I grew up using a Windows PC, became intimately familiar with macOS throughout my adolescence, and discovered Linux in my post-secondary education. Being able to use all 3 is a nice luxury, and as a result, switching operating systems is something I've grown accustomed to. I recently made the jump to using Linux full-time on my main workstation, and while it's been mostly smooth sailing, I recently rediscovered my MacBook Air as a medium to get out of the house to get some work done. Using it has made me realize that, in all honesty, (almost) everything I want out of an OS is present on macOS.

Windows isn't getting better

Each passing update gets harder to use

I've used every version of Windows in some capacity since Windows 98, and from my experience, Windows 11 isn't the worst experience, but it's certainly high on that list. The OOBE continues to be downgraded, the constant funneling into account-based services, and the integrations with AI that couldn't be less useful are just a few of my gripes. Once you strip away the bloat, it's a usable OS, but each passing update adds more things that create additional friction.

Switching to Linux was the next logical move

Same hardware, more control, slightly less compatbility

I learned the trappings of Linux in my college education, and I'm glad I did. Besides being a great skill to have as a tech enthusiast, it's also allowed me to give it a real shot as my primary OS.

Distro aside for a moment, moving to Linux was the next logical move purely because downgrading to earlier, more usable versions of Windows just isn't an option. Linux gives much more flexibility, transparency, and privacy, but lacks the compatibility with some of the applications I need. I've moved to running those specific edge cases in a VM, and that's worked OK, but I wish I had the ability to run them on bare metal. Linux is also really performant; compared to the Windows kernel, there's almost no fat on these bones. Everything runs extremely well and feels very light, which is really welcome.

I recently decided to begin working outside my home office again; going to coffee shops and parks allows me to think a bit better and remove distractions. I do have a Windows laptop, but I instead reached for my MacBook Air, and I honestly forgot how much I loved macOS.

Using a Mac removed all the friction

The things I wanted out of a productivity OS were all provided by my Mac

Working on a Mac again made me realize how much I appreciate things that just work. I have my complaints about using a Mac, which I'll get to, but compared to running Windows or Linux on my home machine, the levels of abstraction are actually kind of refreshing.

Sure, I don't get as much freedom as I would on an actual Linux distro, but the Unix-based kernel still feels like home when I need to interface with it. Outside of the terminal though, productivity wise, everything works in terms of compatibility. All my Adobe apps work natively, and despite being an Air model with only 8 GB of RAM, it's very difficult to notice when it goes into swap.

More importantly, it feels like macOS stays out of my way. There's so little friction when I'm trying to move files around, swap between workspaces, and when using keyboard shortcuts. These are things that neither Windows nor Linux really get right. I can hear proponents of both sides already, saying that there are ways to tweak both operating systems to feel more like a Mac, but that's not really the point to me. I can open the lid of my Mac, do my work, and close it, knowing the experience will be exactly the same the next time I go to use it.

The same cannot be said for my Windows laptop. Aside from the standby behavior being incredibly unpredictable, all the same little annoyances exist there, the same as they are on my desktop. Installing Linux is an option, but if I'm constantly using apps that aren't fully compatible natively, I'm either running a VM locally or learning an entirely new workflow on a Linux-native app. Niether option is exactly attractive to me when I'm working outside the house.

It's still not a replacement for my main PC

I need more horsepower

Despite all the benefits of working away from home, I can't really fully replace my home PC with a Mac. The same horsepower I get out of my machine would cost a fortune to buy in Mac-form, either in a Mini or otherwise. My ultimate dream would be a Hackintosh, though those are mostly dead and buried these days.

I also still enjoy the occasional game, and sometimes these games require third-party anticheat, which usually won't work on either Linux nor macOS. This is why I still keep a computer around with Windows installed, despite all my issues with it. My Linux install has been a fantastic change of pace, but I think I still prefer the complete lack of friction that comes with using macOS.

Linux is awesome, but macOS remains my preferred productivity OS

In the end, I don’t think this experience has pushed me toward a single “best” operating system so much as it’s clarified what I value most depending on where and how I’m working. At my desk, Linux gives me the control, performance, and flexibility I want from a machine I’ve invested heavily in. When I’m out of the house and just want to get work done, macOS feels like the path of least resistance—predictable, polished, and largely invisible in the best possible way. Windows, for better or worse, remains the necessary compromise for a handful of workloads that still refuse to play nicely elsewhere.