"Enterprise Linux 10" based distros by comparison cut out support for a lot of what they consider legacy hardware in current versions. Namely CPU must support x86-64-v3 which means AVX/AVX2 capable CPU only, whereas Windows (Server 2025) is supported, probably FreeBSD as well.

Ubuntu Desktop has always been amongst the most consuming distros due to their reliance on GNOME

Even during the time when they didn't and it used Unity, it still was "bloated" in a way

Some are higher, some are lower.

Windows, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifica...

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores, 4 gigabytes RAM, 64 GB or larger storage device, UEFI, Secure Boot capable, (TPM) version 2.0, Windows 11 Pro for personal use and Windows 11 Home require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial device setup.

Ubuntu, this link, https://documentation.ubuntu.com/release-notes/26.04/

2 GHz dual-core processor or better, a minimum of 6GB RAM and 25 GB of free hard drive space. For ISO-based installs, you will need a USB port or DVD drive for the installation media. An internet connection is ... not required for the initial installation.

No requirement listed for UEFI, TPM, or account with a company that the Human Rights Council and others describe as aiding and abetting atrocity crimes.

Do the servers really require 1.5gb? I've always enjoyed using super cheap instances with just 0.5gb of RAM at places like Vultr. I guess the new version won't handle those chores.

RAM is expensive. Didn't they get the memo/invoice?