Linux vs Mac: Which is Better For You?

Shaheer Khan
5 min readDec 30, 2021

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Both Linux and Mac OS are some of the most used operating systems. Each of them is designed for different types of users for example Linux is mostly used in servers, hacking, etc. Mac OS is used for developing, designing, and programming. mostly. In this article, you will get a clear view that which is better in the case of Linux vs Mac.

Introduction

Now that you’re familiar with the two operating systems, let’s get into the motivations behind them. Linux is a Unix-based operating system. It was originally developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as an open-source operating system for personal computers and microprocessors.

It is loosely based on the BSD operating system (which was developed by its creator, Dennis Ritchie) but has some additional features not present in BSD, such as supporting multiple processor architectures and networking protocols other than TCP/IP.

In contrast to Mac OS X, Linux has fully distributed software with no centralized control or management. On the other hand, Mac OS X is a commercial operating system developed by Apple Inc., originally named NeXTStep, and released in 1997.

It competed with Microsoft Windows 2000 and Unix-like systems like Linux under the x86 family of processors. In 1998, Apple bought NeXT and renamed it, Mac OS X, to avoid confusion with NeXTSTEP.

Because of these similarities between Mac OS X and Unix/Linux systems, they are often referred to as “Unix” or “Linux”. When they are referred to as “Mac OS”, they are referred to as “Mac OS X”.

The name “Mac” came from AT&T slang for Macintosh computer; it was disliked because it sounded too similar to its rival brand: Intel’s AT&T brand used for personal computers (similarly called ‘Apple’).

The name was changed in early 1999 to avoid confusion with NeXT’s trademarked name for its computer line (itself inconsistent with Apple). The name ‘Mac’ became permanent when Steve Jobs returned from an extended period of leave after stepping down as CEO of Apple Computer in 1997.

Linux vs Mac OS

In a recent study, Mac OS and Linux users were asked to name their favorite operating system. The results were astounding.

Mac OS had the highest score with 88% of the participants, followed by Linux with a score of 56%. The difference between the two is so great that people who don’t know each other or work in similar fields would likely never even be aware of the existence of another operating system.

Mac OS is Microsoft Windows with some additional features to make it more user-friendly for Mac users.

Linux is Debian Linux running on various hardware such as PCs and servers. Debian is free software and open source project which started as a non-profit organization and has been incorporated into a commercial company called Red Hat which provides support services and commercial products for Debian Linux distribution.

Linux vs Mac OS: What’s the Difference?

Mac OS’s Mac OS X and Linux’s Linux are two different operating systems that were developed by different groups of people.

They serve the same purpose at the end of the day, but they each have their features. Mac OS X is designed for ease of use, and a user can use it depending on what type of user they are.

Linux runs on any PC and can be used by anyone who has administrative privileges. Some people may want to run Linux as a secondary operating system to save money on their electricity bills, while others may prefer it because the operating system is free.

Each operating system has its strengths and weaknesses. You need to pick one that will suit your needs best. For example, if you want a free version with minimal restrictions, then choose Ubuntu which is based on Ubuntu Linux. If you’re after a complete open source desktop with robust security features and fast updates, then you should look into Fedora or Debian-based distributions such as Arch Linux or Elementary OS.

The Advantages of Linux Operating System

While it is true that both Mac and Linux are powerful, easy-to-use operating systems, which can be excellent for some tasks compared to other operating systems like Windows. But that doesn’t mean they are equally good for all uses. First, there is the fact that Linux is free, whereas Mac OS is not free.

Linux is the most popular operating system in the world, with a user base that is already huge. It is also one of the most stable and most secure operating systems in existence.

Mac OS has always been a more advanced operating system than Windows. And it’s easier to use. However, its lack of features may not be an advantage for many people who are looking for something different from Windows or Mac OS.

Which Operating System is better?

The truth is that both Linux and Mac OS are some of the most used operating systems on the planet. The differences between them are minor, yet significant.

Mac OS, which has existed for close to three decades now, is based on Unix. Unix is an operating system derived from AT&T’s version of UNIX. The Apple Macintosh was initially developed by Steve Jobs, who started as an employee of AT&T’s Bell Labs — a research facility in Murray Hill, New Jersey.

Unix was originally developed in 1969 by Ken Thompson at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs.

It changed drastically after being developed in the 1970s and 1980s by Ken Thompson and Donald Davies at their respective companies — UNIX Inc., Digital Research, and AT&T Labs — and became popularized when it appeared in commercial products such as Unix System V Release 3 (used for Unix) and Linux (which also uses Unix as its base under different names).

Both Mac OS X and Linux were created from the ground up by small teams of developers who did not receive any outside funding or assistance.

Read more about Linux vs macOS here.

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Shaheer Khan
Shaheer Khan

Written by Shaheer Khan

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