

Find out in this report how the two Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
With Amazon Linux, selecting and launching instances on a public cloud provider means the machine spins up in fewer than ten seconds, making it efficient.
By switching the compute fleet from a paid distribution to Amazon Linux, we have reduced our OS-related overhead cost by 100%.
Some wins commonly seen after switching, particularly when moving from general-purpose distributions such as Ubuntu, include approximately twenty to forty percent better price-performance ratio.
It has definitely saved time and generated a return on investment as well.
I believe we have seen a return on investment from using Windows 11 since our company is primarily a software house where most costs stem from salaries and licenses.
Amazon has the best expertise and they are available 24/7.
Timely and helpful responses for performance, updates, or AWS integration issues.
It offers specific advantages and constraints depending on the use case.
The technical support team’s response time is very slow.
We have an internal team that supports all the Microsoft issues within the system.
Since it is tightly integrated with AWS services, I can easily scale instances up or down based on demand using EC2 auto-scaling and load balancing.
The compatibility of container scalability with Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS, along with performance optimizations and low latency for workloads.
Its real scalability comes from its seamless integration with AWS tools like CloudFormation, Auto Scaling, and user data scripts, which allow me to deploy and configure hundreds of identical ready-to-use instances automatically.
We faced challenges integrating it in multi-app environments, requiring complex API setups.
The solution's scalability is good because it allows you to run a large number of virtual machines.
It scales well vertically, so a single machine can be very powerful without reaching its limits.
Combined with AWS managed infrastructure, it provides enterprise-grade reliability suitable for production workloads.
Since it is purpose-built for the cloud, it lacks the bloat of traditional desktop-focused distributions, which leads to fewer crashes and higher uptime.
Compared to other Linux distributions, Amazon Linux is significantly more stable for AWS workloads because it is pre-optimized for EC2 hypervisor and includes integrated AWS tools out of the box.
The solution's high level of stability ensures that the machine doesn't go down multiple times.
The stability can be influenced by the status and specifications of our company PCs.
Regarding stability, I would say the Slack issue which I found; other than that, I think all of the other things are pretty smooth.
Documentation explaining the differences between Ubuntu and Amazon Linux would be valuable.
Since we are working in a real-time manner and need to scale things immediately, the time it takes to boot an instance and then deploy things is preventing me from giving it a perfect rating.
My advice for others looking into using Amazon Linux is to make sure the command line is easy and that Amazon Linux has more performance than other Linux environments and is more secure than other Linux environments as well.
For a better experience, Windows 11 should be improved to take fewer resources.
The needed improvements in Windows 11 include that the Copilot integration needs a better user interface experience with rich features, alongside making a very simple UI experience as well.
It still feels more oriented toward consumer use rather than enterprise use, and the company is forced to maintain extensive backward compatibility, which creates technical debt.
With Amazon Linux itself, there is no cost associated with using it, so I would say it is very good from a pricing perspective.
If I am a new AWS customer, the AWS Free Tier typically includes, for the first six months, micro instances such as t2.micro or t3.micro for free.
I only pay for the EC2 instance and any other AWS resources I use, but the operating system itself has no licensing fees, which is a significant advantage over commercial operating systems like Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Windows servers, which incur extra hourly charges.
I have a university license, so I do not pay anything for Windows 11.
The licensing is expensive, but it's value for money.
We use a cracked version of Windows, so there are no licensing costs.
Amazon Linux handles this automatically. It is optimized for EC2, AWS hardware and software, mostly secure and stable, and there is no additional cost.
In terms of service security, there are many constraint security protocols and policies that help me create our own networks, security groups, and inline policies.
Amazon Linux's security updates have been helpful in general because I have had to be more specific in using the Identity Access Management (IAM) service so that we can have role-based permissions in preference to just keeping it open.
The solution is fast, doesn't get hung, and minimizes operational issues, which improves the end user's productivity.
We use it for the validation of our data and code, or even code generation.
It has good security features, providing strong protection against platform viruses and vulnerabilities, which secures my resources.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | 7.6% |
| Amazon Linux | 1.5% |
| Other | 90.9% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 20 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 14 |
| Large Enterprise | 20 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 14 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 12 |
| Large Enterprise | 27 |
Amazon Linux is a secure and stable distribution for cloud environments, optimized for AWS performance. It is widely adopted by developers seeking minimal disruption in deployment and management, offering a seamless operational experience.
Developed by Amazon Web Services, Amazon Linux provides an environment streamlined for performance on AWS infrastructure. By offering long-term support and regular security updates, it ensures crucial security and reliability. It is tailored to enhance cloud-centric application development, making it a preferred choice for developers needing efficient resource management. Its compatibility with a wide range of AWS tools and services makes it highly adaptable for cloud-native solutions.
What are the key features of Amazon Linux?In industries such as finance and healthcare, Amazon Linux is used to develop cloud applications that require secure data handling and robust performance. Media companies appreciate its flexibility and speed in managing high-demand scenarios, ensuring scalable content delivery and reliable performance.
Windows 11 presents a user-friendly experience with an intuitive interface, enhancing productivity through seamless Office integration and robust security features, appealing to users seeking increased efficiency in professional tasks.
Windows 11 is recognized for its advanced design and comprehensive range of features geared towards modern computing environments. It offers a smooth and organized interface that facilitates task organization and supports multitasking with additions like automatic screen recording and window tabbing. Enhanced compatibility, particularly with Microsoft tools and Linux systems, and useful integrations such as Azure AD boost its utility in professional settings. However, users have noted areas for improvement, including more stable performance on older hardware and enhanced compatibility with legacy drivers and applications. Implementing regular updates and staying compatible with AI advancements are ongoing aspects users consider.
What are the key features of Windows 11?Industries leverage Windows 11 for its professional-grade features, using it for management of networks, virtual machines, and automation. Companies benefit from enhanced multitasking and security in environments such as cloud computing and on-premises setups. The ease of using Microsoft applications within Windows 11 also translates to increased operational efficiency across sectors.
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