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Anoperating systemis the essential software that’s needed to run your gear’s suite of software.
With that said, there are manyalternative operating systemsavailable in 2025.
These encompass everything from ArcaOS, Haiku, FreeDOS, Visopsys, and more.
What is an operating system?
Put simply, an operating system is software that runs everything on your box.
Without an operating system, your gear cannot function.
It was Apple’s Macintosh computers that commercialized (and popularized) a graphical user interface (GUI).
Additionally,Windows 11can be purchased for use in computers that you might build from scratch.
In contrast, Apple’s macOS can only be found in its line ofMacBook laptops and Mac desktop computers.
Google’s ChromeOS is a cloud-based operating system that’s designed to be as lightweight as possible.
What do operating systems do?
Additionally, operating systems are vulnerable to computer viruses and malware attacks which can corrupt your entire machine.
Fortunately, you might stay safe by utilizing one of thebest VPNsand thebest antivirus software.
Some operating systems, like Windows 11, update frequently and can introduce problems that spoil the user experience.
There are situations where security updates can be halted as patches are rolled out.
We have seen this withWindows 11 24H2(and previous iterations).
It’s a similar story with iterations of macOS, as software features are routinely added and subtracted.
Operating systems may also need to update frequently, which can disrupt your workflow or gaming experience.
It’s important to stay on top of updates, but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating.
