Linux is an amazing Operating System, one that I believe doesn’t get enough credit. It is always overshadowed by either Windows or Mac. But it is amazing, and I think more people should use it. In this essay, I will cover its benefits, and rebuke its detractors arguments against it.
Benefit 1: Easy to do high-powered stuff Linux, because of the way it revolves around the terminal, makes it more easier for the normal person to do very low computational level, but high technical skill actions, giving the typical user much more control. It does this by, primarily, avoiding the use of a control or command panel, such as other OSes, and instead by encouraging, through FAQs, installation guides, and forums, users to simply go into the terminal, and type stuff in. Over time, the user will understand how the terminal works, giving them much more control over their own computer, over their own property, than Windows.
Benefit 2: Low resources consumption Most other Operating Systems, especially Windows, use exorbitant resources while idling in the background, in order to do their normal tasks. Meanwhile, Linux uses near 0 resources whatsoever. This allows the end user to run much more applications on the same hardware as a more resource intensive OS, and also allows the end user to run their OS on much lower end hardware too.
Benefit 3: More options While in Windows and Mac, you only have very limited versions of the OS to choose from, with Mac basically just having one type, and Windows forcibly updating each time, and all the new versions being reskinned touch ups of the previous edition. Meanwhile, on Linux, there a bazillion different versions to choose from. We got EndeavourOS, arch, Garuda, Kali, Gentoo, Mint, Ubuntu, RedHat, Manjaro, and many more! All of them, while sharing the same underlying aspects, are very different from each other, in numerous ways. They have different Desktop Environments, welcome menus, and package managers! These options are one of the things that, in my humble opinion, make Linux so great.
Benefit 4: More privacy Linux, unlike Mac and Windows, doesn’t collect a bunch of personal details about you. Mac and Windows, and ESPECIALLY Windows, go out of their way to collect as much telemetry as they can about what you are doing. What windows you are looking at, for how long, etc. All for the purpose of showing you adds. This is not the case with Linux, which values your privacy, and does not do such rude activities.
Now, those are all valid points, however, people who believe that competing Operating Systems are better, also have points about Linux, which are negative, which I believe are required to be refuted before proclaiming Linux as the best Operating System.
Problem 1: Nothing will run on Linux This is a common misconception about Linux. Due to a vast majority of all software being designed for Windows, a lot of software does not work on Linux. And, while this is true for some software, such as many CAD tools and image editors (ex. Photoshop), these can be ran through a virtual machine the majority of the time (however, I have had problems running inside of a virtual machine too). Many software, including the majority of video games, can simply be ran through a runner such as Wine or Proton, which do all the heavy lifting for the user.
Problem 2: Everyone needs to code on Linux A common Linux misconception that has been lobbied against me when I mention Linux, is that, in order to use Linux, you must code to get it to work. This is pretty false, unless you count using the terminal as programming. Using the terminal is the only real coding you need to do, and for the most part, using the terminal is almost exactly the same as using, say, a control panel, except you must type in what you want to do instead of clicking a button.
In conclusion, Linux is clearly better. There are 4 benefits, and 2 side effects, both of which are either easily remedied, or are simply a minor thorn in the side.