VMware Virtualization: What It Is and How It Works

Since the advent of the first neural networks, it was believed that they would only work with text. However, progress does not stand still, and today neural networks not only generate text but also work seamlessly with photos, videos, and graphics. Yet, this is not the limit of artificial intelligence capabilities. One such capability is creating presentations. Previously, users had to manually create presentations using various office programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, OpenOffice Impress, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, and others. But with the development of AI, users now only need to compose a simple text query specifying the topic and parameters for the future presentation, or use one of the ready-made templates for quickly generating complete presentations. Today we will review MagicSlides (GPT for Slides), Plus AI, Gamma, SlidesGo, SendSteps, and Pitch. Basic Features of AI Presentation Generators Each of the AI presentation software reviewed in this article has basic capabilities, including: Free trial period. Support for multiple languages. Presentation creation using prompts (text queries). A wide variety of templates. Generated presentations are suitable for different tasks, ranging from creating educational materials to business applications. MagicSlides (GPT for Slides) An AI-powered plugin integrated with Google Slides. It allows users to quickly create professional presentations using text, PDFs, and YouTube videos. Before generation, users can set their own parameters, such as color scheme, font, and style. Advantages: Slide creation from various sources, including plain text, web pages, YouTube videos, and PDF files. Integration with Google Slides without the need to install or configure third-party services. Presentations are generated in 2-3 minutes. Disadvantages: Limited usage: the plugin only works with Google Slides and cannot be used independently or with other services. Limited customization: despite basic functions such as color and style selection, MagicSlides offers a limited range of templates and layouts, lacking advanced tools for graphic editing and animation. Generation quality depends heavily on the accuracy of the entered prompt and the detail of the specified topic. Plus AI Plus AI is an AI-powered tool for creating presentations in Google Slides and PowerPoint. Users simply enter a text query in any language, and the service generates a ready-made presentation. Advantages: Simple integration with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint, provided as a ready-to-use plugin. Intuitive interface and easy operation, suitable for both beginners and professionals. Snapshots feature: embeds dynamically updating data snapshots from web pages or other sources into presentations. Disadvantages: Limited trial: the free trial lasts only 7 days and requires a credit card to start. Limited usage: Plus AI works only with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint. Weak customization: limited flexibility for configuring specific templates. Gamma An AI-based platform designed to simplify presentation creation. The developers position the service as an alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint, offering a more flexible and interactive approach to visualizing ideas. It has numerous features and integrations with third-party services. Advantages: Create presentations from various sources, including Word, PDF, PowerPoint files, or URLs. One-Click Polish: automatically improves slide design and formatting to make them professional without manual adjustment. Collaborative features: users can work on presentations in real time, including editing, commenting, and suggesting changes. Multimedia support: allows adding GIFs, videos, and charts. Built-in analytics: tracks views and audience engagement during presentations. Over a dozen integrations with third-party services, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft 365, PowerPoint, Typeform, Google Slides, Google Docs, and Google Drive. Disadvantages: Results depend on the prompt: the best outcomes require highly precise prompts. Export issues to PowerPoint: formatting errors can occur, including overlapping elements and unsupported fonts. SlidesGo A popular platform for creating presentations, offering a wide range of professionally designed templates for Google Slides, Canva, and PowerPoint. It has a simple and clear web interface. Advantages: Extensive template library: more than a thousand templates for any topic, both free and premium. Cloud access: work on presentations across multiple devices. AI Lesson Plan generator: a section specifically for teachers to generate educational content for schools and universities. Disadvantages: Template quality: some templates may appear outdated or poorly designed. SendSteps An AI-powered tool for creating interactive presentations. Simplifies preparation for educational, business, and conference purposes, saving time through automation of content, design, and interactive elements. Advantages: Focus on education: provides many ready-made templates for schools and universities, helping teachers save preparation time. Interactive