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MagyarLinux vs Windows 11: 3 underrated and common features that make the open-source software superior
1. Linux's compose key for special characters is lightyears ahead of Windows's Alt codes
Adding special characters in Windows is so convoluted that there's a whole graphical app and a third-party website dedicated to working around it. In many Linux distributions, the Compose Key simplifies the process greatly. Instead of having to memorise a cryptic combination of characters, you hit the Compose Key (whatever you've set it to) and then a combination of keys that visually represent the desired character.
Consider the symbol for the Pound Sterling (£). On Windows, you'd have to hold down Alt and then enter 0163 (unless you're using a UK keyboard layout). This is fine if you use the same symbols over and over again, but if you do a lot of typing and you need to use a variety of symbols, it just doesn't make much sense. With the Compose Key feature, you press the Compose Key then uppercase "L" and a "-" to create the symbol. Entering the symbols in series means there's no finger gymnastics, and the combination of the "L" and "-" sort of resembling the end result means it's easy to remember how to get to the symbols, even if you have to give it a Google search the first time.
Aside from just being simpler to remember, successfully guessing a character's Compose Key combination is surprisingly rewarding — a little mini game in the middle of a work session, if you will.
2. No Microsoft spying eye
One of the biggest issues many users had with the launch of Windows 11, and Windows 10 before it, is the constant stream of data that gets sent back to Microsoft. Tests by security firm FB Pro GmbH revealed that Windows 10 sent data back to Microsoft up to 15 times per hour. Many might not care about the telemetry that Microsoft is collecting and using to increase its profit margins, but for those who do, Linux provides a safe haven from any untoward spying. Many distributions, like Ubuntu, do have the option to enable system telemetry, but it's usually disabled by default, and you're prompted to enable or disable it when you go through the setup process.
Compared to Microsoft, Linux distributions are generally much more transparent about the data they collect, and they usually don't collect nearly as much data or use it for advertising purposes.
3. Free and open source generally means safer software
The amount of malware and viruses that target Linux has increased drastically in the last few years, reaching an all-time high in 2022, but Windows still leads the way when it comes to virus and malware infections. It's largely held in the Linux community that the open-source nature of most Linux-based operating systems makes them more secure. There is a bit of a debate about this being the source of Linux's security, but the thinking is that because many people are constantly inspecting and working on the source code of the Linux kernel and much of the software that runs on it, vulnerabilities are found quickly and patched out.
If you're new to the Linux command line, grab the Linux Commands Line Mouse pad, available on Amazon.
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