My 5 favorite open source operating systems that aren't Linux:

zdnet.com/article/best-linux-alternatives-windows-2026-not-mint/

Credibility A−

18h

My top 5 Linux alternatives to Windows (none of them are Mint) - ZDNET: As a longtime Linux user, I'd recommend starting here if you're ready to leave ...

xda-developers.com/this-obscure-fedora-distro-eliminates-the-one-problem-that-makes-people-abandon-linux-entirely/

Oct 17

This obscure Fedora distro eliminates the one problem that makes people abandon Linux entirely

xda-developers.com/4-reasons-why-i-paid-for-windows-11-pro-and-why-ill-never-switch-to-linux/

Oct 14

4 reasons why I paid for Windows 11 Pro and why I'll never switch to Linux: It's not you, Penguin, it's the industry around you

Key FactsWhy One Author Stays With Windows 11 Pro

2 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com

According to the author, Linux still lacks RTX HDR, RTX Video Super Resolution, and DLDSR for his Nvidia GPU.

Windows Sandbox lets him quickly examine GitHub scripts and suspicious utilities in an isolated Windows environment.

The author says Windows Hello links biometric authentication with Credential Manager and system-wide stored credentials.

According to the author, kernel-level anti-cheat effectively excludes Linux from Fortnite, Valorant, Call of Duty, and PUBG.

Windows Sandbox is one feature on Windows 11 Pro that I'll always mention whenever anyone asks me to justify paying for an operating system, because quite frankly, on more than one occasion, the feature alone has paid me back tenfold simply thanks to how useful it is.
— Abhinav, the article's author, explaining why Windows 11 Pro is worth it and how Sandbox pays off.

2 similar articles

zdnet.com/tech/most-secure-linux-distros/

A−

Oct 05

My 5 favorite Linux distros for security - and how they protect your privacy - ZDNET

xda-developers.com/four-operating-systems-that-owe-nothing-to-windows-linux-or-unix/

Sep 07

4 operating systems that owe nothing to Windows, Linux, or Unix: These operating systems are incredibly unique and pull as little as possible from the big ...

dlvr.it Sep 03

Haiku OS rises / Beta 6 sails open web / Virtual winds fly fast: A real alternative to running some kind of FOSS Unix clone

theregister.com/os-platforms/2026/09/03/haiku-os-rises-/-beta-6-sails-open-web-/-virtual-winds-fly-fast/5294184

xda-developers.com/four-operating-systems-that-owe-nothing-to-windows-linux-or-unix/

Aug 30

4 operating systems that owe nothing to Windows, Linux, or Unix: These operating systems are incredibly unique and pull as little as possible from the big ...

zdnet.com/article/the-5-best-linux-alternatives-to-windows-in-2026-that-arent-mint/

A−

Aug 27

The 5 best Linux alternatives to Windows in 2026 (that aren't Mint): Looking to leave Windows? I've used Linux for years and there's never better a better time ...

xda-developers.com/four-operating-systems-that-owe-nothing-to-windows-linux-or-unix/

Aug 12

4 operating systems that owe nothing to Windows, Linux, or Unix: These operating systems are incredibly unique and pull as little as possible from the big ...

Key FactsFour operating systems with independent roots

Aug 9, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com

Haiku emerged from volunteers’ continued development of BeOS, uses a NewOS kernel, and runs on conventional x86 hardware in current versions.

The three surviving Amiga branches are AROS, MorphOS, and AmigaOS: AROS is open source and runs on x86, MorphOS was last updated in May 2026, and AmigaOS 4.1 is commercially available for PowerPC.

KolibriOS, forked from MenuetOS in 2004, is an open-source 32-bit variant whose graphical desktop, multitasking, TCP/IP stack, and applications fit within 1.44MB.

TempleOS is an unnetworked x86-64 system without separation between kernel and user code or memory protection; Terry A. Davis developed it alone in HolyC and said that religion partly influenced its design decisions.

xda-developers.com/four-operating-systems-that-owe-nothing-to-windows-linux-or-unix/

Aug 09

4 operating systems that owe nothing to Windows, Linux, or Unix: These operating systems are incredibly unique and pull as little as possible from the big ...

zdnet.com/article/my-favorite-zorin-os-settings-and-why-youll-love-them-too/

A−

May 28

My favorite Zorin OS settings and why you'll love them too: Like most Linux distributions, Zorin OS offers a lot, especially in terms of customization ...

1 similar article

xda-developers.com/operating-systems-i-use-with-vms-not-pcs/

Sep 10 25

5 operating systems I love testing in a VM, but would never install on my PC: I'd rather not use a bare-metal setup for these quirky operating systems

xda-developers.com/alternative-operating-systems-are-fun-but-theyre-not-for-the-average-user/

Sep 03 25

Alternative operating systems like Haiku OS and SerenityOS are fun, but they're not for average users