quizzes enhance student engagement. Support for interactive elements: live polls, quizzes, Q&A sessions, and voting can be included in presentations. Unique content generation: includes a built-in plagiarism checker to ensure content originality. Disadvantages: Technical issues: generation or interactive features may sometimes fail. Limited free version: allows creating only two presentations, in English only, with restrictions on interactive content. Pitch An AI-powered presentation tool positioned as a competitor to Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. It is designed with a focus on simplicity, collaborative work, and stylish design. Advantages: Simple and intuitive interactive editor with full customization: when creating a presentation, users can fully customize the background, color scheme, and fonts. Collaboration features: presentations are stored in a shared workspace, allowing users to manage access and coordinate actions with others. Wide selection of templates: includes a large library of templates for different purposes, including corporate templates. Templates can be easily customized if needed. Cloud synchronization: allows work on presentations from any device. Official mobile apps for iOS and Android: mobile applications simplify working with presentations on the go. Disadvantages: No offline mode: Pitch relies on the cloud, which may limit usability without an internet connection. Dependence on paid subscription: some features, such as interactive elements and exporting presentations to PDF/PPTX formats, are only available in the paid version. Conclusion: Comparison Table We reviewed six AI presentation makers. Each service has its own advantages and disadvantages. The table below clearly shows the features of all the AI tools mentioned in this article:   MagicSlides (GPT for Slides) Plus AI Gamma SlidesGo SendSteps Pitch Free Trial Available but limited: up to 3 presentations per month, max 10 slides each. 7-day trial, then paid subscription required. Available but limited: watermarks and restricted export. Fully free basic plan, premium features like tech support are optional. Fully free plan, creation of only 2 presentations. Fully free plan, unlimited presentations. Pricing Essential: $8/mo, Pro: $16/mo, Premium: $29/mo; 33% discount for annual payment. Basic: $10/mo, Pro: $20/mo, Team: $30/mo, Enterprise: quote-based. Plus: $10/mo, Pro: $20/mo; 25% annual discount. Premium: €1.99/mo; 67% annual discount. Starter: $9.50/mo, Professional: $19.50/mo, Enterprise: quote-based; 31% annual discount. Pro: $20/mo, Business: $80/mo; 15% annual discount. Third-Party Integrations Google Slides, YouTube, Wikipedia Slack, Google Slides, Notion, Confluence, Coda, Canva, Slite, Guru, Gitbook, Gamma, Tome, Fermat, Obsidian Microsoft Word, Tally, Unsplash, Calendly, Microsoft 365, PowerPoint, Airtable, Typeform, Google Slides, Google Docs, Miro, Amplitude, Google Drive, GIPHY, Figma, Power BI Export presentations to Google Slides and PowerPoint None HubSpot, Slack, Notion, Loom, Unsplash External Source Support Supports YouTube videos, PDF, URL (web scraping), Wikipedia No support, only text input or PDF/PPTX/TXT upload No support, only text or PDF No, only text input or Freepik/Pexels media No, only text input or PDF/PPTX/DOCX/TXT upload No, only text input Slide Editing Limited, editing only through Google Slides Full editing in Google Slides/PowerPoint Full built-in editor Full built-in editor Limited editing Full built-in editor Animation & Interactivity Support Yes, through Google Slides (transitions, animations) Yes, automatic animations and transitions Yes, animations, video, interactive elements Limited Yes, polls, quizzes, timers, videos Yes, animations and transitions Export Formats PPTX, PDF, Google Slides PPTX, Google Slides PDF, PowerPoint (limited in free plan) PDF, JPEG, PPTX PDF, PPTX PDF, PPTX

Large language models (LLMs) are gaining popularity today. They are capable of generating not only text but also many other types of content: code, images, video, and audio. Major companies, having large resources, train their models on text data collected by humanity throughout its history. Naturally, the international IT giant Google is no exception: it not only created its own model, Gemini, but also integrated it into its ecosystem of services. This article will discuss the large language model Gemini, its features, and capabilities. Overview of Gemini Gemini is a family of multimodal large language models (LLMs), launched by Google DeepMind in December 2023. Before that, the company used other models: PaLM and LaMDA. As of today, Gemini is one of the most powerful and flexible LLM neural networks, capable of conducting complex dialogues, planning multitasking scenarios, and working with any type of data, from text to video. Capabilities of Gemini The Gemini model not only generates content but also provides many additional functions and broad capabilities for working with different types of content: Multimodality. Through interaction with auxiliary models (Imagen and Veo), Gemini can work with different types of content: text, code, documents, images, audio, and video. Large context window. On paid plans, Gemini can analyze up to 1 million