I’m always amused when YouTubers rate operating systems using tier lists: A, B, C, D, E. Their top pick lands in the A category, while the least favorite gets banished to E. It’s entertaining, but also a bit absurd. As of 2025, I don’t believe any operating system deserves an A or B. The best we have, in my judgment, barely reach a C.
Over the years, I’ve worked extensively with Linux and macOS. Many of the machines I’ve bought came preloaded with Windows, so I’ve had plenty of exposure to Microsoft’s flagship OS. My ASUS Zephyrus laptop, for example, includes a Windows 10 Pro license, and I’ve used it enough to understand its strengths.
My Current Setup
Today, I use three computers regularly:
- Mac Studio M4 Max – for graphics, programming, and audio production.
- ASUS Zephyrus (W11 Pro) – for running AI software that requires NVIDIA hardware.
- Dell Precision (GhostBSD) – for programming and web design.
Except for the Mac, I’m free to install whatever OS I want. After years of experimentation and disappointment, I’ve settled into this trio (see illustration above). Each system has its strengths, but none of them rise above the C tier. CachyOS runs beautifully on the Zephyrus, now. But there were stretches when it didn’t, and I had to fall back on Ubuntu, Manjaro, or Fedora. When CachyOS works, it’s my top Linux pick.
Disclaimer: Since writing this blog post, I experienced serious issues and because of that, do run Windows 11 Pro on my laptop. As long as W11 performs without issues, it will stay.
So Why Not Windows?
Let me be clear: Windows 11 Pro is a top-tier operating system. It offers excellent battery life, remembers external monitor tweaks, and handles display configurations better than Linux distros. From a technical standpoint, it’s arguably the most polished OS available today.
But I don’t use it.
Why? Advertising, bloat, and aggressive telemetry. I want my CPU working 99% for me, not for Microsoft. I don’t want to spend time uninstalling apps that reappear like a Ringelspiel. I don’t want to dig through menus to disable features I never asked for. And I certainly don’t want my system reporting back to headquarters without my consent.
GhostBSD: The Quiet Contender
Right now, GhostBSD is my favorite OS. It’s simple, fast, and perfect for my Dell workstation. Since I don’t need audio on that machine (thanks to the Mac), GhostBSD fits like a glove. I’ve run countless Linux flavors over the years, but lately, newer kernels have struggled with my hardware. That’s one reason I bought the Mac Studio, and I’m glad I did.
macOS isn’t perfect either. But compared to Windows, the difference is night and day. All operating systems have room for improvement, and I’m often puzzled by how much poorly conceived software makes it to the desktop.
Just last night, I was working in GhostBSD XFCE and opened Mousepad to tweak a theme. I enabled “highlight current line,” only to find the text and background were both white, completely unreadable. I spent half an hour crafting Mickey, a new Mousepad theme to fix it. These kinds of quirks aren’t unique to GhostBSD. Windows has its own share of baffling decisions. Who looked at all that bundled bloat and thought, “Yes, this will help our users”?
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 Pro, when properly configured (shoutout to Chris Titus and Rufus), performs as well or better than most Linux setups. But it’s crippled by questionable marketing decisions and a user experience that feels increasingly corporate.