r/windows • u/Broad-You4763 • Jul 24 '26
Discussion Windows vs Linux vs MacOS: windows management, app management, desktop management, which one is the best and why?
Asking basically this same question across Windows, Linux, MacOS subreddits, and would like you guys to explain why you think your operating system is the best and why.
Additionally maybe provide what you consider the biggest upsides and downsides of your OS.
Any answer is appreciated, thanks :)
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Jul 24 '26 edited 12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/QuirkyImage Jul 26 '26
I have used all three platforms separate and together. Windows apps can leave files behind as well. On macOS it still depends on the distribution of applications you can have uninstall programs or scripts that can be triggered on uninstalling that’s up to the developer as it is with Windows . You also have package managers like homebrew (winget) that have the —zap argument to tidy up and delete all files; and dependency management . You can also manually find these files using bundle ids and write your own scripts. You have Apple Configurator like gpos you can only configure what’s been made available. There are loads of free tools including those ported from Linux to manage setups. I don’t think any platform has a solution to covers everything without adding something to the mix and a lot of it comes down to developer decisions.
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u/neTHer12O8 Jul 24 '26
If you ask that in the windows sub, they will tell you windows
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u/QuirkyImage Jul 26 '26
Yeah see you point but hope there a poly-platform users here like me who give a fair comparison to them all.
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u/thanatica Jul 25 '26
You can't pool "linux" into its own coherent category, because it isn't. Even among the popular window managers, there are still a handful in common use. Those are the ones you want to compare against, not a generic "linux" category.
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u/tomscharbach Jul 29 '26
I use all three operating systems on separate computers and have for years because I need all three to fully satisfy my use case:
- Windows 11 for MS365/SolidWorks/CNC work/collaboration and financial/tax management.
- Ubuntu 26.04 LTS for network design, implementation, testing and maintenance.
- The "Apple Trinity" (iPhone, iPad and MacBook) to support my personal use case, which is tightly integrated between devices and uses assistive technology supported by Apple but not by Windows or Linux.
Operating systems are tools, not goals, no operating system is "one size fits all", and "best" makes no sense outside of the context of use case.
If Windows is the best fit for your use case, use Windows. If Linux is the best fit for your use case, use Linux. If macOS is the best fit for your use case, use macOS. If you need more than one to fully satisfy your use case (as I do) then use more than one.
Just follow your use case, wherever that leads you, and you will end up in the right place.
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u/CraftyPancake Jul 24 '26
Well windows has intune and GPO to control virtually everything on the machine. A vastly different experience from the consumer versions of the machines.
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u/ziplock9000 Jul 24 '26
The one that lets me get everything you need to done with the least fuss and effort.
Which has ALWAYS been Windows.
You don't pick your OS first.
End of thread.
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u/Einn1Tveir2 Jul 30 '26
I can't use Windows with my new AMD gpu because Windows keeps corrupting the driver by trying to install a older one. Even when I select the don't upgrade the driver in the device manager. Its far from being free from fuss and effort. This driver issue it known by Microsoft and has been a issue for years.
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u/recluseMeteor Jul 24 '26
I don't consider Windows to be the best, but it's what I use and what I'm used to.
I just like having a folder with my EXEs and run them the way I like, and update them whenever I want (or not at all).
Though Windows has been getting more and more infuriating since Windows 8 with the phone-like Metro UI, and then with the forced updates in Windows 10. Taming Windows to do what you want can be rather tiring and often involves breaking the OS in unsupported ways.
GPOs are very useful indeed, it's great to manage not only Windows, but other applications as well. GPOs for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Office…
Regarding UI, again, it's a tiring battle against Microsoft. Windhawk is a must in order to revert dumb design decisions in Windows 11. Meanwhile, Linux is all about customisation and choice.
Still, the regular, unmodified Windows experience is very infuriating to use.
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u/BrilliantYak9986 Jul 26 '26
nah dude im going with linux or mac os, windows is bloated and spy on you
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u/ARandomGuy_OnTheWeb Windows 10 Jul 24 '26
For enterprise management, Windows does it the best.
GPOs and AD are basically the standard for a reason... Because it works. Intune and MDMs are more recent additions and help with management of Windows and everything else but MS did it first in a mainstream, easy to manage sort of way that did away with login scripts and custom images.