tokens in a single session. This is approximately one hour of video or 30,000 pages of text. AI agents. With some built-in functions, Gemini can autonomously perform chains of actions to search for information in external sources: third-party sites or documents in Google Drive. Integration with services. On paid subscription plans, Gemini integrates with services from the Google ecosystem: Gmail, Docs, Search, and many others. Special API. With the API provided by the Google Cloud platform, Gemini can be integrated into applications developed by third parties. With this set of features, Gemini can be used without limitations. It serves as a universal platform both for end users who need content generation or specific information, and for developers who want to integrate a powerful multimodal AI into their applications. How to Use Gemini AI As part of the Google ecosystem, the Gemini model has many touchpoints with the user. It is available in several places: from search results in the browser to office applications on mobile devices. So technically, you can access Google Gemini AI through various interfaces; all of them are merely “windows” into the central core. Google Search Results You can see Gemini at work in Google search results: the system supplements the list of found sites with additional reference information generated by Gemini. However, this doesn’t always happen. In Google, this feature is called Generative AI Snippet. Gemini analyzes the query, gathers information, and displays a short answer below the search box. Often, such a snippet turns out to be very useful. It provides a brief summary of the topic of interest. Thus, Google search results allow you to obtain information on a certain subject without going to websites. Web Application The most common and professional tool for interacting with Gemini is a dedicated website with a chatbot designed for direct dialogues with the model. This is where all the main Gemini features are available. With such dialogues, you can communicate, create text, write code, and generate images and videos. The Gemini web application has an interface typical of most LLM services: in the center is the chat with the model, at the bottom is a text input field with an option to attach files, and on the left is a list of started dialogues. The interaction algorithm with the model is simple. The user enters a query, and the model generates a response within a few seconds. The type of response can be anything: a story, recipe, poem, reference, code, image, or video. Yes, Gemini can generate images and videos using other models developed by Google: Imagen. A diffusion model for generating photorealistic images from text descriptions (text-to-image), notable for its high level of detail and realism. Veo. An advanced model for generating cinematic videos from text descriptions (text-to-video) or other images (image-to-video), notable for its high level of coherence and dynamics. Thanks to such integration, you can enter text prompts for generating images and videos directly inside the chatbot. Quick and convenient! The web version contains a wide range of tools for professional content generation and information gathering: Deep Research. A specialized mode for conducting in-depth, multi-step research using information from publicly available internet sources. With intelligent agents, Gemini autonomously searches, reads, analyzes, and synthesizes information from hundreds or even thousands of sources, ultimately producing a full report on the topic of interest. Unlike regular search, which provides short answers and links, Deep Research mode generates detailed reports by analyzing and summarizing information. However, one should understand that such deep analysis takes time, on average, from 5 to 15 minutes. Canvas. An interactive workspace that allows users to create, edit, and refine documents, code, and other materials in real time. Essentially, it is a kind of virtual “whiteboard” for more dynamic interaction with the language model. Thus, Canvas is focused on interactive creation, editing, and real-time content collaboration, while Deep Research is aimed at collecting and synthesizing information to provide comprehensive reports.   Deep Research Canvas Purpose In-depth data collection/analysis Interactive creation and editing of content Result Detailed reports Edited documents Mode Autonomous Active Execution time Several minutes Instant Task type Research, reviews, analytics, summaries Writing, coding, prototyping Users can attach various files to their messages, from documents to images. Along with a text prompt, Gemini can analyze media files, describing their content. Thus, the user can create multimodal queries consisting of both text and media simultaneously. This approach increases the accuracy of responses and creates a wider communication channel between humans and AI. In other words, the browser version is the main way to use Gemini. It is also worth briefly discussing how to register for Gemini and what is required for this. In most LLM services, authorization is required. Gemini is no exception. To launch the chatbot, you must sign in with a Google account. The registration process is standard. You need to provide your first