Compare Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS in 2026 to find the operating system that fits your workflow, gaming, or creative needs with ease.

The first Mac software was called System 1 and it was released on January 24, 1984, and there have been 30 major updates since. Apple rebranded to Mac OS with the release of mac OS 8 on July 26, 1997.

In brief: Just over one billion active devices use Windows for their operating system, according to Microsoft. That sounds like an impressive statistic, but the company isn't as quick to point out ...