The unending battle between operating systems has become common among the community of techies. The humor in the macOS vs. Linux debate is that macOS is believed to be an intuitive operating system built for the rich, while Linux is considered to be developed for professionals with outstanding skills.Â
However, if we add Windows in this debate, patience as an attribute would also become a highlight. After all, no operating system is perfect. The pros and cons in both macOS and Linux come at a trade-off.
This article highlights the key differences between the two and simultaneously reveals some lesser-known facts.
Let’s get started.
#1. OS Source
Linux is an open-source operating system, meaning anyone can download it, make the changes as per the requirement, and distribute.
macOS, on the other hand, is not an open-source operating system, and you have to buy it to use it. Moreover, no changes can be made in the content on macOS without paying the due charges, unlike Linux.
#2. Performance Stability
The good thing is that both the operating systems are declared winners. They both are efficient performers in day-to-day handling tasks. macOS encapsulates robust update protocols, which makes it a stable performer.
The stability of Linux, on the other hand, depends on the involved distros. The distributions perform differently on diverse machines, and therefore, the quality of the device here matters.
#3. Storage Drives
macOS has a storage application with all the files being displayed with the amount of space they take. If you feel that your computer is running slow, cache and junk files can be the reason.
You may easily check it out by navigating to About This Mac from the Apple menu. On the Linux operating system, on the other hand, everything is represented using a file.
This also includes hardware like the drives for storage, which are shown as /dev. Typically, all files representing the storage devices start with hd or sd, followed by a unique letter. For example, a drive might be named /dev/sda.
#4. Supported Hardware
It is obvious that macOS works on hardware developed by Apple. The goal is to maintain a stable integration between the hardware and the software components. This is why macOS has stable performance and advanced hardware-software functionality.
The Linux operating system, however, offers limitless driver support.
#5. Target Audience
macOS is for someone who has a fat budget to invest in a high-end operating system. It’s not just a computer or an operating system that you use, but an experience you gain. macOS is excellent for amateurs as well as professionals with cool graphics and high-end sound quality.
Linux is available for all different types; whether you are a beginner or a professional, the operating system has something for you. It, however, depends on the kind of distribution you initially start working with. It is good to learn about the distributions beforehand to understand which distro supports beginners and which distro supports professional Linux users.
#6. Privacy Concerns
When it comes to privacy and security, these two aspects should be given utmost importance while choosing the right operating system. It is not easier to breach privacy or access a Linux system that is properly secured. The possibility of the breach, however, depends on the configuration of the computer.
Since Apple is the developer, it keeps a note of the activity to prevent access to the system. Therefore, it is impossible to gain access to a macOS device.
#7. Malware Threats
Malware cannot access macOS because the Apple team behind this operating system is constantly keeping a watch on breaches and creating the needed firewalls to prevent them.
The capability of Linux systems, however, does not guarantee safety from malware and attacks.
#8. Text/ Media Edits
If you are accustomed to utilizing reputed business apps like office suites, video editing apps, and other high-end media editing applications, macOS is the operating system that you should choose because of the high-end UI UX it supports.
It is a great performer and allows working with text editors or PDFs seamlessly.
The Linux operating system, on the other hand, might not offer you a similar experience, but nonetheless, it has many alternatives for you to choose from.
For example, LibreOffice is a decent version of Office Suite, while Gimp is a great replacement for Photoshop. If you work extensively with multiple documents, you can easily merge PDF in Linux via command line or using third-party apps.
#9. Customization Capabilities
For macOS, Apple creates the operating system in a set, pre-defined manner. This means there are no customizations that can be made for individual users. You cannot calibrate the OS to function according to your requirements; however, mending your requirements as per the macOS will give you the desired results and performance.
Linux, on the other hand, can grant all your wishes as an operating system. You can customize it however you want and make it interesting.
#10. Updates, Upgrades, and Installations
If we talk about managing updates, macOS does the job perfectly. Thanks to the app store, software updates are as simple as tapping a button on your device. Therefore, no technical knowledge is needed to execute macOS updates.
Linux, meanwhile, might require you to be technically sound. Since many updates require command-line knowledge to run the updates via terminal, coding and updating become a must-have skill for Linux users.