and last name, phone number, and desired nickname. After this, you can use not only Gemini but also the rest of the Google ecosystem applications. Mobile App for Android and iOS You can download the official Gemini mobile app from Google Play or App Store. Functionality-wise, it is not very different from the web version available in a browser, but it has deeper features for user interaction and smartphone integration. Moreover, on many Android devices, the app comes pre-installed. Essentially, it is a mobile client that expands cross-platform access to the Gemini language model. The main differences lie in optimization for specific platforms: Content management. On the browser version accessed from a computer, it is much more convenient to work with text, code, tables, graphs, diagrams, images, and video. Conversely, the mobile app interface, designed for touch and gesture interaction, simplifies use on smartphones and tablets, but does not offer the same efficiency as a keyboard and mouse. Voice input and interaction. The mobile app has more advanced voice input and live interaction features (Gemini Live), allowing you to communicate with the model in real time, using the camera to show objects, the microphone for direct conversation, and screen capture to share images. The browser version lacks this functionality. Device-specific features. The Gemini mobile app integrates closely with smartphone functions (clock, alarm, calendar, documents) for more personalized interaction. The browser version exists in a kind of vacuum and knows almost nothing about the user’s computer. Apart from accessing other websites, it has no “window” into the outside world. In rare cases, it can extract data from other Google services such as Gmail and Google Docs. Multitasking convenience. On a large computer screen, it is easier to work with multiple windows, copy and paste information, which enables more efficient interaction with Gemini. On the other hand, the portability of the mobile app makes it possible to use the model “on the go,” simplifying quick queries during travel. Nevertheless, Google regularly releases updates, and Gemini’s functionality is constantly evolving. Therefore, the differences between the web version and the mobile app change over time. Gemini Assistant On many smartphones running the Android operating system, the Gemini model is gradually replacing the classic Google Assistant. That is, when you long-press the central button or say the phrase “Hey Google,” Gemini launches. It accepts the same voice commands but generates more accurate responses with expanded explanations and consolidated information from different apps. This may also include functions for managing messages, photos, alarms, timers, smart home devices, and much more. Some smartphone manufacturers specifically add a quick-access Gemini button directly to the lock screen, allowing you to instantly continue a conversation or ask a question without unlocking the phone. Thus, Gemini is gradually bringing together multiple functions, transforming into a unified smart control center for the phone. And most likely, this trend will only continue. Chrome Browser In new versions of Google’s Chrome browser, the Gemini neural network is built in by default and is available via an icon in the toolbar or by pressing a hotkey. This way, on any page, you can run queries to analyze text, create a summary, or provide brief explanations of the content of the open site. And let’s not forget third-party extensions that allow Gemini to be integrated into the browser, expanding its basic functionality. Google Ecosystem Services On paid plans, Gemini is available in many Google Workflow services. It adds interactivity to working with documents and content: Gmail. Helps draft and edit emails based on bullet points or existing text. Docs. Generates article drafts and edits text and sentence style. Slides. Instantly creates multiple versions of illustrations and graphics based on a description of the required visuals. Drive. Summarizes document contents, extracts key metrics, and generates information cards directly in the service interface. This is only a small list of apps in the Google ecosystem where you can use Gemini. The main point of integrating the model into services is to automate routine tasks and reduce the burden on the user. Plugins and Extensions for Third-Party Applications For third-party applications, separate plugins are available for integration with Gemini. The most common are extensions for IDE editors, messengers, and CRM systems. For example, there is the official Gemini Code Assist extension, which embeds Gemini into integrated development environments such as Visual Studio Code and JetBrains IDEs. It provides autocomplete, code generation and transformation, as well as a built-in chat and links to source documentation. There are also unofficial plugins for CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot, as well as for messengers like Slack and Teams. In these, Gemini helps generate ad copy and support responses, as well as automates workflows through the API. Versions and Pricing Plans for Gemini First, Google offers both free and paid plans for personal use: Free. A basic plan with limited