Hola guys! Today’s topic is: We will compare the OS(s) Microsoft Windows 11 and Ubuntu 21.10 Amish Indri (Linux distro.). Compare the two Operating Systems side-by-side to see which OS is better at delivering different criteria such as performance, compatibility, resource usage, and user experiences (UI appearance).
Microsoft’s Windows 11 was released publicly on 5th October, and Ubuntu was released on 14th October. What does a new OS mean …?” There are always new problems and mistakes. Let’s not forget about the issues that may arise later. Take a look at these OS(s). The one most used worldwide and the one most commonly used by coders, security experts, or simply Linux enthusiasts. These are the criteria that will compare and differentiate these Operating Systems.
1. User Interface Experience (UX).
2. Performance (Observable differences)
3. Device compatibility
4. Security
We are now ready to go.
1. Comparison of User Interface Experience
Windows 11 has a slightly different, minimalistic, and fresher look than Windows 10. In the App menu, you will see a blurry background. This gives you a new feeling with new corners.
Both Ubuntu 21.10 (and Windows 11) share similarities. They both have the same design with rounded corners and blurred backgrounds. Microsoft has now made the Taskbar lock at the bottom (which is unsatisfying). The Start menu appears alongside pinned apps on Taskbar. However, Ubuntu has its default side taskbar (dock) in the new 21.10 codenamed “Impish Indri” that can be customized to suit your needs.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 introduced new icons to their file explorer. It also introduced the Snap feature, which allows you to arrange all of your open windows in 6 different layout forms. This feature can also be used in Ubuntu with other third-party apps, making it highly customizable.
Live Tiles have been replaced by widgets (with separate panels), keeping things simple and user-friendly, small, but a significant change.
These are the main changes in Windows 11 & Ubuntu 21.10 that made them both as clean and straightforward as possible.
2. Performance (Observable differences)
Here comes a big difference.
Neowin recently performed a test of performance comparing the two Operating Systems using a similar test system of:
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- 16GB RAM
- GeForce RTX3090
Ubuntu 21.10 (Linux OS) was found to perform around 50% better when compared to other workstations. However, Windows 11 (Microsoft) did a great job when it came to working with GPU-based applications.
Finally, the all-over performance test results (which included CPU and GPU usage) showed that Ubuntu was the winner with a performance rate of around 11% and 10%, respectively, over Windows 10. This means that Microsoft must work on Windows 11 to solve this problem.
3. Compatibility with Devices
Developers and companies must make their programs accessible to a broad audience. This is what every business wants.
Talking about Operating Systems, if the system requirements are minimal, it will be used by more people. Windows 11 tried its best to receive positive responses from the community. The most popular application is now more responsive than any previous Windows version. There was a slight improvement in productivity, online meetings, and gaming. This is a positive aspect.
Microsoft’s official record outlines the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.
- 1 GHz processor or faster with two or more cores (you may also check the list of approved CPUs).
- Minimum RAM should be 4GB.
- 64 GB or larger storage device(disk space)
- Secure Boot and UEFI capable System Firmware
- Display (screen resolution): 720×1080
- The Graphics card should be compatible with DirectX 12 and, later, with the WDDM 2.0 driver.
- TPM(Trusted platform module) v2.0
Ubuntu 20.10 is a stable operating system installed on any computer system. Regular updates are available for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions result in a fluently performing Linux environment. This is all thanks to the significant contributors’ community.
These are the minimum requirements to run Ubuntu 21.10 on a desktop environment:
- 2 GHz dual-core processor
- The minimum recommended RAM size is 4GB.
- 25 GB storage device (disk space ….hard disk, USB stick, or memory card)
- Display(Screen resolution) – 1024×768 (VGA)
Graphics recommended –
- For physical installations, 4096 MiB RAM (system storage) is required.
- Virtualized installs require 2048 MiB RAM (system memory).
- 3D Acceleration Capable Card with at least 248 MB
4. Security
Windows 11 includes integrated defender antivirus, which will still be a concern for Windows 11 users. However, you can also install any other good antivirus software to provide additional protection. And by the way, who wants his private information being accessed by an intruder?
Ubuntu and other Linux distributions are free from malware, viruses, or ransomware. Ubuntu is open-source, with a small user base around the globe, making it less susceptible to hackers/attackers trying to gain access to your Linux device.
Yet, there is one thing that I have learned in my life. And it should be something you also know is that no system is fully secure.