This is an explanation of three major computer operating systems in the world namely Windows, MacOS and GNU/Linux. All of the term free software below refers to freedom and not price (the user is unlimited) where proprietary software term refers to owned by the developer not the user (the user is fully limited).

What is Windows?

Microsoft Windows is proprietary software computer operating system made by United States based company Microsoft and mass produced since 1985 in cooperation with almost all PC and laptop manufacturers. It is found in almost all brands of hardware including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and more.  User’s method to obtain Windows is officially either by (mostly) buying a machine bundled with it or by buying the software package then install it later to a machine. This OS is mostly made for x86 computer architecture users. By security, this OS is highly known as the most insecure and proved to be malicious software by its own users. Windows is not free software.

What is MacOS?

Apple macOS (formerly Mac OS, Mac OS X, OS X) is proprietary software computer operating system made by United States based company Apple and mass produced since 1984 by itself under a single brand named Macintosh (with variations namely MacBook, iMac, iPhone, iPad). No MacOS available or sold by brands other than Apple Computers. User’s method to obtain MacOS is only to buy a Macintosh from Apple. This OS is exclusively or only made for Macintosh computers regardless the architecture. By security, this OS is proven to be malicious software by its own community. MacOS is not free software.

What is GNU/Linux?

GNU/Linux (pronounced gnu slash linux) is a free software computer operating system made by combination of GNU OS by GNU Project and Linux Kernel by Linux Project since 1993. It is not mass produced since its inception to mid 2010 until several established as well as new companies started to manufacture and sell GNU/Linux computers worldwide by various brands where Lenovo and Dell as the former while Purism and System76 as the latter followed by other manufacturers like Pine64 later. User’s method to obtain GNU/Linux is varied, including by buying bundled computers (not widely known in the past), as well as by downloading the OS copy from the internet, asking copy from a friend, and more. Different to either Windows or MacOS, the users can obtain it with another names for example Ubuntu, Red Hat, and openSUSE which each one is an individual OS. GNU/Linux is not proprietary software.