functionality. Suitable for most standard tasks. Free of charge. Access to basic models, Gemini Flash and Gemini Pro. The first is optimized for fast and simple tasks, the second offers more advanced features but with limitations. Limited context window size up to 32,000 tokens (equivalent to about 50 pages of text). No integration with Google Workspace apps (Gmail, Docs, and others). No video generation functions. Data may be used to improve models (this can be disabled in settings, but it is enabled by default). Limited usage quotas for more advanced models and functions. Advanced. An enhanced plan with extended functionality. Suitable for complex tasks requiring deep data analysis. Pricing starts at $20/month. Access to advanced and experimental models without restrictions. Increased context window size up to 1 million tokens (equivalent to about 1,500 pages of text or 30,000 lines of code). Deep integration with Google Workspace apps. Image and video generation functions. Data is not used to improve models. Expanded voice interaction capabilities via Gemini Live, including the ability to show objects through the camera. Priority access to future AI features and updates. Second, there are extended plans for commercial (business) and non-commercial (educational) organizations, offering additional collaboration and management features: Business. Provides extended functionality of the Advanced plan with additional tools for team use. Designed for small and medium businesses. Pricing starts at $24/month. Enterprise. Provides extended functionality of the Business plan with additional tools for AI meeting summaries, improved audio and video quality, data privacy, and security protection. It also has higher limits and increased priority access. Designed for large international companies with high security and scalability requirements. Pricing starts at $36/month. Education. Provides full access to Gemini’s generative capabilities for educational institutions, including many additional features tailored to the learning environment. Custom pricing. Gemini API for Developers Specifically for developers engaged in machine learning and building services based on large language models, Google provides a full API for interacting with Gemini without a graphical user interface. Moreover, Google has separate cloud platforms for more efficient development and testing of applications built with the Gemini API: Google AI Studio. A lightweight and accessible platform designed for developers, students, and researchers who want to quickly experiment with generative models, particularly the Gemini family from Google. The tool is focused on working with large language models (LLMs): it allows you to quickly create and test prompts, adjust model parameters, and get generated content. The platform offers an intuitive interface without requiring deep immersion into machine learning infrastructure. Simply put, it’s a full-fledged sandbox for a quick start in the AI industry. Vertex AI. A comprehensive artificial intelligence and machine learning platform in Google Cloud, designed to simplify the development, deployment, and scaling of models. It combines various tools and services into a unified, consistent workflow. Essentially, it is a unified set of APIs for the entire AI lifecycle, from data preparation to training, evaluation, deployment, and monitoring of models. In short, it is a complete specialized ecosystem. Gemini Gems. A set of features in Google Gemini designed to automate repetitive tasks and fine-tune model behavior. It allows you to create mini-models tailored for specific, narrow tasks: creating recipes, writing code, generating ideas, translating text, assisting with learning, and much more. In addition to manual configuration, there are many ready-made templates. Naturally, Google provides the API as a separate channel for interacting with Gemini. With its help, developers can integrate text generation, code writing, image processing, audio, and video capabilities directly into their applications. Access to the API is possible through the Google Cloud computing platform. Working with Gemini without a graphical user interface is a separate topic beyond the scope of this article. You can find more detailed information about the Gemini API in the official Google Cloud documentation. Nevertheless, it can be said with certainty that working with the Gemini API is no different from working with the API of any other service. For example, here is a simple Python code that performs several text generation requests: from google import genai # client initialization client = genai.Client(api_key="AUTHORIZATION_TOKEN") # one-time text generation response = client.models.generate_content( model="gemini-2.0-flash", contents="Explain in simple words how generative AI works", ) print(response.text) # step-by-step text generation for chunk in client.models.stream_generate_content( model="gemini-2.0-pro", contents="Write a poem about spring", ): print(chunk.text, end="", flush=True) At the same time, Google provides numerous reference materials to help you master cloud-based AI generation: Documentation. Official reference for all possible capabilities and functions of the Gemini API. GitHub Examples. Numerous examples of using the Gemini API in Go, JavaScript, Python, and Java. GitHub Cookbook. Practical materials explaining how to use the Gemini API with ready-made script examples. Thus, Gemini offers developers special conditions and tools for integrating the model into the logic of other applications. This is not surprising, since Google has one of the largest cloud infrastructures in the world. Conclusion The Gemini model stands out favorably from many other LLM neural networks, supporting working with multimodal data: text, code, images, and video. Google, with its rich ecosystem, seeks to integrate Gemini into all its services, adding flexibility to the classic user experience.

