outperform both Linux and MacOS combined. The system itself has good enough characteristics for the smooth and error-free operation of gaming applications on any computer, but, however, this rarely happens.

If you look at Windows distributions, then users are very cautious about calling Windows 7 the most preferable for games, despite the fact that three new versions of the system have already been released! Of course, the “seven” is a proven system, and therefore it is given greater preference by users. But this won’t last long - within a year and a half the whole world will be talking about the fact that the eighth and tenth versions of Windows are much better than the seventh in terms of gaming.

The simplest OS

If we take into account all the operating systems available in the world and choose the simplest one, the absolute champion here will be DOS systems. But if we talk specifically about the three giants of OS release at the present time, then Windows will again be ahead of everyone in simplicity. Simplicity can be different - banality of development, ease of use, etc. We are more interested in which systems are more convenient for users to work with. And most of them believe that Windows is the simplest operating system, starting from its very first versions.

Indeed, Windows is the simplest system to use, but very complex to develop. MacOS ranks second in ease of use, as noted by experts. Linux is the most complex system, but once you get used to it, you will never go back to, for example, the Windows family.

For weak PCs

Of course, here you should give preference to DOS! However, DOS is quite difficult to find now, therefore, Linux distributions with a lightweight desktop environment (LXDE, OpenBox, MATE, Xfce) are most suitable for weak PCs.

The most optimal distribution for use on weak PCs from the Microsoft family will be Windows XP. In fact, this OS is quite good in that it has good performance and an attractive interface. It is quite simple and quite suitable so that even on a weak PC you can play your favorite classic games.

The downside is that XP is no longer supported by the manufacturer, and by installing this system, you risk picking up a lot of viruses and Trojans.

This means that if you actively use the Internet, without additional security software, your PC will not be able to work for a long time. So, think carefully about choosing an operating system before installing it on your weak PC.

Availability of software installation

Once again, Windows is the undisputed leader here! After all, the products from this developer were the very first to appear on the market, and therefore they are sold instantly. Nowadays, only the lazy do not develop programs and applications for Windows, which means that the software will always be available for these operating systems. But it is important to remember: due to the low degree of security of the Windows OS, you must be extremely careful when installing software on your computer. Of course, you need to use licensed software, and if you don’t have one, then know: you are taking a risk by installing unwanted programs on your PC with a low level of protection.

Which system to choose in the end?

Recently, system developers have done a great job of improving OS versions. Of course, MacOS will have a minimal market share and popularity, since it is a relatively new product. In terms of characteristics, it is not inferior to Windows and Linux. If this product continues to be in great demand, MacOS could soon become a sales leader.

Linux is an excellent system for office PCs and for computers that are used for programming and administration. They have high performance, are extremely safe and reliable to use, but they are too narrow-profile, so these “OSes” are not widely used.

Windows is the clear winner in almost all respects among its competitors, and the popularity of the product is understandable. For modern computers, Windows will be the optimal OS; everyone chooses the version themselves. It depends on the user which OS to install - if the computer is needed for work, it is better to install Linux, if for games - Windows. It is necessary to determine all the parameters that you want to receive more from the OS - and in this case you will be able to make the right and informed choice!

According to Roskomstat, Windows has 84% ​​popularity among Russian personal computer users. Linux is ahead of MacOS by 3% - 9% versus 6%. The situation will change if there are serious reasons for attractiveness among users, and system developers are continuously working in this area.

Most likely, you have Windows installed on your computer. This operating system may seem free, but it is not. Manufacturers must pay Microsoft a license to supply Windows computers, and you need to buy a copy if you want to install Windows yourself.

There are many operating systems that are actually free. Most of them are quite famous. The most popular is Linux, and if you regularly read news about computer technology, this name is unlikely to be unfamiliar to you. Keep reading this article and by the time you get to the end of this list, Linux will seem completely ordinary. Here are ten other free operating systems that most of us have never heard of.

1. FreeBSD

If you are using a free operating system that is not Linux, then it is probably based on BSD. FreeBSD is just one of several UNIX-like operating systems. Others include NetBSD, OpenBSD and PC-BSD. Whichever you use, most of the experience is similar to what you'll find on Linux. Free and open source software available to one person can usually work on another.

