**I’m a strong advocate for Linux through my tech articles and in my daily use. I won’t use any other OS for programming - that seamless interaction between the terminal and file system. And the Linux distros in 2024 are every bit as good, or better than Windows, as is the software that runs on Linux. But one big barrier to Linux as a daily driver is streaming video quality. Linux cannot render the high-definition streaming quality achieved by Windows. This is through no fault of the Linux devs - it’s due to Widevine DRM. Windows is ‘allowed’ the highest security level - L1, resulting in beautiful high-definition content on Prime, Netflix and other streaming platforms. Linux only supports Widevine L3, lacking the hardware and driver support for L1, which is necessary for HD and 4K streaming. Streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video restrict content quality on Linux due to these security constraints. I wasn’t aware of this and converted my best laptop from Win 10 to Linux Mint and the loss of resolution and picture stability was very apparent.
I re-installed Win 10. I had to admit that I wanted the highest quality picture possible when watching streaming content - who doesnt? This one limitation, and ONLY this, is what prevents me from converting that last laptop to Linux and saying goodbye to Microsoft forever.
Hi @benslinux welcome to our community. 
Where do you write tech articles? You are welcome to share here on in your profile/bio.
It’s frustrating that DRM limits Linux’s streaming quality. I understand why that alone would stop you from fully moving away from Windows, especially if streaming is a big part of your setup.
Thanks, hydn. I have articles published on DEV.to and a few on Medium. As for DRM, it’s no hardship for me really - I have several Linux pc’s. I’m an avid Linux and open-source advocate and see it as unfair that Windows has this advantage over Linux, along with the advantage of being THE OS installed on virtually every new pc in the world. Don’t get me going - haha. Thanks for the welcome!
Hi benslinux,
I think it’s the other barrier you have found. The only reason I still have Win10 on a machine is so I can play certain games. But now that you mention it my streaming is not as pretty as it should be. Thanks for explaining why that happens.
It was a surprise to me too when I learned of the DRM levels. It’s not a technical barrier - more of a big business agreement between Microsoft and the streaming platforms.
Also, I’m not a gamer, but I listen to Late Night Linux guys every week - they say Linux gaming is getting there.
You know Linux gaming has come a long way. Performance is on par with Windows in many cases. The problem again is big business they are not paying devs to make the big titles Linux compatible. So regardless if they would run well or not, some games are only available for Windows. I think Mac probably has more compatibility with titles than Linux, I could be wrong.
No, I think you’re right - for better or worse, most of the world’s personal computers are running Windows - maybe 70%? Linux on pc’s is something like 3%. You can’t blame developers for writing software for the OS everyone uses. Sigh.
I think Mac has more games for them than Linux too. Linux has come a long ways in it’s Gaming but I wouldn’t expect to be able to play Call of Duty or anything like that even using WINE. Until that kind of gaming is possible then Windows will still be king err queen(?)
Since this thread still has some life, seems unfair to Linux to leave out its greatest application - for me, at least - programming. I spend a lot of time in the terminal and the way it interacts with the file system is seamless. Windows walls off so much of your file system from you - even if you’re admin. If you’re programming in the terminal in Linux, and begin to learn the terminal commands, you can fly. When I’m programming on my Windows PC, I use WSL which allows me to stay in my Linux realm, as long as I don’t leave the terminal anyway. Since you mentioned Mac - MacOS is based on Unix, so it has that terminal. Many instructors who teach programming online will use a Mac - for that terminal.
On the plus side for Windows. Because of WSL which also introduced Linux apps on Windows, I’ve been working primarily from a Windows desktop a lot over the past year. I use Linux exclusively on my laptop, that will probably never change.
I have to give MS credit - WSL is a great experience.