Choosing an operating system is not just a matter of taste. In 2025, Windows and Linux are diverging more than ever: one offers a predictable experience with minimal configuration, the other—full flexibility, but depending on your knowledge and involvement. Windows has a familiar interface, built-in drivers, support for QuickDocs and Photoshop, but you’ll pay for it: with money and with restrictions. Linux offers a system you can fully customize for yourself and use for free, but not everything works “out of the box.” In this article, we compare Linux and Windows on key points: installation complexity, hardware support, running programs and games, long-term performance, privacy and data collection, choice depending on tasks. Installation and What You Get After Windows and Linux install in a similar way: download the image, write it to a USB drive, and start the installation. But then the differences begin. Windows 11 already requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account from the start. Without this, the installation won’t continue. In addition, older computers face another restriction: the system requires a TPM chip and will stop installation if it’s missing. This is a special security module on the motherboard that ensures system integrity checks and is required to install Windows 11. After installation, the user doesn’t get a “clean” desktop, but a preloaded set of apps—App Store, widgets, Copilot, Xbox, OneDrive—some of which cannot be removed with standard tools. The system can also automatically update or download data in the background. Linux (for example, Ubuntu or Linux Mint) works differently. Hardware requirements are usually lower and less strict, allowing installation even on relatively old computers. An account is not required, and an internet connection is often unnecessary for basic installation, although some distributions may offer to download updates during setup. The installation interface is also simple: choose language, time zone, and target disk. After startup, the user gets a minimally configured system: desktop, browser, file manager. Everything else can be installed later at your choice and convenience. The system does not take action without the user’s request. And an important point: Windows requires a paid license. Without it, you face personalization restrictions and a watermark on the screen. Most Linux distributions are free and have no such restrictions, although some professional or enterprise versions may require a paid subscription or license. Hardware Compatibility: Sound, Wi-Fi, Video This is one of the main questions before switching to Linux: will everything work? The answer, in most cases, is yes, but with nuances. With Windows, it’s simple: install, and almost everything works. If something doesn’t, go to the manufacturer’s website, download and install the driver. Manufacturers officially support Windows, which is convenient. In Linux, most devices usually work right after installation. Wi-Fi, sound, display, USB drives, mouse, keyboard, and even Bluetooth—all this will most likely work without extra configuration, especially if the computer isn’t brand new or built with rare components. But sometimes there are issues: for example, on some laptops, the Wi-Fi module may not be detected automatically; in that case, you need to install a driver via terminal. For NVIDIA video cards, it’s recommended to manually install the proprietary driver for full support and performance. Fingerprint scanners on new laptops often lack official support, and enthusiasts write drivers for them. With printers and scanners, results vary: some work immediately, others require manual fixes. The advantage of Linux is that it’s not tied to new hardware. If you have an old laptop or PC that Windows 11 refuses to run on, Linux will most likely give it a second life. It doesn’t require TPM, doesn’t complain about a “too old processor,” and doesn’t force BIOS updates. The downside is that not everything always works right away. Sometimes you need to read a short guide. Sometimes, type a command in the terminal. If you’re not afraid to spend 15 minutes fixing something, it’ll work out. Programs and Games This is probably the main fear when switching to Linux: Can I still do what I used to do? The answer depends on what you use. Everyday Tasks For everyday tasks, such as the internet, email, video, music, and documents, Linux poses almost no problems. Most distributions include everything you need: Firefox and Chrome, Telegram and WhatsApp, Zoom and OBS, VLC and Spotify, and