Even if you're not a free software person, you may be using parts of FreeBSD without realizing it. Due to the project's permissive license, some of the code has made its way into Apple macOS, Sony PlayStation 4 and Juniper routers.

2. ReactOS

Most free operating systems are alternatives to Windows. ReactOS, in a sense, strives to be Windows. The goal is to provide users with the means to run Windows software without having to purchase the operating system from Microsoft.

ReactOS is a free and open source operating system, so it cannot use any real Windows code. The project has partially implemented many of the Windows APIs, and it collaborates with the Wine project to run programs, applications, and software.

3.FreeDOS

Have you used computers when DOS was the only option? Do you have good memories of MS-DOS?

FreeDOS allows you to relive this bygone era. OS barebones gives you a means to run older DOS programs on more modern hardware or inside a virtual machine. Or you can just use it to run older games.

4. Haiku (Haiku or Hokku)

Haiku takes inspiration from BeOS. BeOS was a graphical operating system developed by Be Inc to run on the BeBox back in 1995. The operating system was stuck for five years before the last update came out in 2000.

BeOS may not have been a household name, but it attracted some users, and some wanted the operating system to live long enough to create their own open source version. The goal is for software written for BeOS to run on Haiku, similar to what ReactOS wants to do on Windows. All things considered, the haiku team may have an easier time of it.

5. Illumos

Oracle is used to support an operating system called Solaris. It was initially closed, but the project was opened in 2008. Oracle discontinued OpenSolaris in 2010 and returned to its own model with Solaris 11 in 2011.

6. Syllable

Syllable is based on AtheOS, an AmigaOS clone that was abandoned at the turn of the century. As for AmigaOS, it is still alive despite being born in the 80s for a line of computers long considered ancient.

Syllable is aimed at home office users with a user-friendly interface and native applications, including a Webkit-based web browser and email client. The thing is, it can only do this on a computer with 32MB of RAM (although at least 64MB is recommended for viewing). The complete installation should take approximately 250 MB of hard drive space.

7. Research operating system AROS

Although Syllable is based on an AmigaOS clone, AROS takes a different approach. It actually puts its binary compatibility with AmigaOS at the API level. This is similar to how ReactOS targets Windows and Haiku targets BeOS.

You might be wondering if AmigaOS is worth all the attention. Did I mention that AmigaOS is still here? It's not free either. Someone out there is still willing to pay for an operating system that most people have never heard of. AROS offers a way to use some AmigaOS programs without having to pay money. Plus, it's open source, which can leave you feeling secure.

8.MenuetOS

That's what MenuetOS is - it's small enough to fit on a single floppy disk. These were flash drives from the 90s and only offered up to 1.44MB of storage. Considering that many Linux distributions struggle with the 700MB CD, booting from a floppy is difficult these days.

MenuetOS is written entirely in 32-bit assembly language and is designed to run with minimal overhead, although it supports up to 32GB of RAM.

9. DexOS

Do all desktop operating systems feel the same? Here's one that takes a different approach. Bringing DexOS to life will feel less like using a computer in keyboard class and more like playing on a mainstream gaming console.

Launching apps in DexOS feels vaguely like inserting a disc into an old Dreamcast. The experience feels more authentic if you actually play the game. And another cool thing? This free OS is also small enough to fit on a floppy disk.

10. Visopsys

Like DexOS, Visopsys is a hobby project of one developer. Install it if you want to see what just one person can create.

The Visual Operating System (admittedly, this name can be applied to any OS with a desktop environment) has been in development since 1997. It is not based on any pre-existing OS. This does not mean that the project does not use existing code. Here you will find common GNU tools and icons that may be familiar to KDE Plasma users.

Will you use any of these free operating systems?

Most of them are not. Haiku developers do not work full time. Developer Visopsys is clearly saying that their OS is not as capable as Linux or, perhaps a fairer comparison, Syllable. DexOS is more of an experiment than anything else.

However, there are many people who prefer FreeBSD over Linux. illumos may not be well known, even among FOSS enthusiasts, but it has its uses. And didn't I mention using FreeDOS to play all the old DOS games?

Are there systems on this list that you would like to use? Do you know of another unknown free operating system that is not on this list? Let us know about it in the comments!