Windows has stumbled over the years, but the consensus is that Windows 10 is a success.

It supports the most hardware and software of any OS. Windows powers more than 1.4 billion PCs, making it by far the most popular desktop operating system. And well beyond the scope of this article are some bizarre and obscure operating systems that most people have never heard of. We'll leave IBM i, Suse Linux, server OSes, and the rest to the PCMag Business team. In this list of the best operating systems, we only include consumer operating systems. There's no running macOS outside of an actual Mac computer, though, unless you're comfortable jumping through the technical hoops required to create a Hackintosh (Opens in a new window). You can also create a Linux partition on a Windows PC and boot to that when the need arises. For example, you can run Windows on a Mac inside a virtual machine or dual-boot using Boot Camp (if you have an Intel-based Mac). Windows and macOS are generally the most powerful in terms of hardware and software selection as well as interface conveniences and utilities, while Chrome OS is more lightweight and runs on inexpensive hardware.īut why run just one operating system? What if you need to run software that's only compatible with a particular operating system (usually Windows or macOS)? Multiboot setups and virtualization software can let you run more than one operating system on your computer. Four come from commercial tech giants, while one, the Linux-based Ubuntu, is a free and open-source option. That's not a huge number, but these operating systems differ distinctly in strengths and weaknesses. The five OSes included here are your most viable options. You don’t have a great many choices when it comes to your computer's operating system, but the choice that you make can have wide-ranging consequences. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)

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