office suites like LibreOffice. These apps work quickly and install through built-in stores. Professional Tasks Things get trickier with professional software. Programs like Photoshop, AutoCAD, QuickBooks, or CorelDRAW are made for Windows and don’t install directly on Linux. There are workarounds—emulators like Wine or alternatives (e.g., GIMP instead of Photoshop)—but they don’t always offer the same capabilities. If you work with QuickBooks or file tax reports through services like TurboTax, it often makes sense to use a second machine or a virtual Windows machine. Games A few years ago, Linux was nearly unusable for gaming. Today, the situation is much better. Steam works great, and Valve actively develops Proton technology, which allows many games to run without extra setup. In ProtonDB’s compatibility database, many popular games are rated “Gold” or “Platinum.” Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, The Witcher 3 run successfully. However, there’s an important limitation: games using incompatible anti-cheat systems (e.g., Easy Anti-Cheat) may not run on Linux. Fortnite and Valorant are the most well-known examples. Also, some launchers like Battle.net or Rockstar Games Launcher may work unstably or require extra setup. In short: for everyday work, Linux fits without major restrictions. But if you depend heavily on specific Windows software or often play multiplayer games with anti-cheat, check compatibility beforehand or consider dual-boot. Long-Term Performance Many Windows users notice performance degradation over time. This happens due to the accumulation of temporary files, updates, hidden services, and background processes. Some things install automatically, some remain after uninstalled programs. Constantly running services like antivirus, OneDrive, or Cortana also increases resource load, especially on older or weaker devices. Linux has similar mechanisms—temporary files, background processes, and updates exist in any OS. But they are fewer, and management is more transparent and predictable. The system doesn’t launch extra services without user request and doesn’t install new components without explicit consent. This helps maintain stable performance even after long-term use. Important: Linux has no mandatory built-in antivirus, no ads, and no intrusive services. Users can always check which processes consume resources and disable them if needed. The system stays transparent and manageable, without hidden background tasks that can’t be disabled through standard tools. Directly compared, Windows needs more regular optimization and maintenance to keep performance, while Linux tends to stay stable longer with minimal user effort. Privacy and Security Windows knows a lot about you. Even without extra configuration, the system by default sends telemetry data on how the device is used, which apps are launched, how often certain features are accessed. This is “to improve quality,” but it cannot be fully disabled with standard tools. Additionally, Windows requires Microsoft account binding, integrates with OneDrive, and shows personalized ads in the Start menu. Updates may download and install automatically without explicit user consent. Linux usually offers a more transparent approach to data collection. Many distributions don’t collect telemetry by default and don’t require an account. Some systems, like Ubuntu-based ones, may enable anonymous stats collection, but usually this can be disabled during installation. In most popular distributions, users themselves decide what data to send and when, and updates only install with explicit request. Security is also important. Because of Windows’ popularity, there’s a significant amount of malware. If users are careless or fail to update the system, the infection risk increases. Built-in antivirus helps, but doesn’t eliminate the threat. Linux has a different security architecture. Installing programs requires superuser rights and explicit approval. Malware is much less widespread, and vulnerabilities are usually patched quickly. Installing from official repositories is like downloading from a verified app store, reducing infection risk. In summary, Windows is integrated into Microsoft’s ecosystem and collects detailed usage data by default for analytics and personalization. Linux usually gives users more control over privacy and updates. Flexibility and Customization Windows allows customization within limits: change wallpaper and theme, move the taskbar, add icons, enable dark mode. But removing preinstalled components, disabling background services, or deeper interface changes often requires third-party apps or registry edits. Some elements can’t be changed at all with standard tools, like the Start menu, OneDrive integration, or built-in widgets. The result is an environment designed and tightly controlled by the developer. Linux follows another philosophy. You can change literally everything. Users can choose between different desktop environments—from minimalist XFCE to visually rich KDE. You can even configure the system to boot without a graphical interface, keeping only essential components. Want a macOS-style desktop? No problem. In Linux, you can customize not just appearance, but behavior: how the network works, how drives connect, which services run, which commands are available. Example: if you don’t want a file manager to auto-open when plugging in a USB drive, find the relevant setting or disable automount. In a minimal installation, you can simply skip unnecessary packages and services, leaving only what you need. In conclusion, Windows offers a ready-made solution with limited customization, while Linux lets you build a fully individual environment tailored to your tasks and preferences. Learning and Migration Switching from Windows to Linux is like moving to another country. The basics are familiar: desktop, icons, folders, browser. But many things work differently. Programs aren’t installed via .exe files, but through a package manager, like an integrated app store. Settings may be scattered across different menus. Sometimes solving issues requires opening a terminal and entering a command, which may feel unusual at first. But it’s not that scary. Most popular distributions have simple interfaces and large communities. Almost any question is already discussed in detail and documented. Just search for it and you’ll find step-by-step instructions. On Telegram chats and forums, you can get help and advice from experienced users. Linux doesn’t demand deep admin knowledge from beginners. You can use it like a normal user: install a browser, office apps, media players, and work without complex settings. But if you want, you can learn more: scripting, system administration through terminal, automating tasks. This flexibility is like having a toolbox: you don’t need to use everything at once, but it’s good that they’re available. In summary, Linux takes a bit more time to get used to, but in return offers more possibilities. Learning is not hard—especially if you have some patience. Windows vs Linux: Quick Summary by User Type For internet, movies, and documents: Both systems work. Linux provides all the necessary functions, doesn’t need a license fee, and usually runs faster on old hardware. Windows is more familiar, especially if you just want everything to work without tweaks. For gamers: Depends on games. Many titles, including Baldur’s Gate 3, The Witcher, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, run great on Linux. However, for games with strict/incompatible anti-cheat systems, such as Valorant, Fortnite, and GTA Online, choose Windows or consider setting it up as a secondary OS. For office and communication: Linux fully covers documents, video calls (Zoom), browser, email. Often more convenient due to fewer ads and notifications. For specialized software: If you use QuickBooks, AutoCAD, Photoshop, or submit reports via services like TurboTax, Windows is preferable. Such programs don’t always work properly in Linux, even with emulators. For developers: Linux offers a very comfortable environment: tools like Git, SSH, Docker, Python, and web servers work out of the box. For those who want stability without forced background services/updates: Linux is worth considering as your main system. Which Linux Distributions to Try If you’ve never used Linux, start with a simple distribution. Here are good options: Linux Mint: One of the most beginner-friendly options. An interface similar to Windows 7, everything works “out of the box,” and a convenient app store is available. Ubuntu: The most well-known distro. Good balance of simplicity and modern solutions. Fits both beginners and developers. Zorin OS: Great for those switching from Windows. The interface is very similar, and there’s a Lite version for weak computers. Fedora: A modern distribution with great support for new hardware and advanced technologies Popular among advanced users. Arch Linux or EndeavourOS: For those who want full control and aren’t afraid to learn. Everything is built manually, but in return, you fully understand the system. You can try any of them in Live mode. Boot from a USB drive and test without installing. This helps you see if Linux suits you and which flavor feels right. What’s Next: The Future of Windows and Linux By 2025, it’s clear that Microsoft focuses on cloud integration, AI technologies, and creating a unified device ecosystem. Windows is gradually turning from a traditional OS into a service with subscriptions, regular updates, and features like Copilot. All this pushes users deeper into Microsoft’s ecosystem. At the same time, the system increasingly depends on online functions and accounts—without them, full use is difficult. Linux is evolving differently, focusing on autonomy, minimalism, and privacy. Many users choose lightweight, control-oriented distros, including non-systemd options. The community doesn’t aim to create a universal “desktop for everyone”. Instead, it supports variety: from ready-to-use systems like Ubuntu and Linux Mint to highly customizable solutions like Arch Linux or NixOS. This lets users choose what best fits their needs: simplicity or full control. In the end, the choice between Windows and Linux depends on user priorities. Those who value a familiar interface, ready-to-use apps, and Microsoft service integration will prefer Windows. Those who want control, transparency, and flexible customization may consider Linux as a full alternative.