Could be small or big.
My answer has always been that, Linux can't handle everything I'd ask out of it that I normally can with Windows. I know the games issue has been progressing far from the days when that used to have been an archaic flaw with Linux for the longest time. Games might not be the issue except for some concerns I have for some games.
I was taking some time a few moments ago, to check if a program called Firestorm Viewer would work on Linux Mint which could've been my distro of choice. And the description written on the linux page described exactly the kind of concerns I'd have for compatibility and usability from going Windows to Linux.
They said that their viewer was tested and designed to function mostly with Ubuntu and while it could work with other distros, it's not to be expected to be smooth.
That's the kind of sentiment and concern I have always had with Linux if I were to go from Windows to it. There are programs and tools on Windows that I have that are used for specific purposes and I know they will not function on Linux. Furthermore, incase anything breaks down, any and all solutions would only be applicable to that thing that would be far easier to solve than just being SOL if I was on Linux.
It is something as a user that I just can't simply afford to deal with on a regular basis if I made the switch.
So while I may not have too much of an issue running games, I won't have too much of an issue using alternatives, I won't have to deal with the Windows ecosystem .etc I will just be running into other walls that would simply make me second guess my decision and make me regret switching to the point where I would dip back into Windows in a hurry.
is winboat like parallels on mac? I know Parallels has filesystem sharing and seamless windows.
Don't know about Parallels on Mac but it does have filesystem sharing
Not sure what you mean by seamless windows though
Not exactly sure how to explain, but on Parallels' "Coherence Mode", Windows apps run side-by-side with MacOS as if they were native Mac apps. Think of it like this: Parallels hides the Windows desktop and just shows the app windows on your Mac. They get Mac-style title bars, sit in the Dock, show up in Mission Control, and you can copy/paste or drag files between them and Mac apps. It still runs in a VM, but feels like the Windows apps live on macOS.
That's fascinating I understand what you mean. Yeah it does and does not
The Windows windows acts like Linux Windows
Also here's what Lumo from Proton says about the 2:
WinBoat does offer a feature that’s roughly comparable to Parallels Coherence mode.
When you launch a Windows program through WinBoat, the app appears as a regular‑looking Linux window—complete with its own title bar, task‑bar entry, and the ability to move it around the desktop just like any native Linux application. In other words, WinBoat’s “seamless‑integration” mode gives you the same kind‑of experience that Coherence gives on macOS: Windows apps sit side‑by‑side with your Linux apps without the need to switch to a full‑screen Windows desktop.
The implementation differs, though:
So, if you’re looking for a way to run individual Windows programs on Linux without juggling two separate desktops, WinBoat’s seamless‑integration mode is the closest analogue to macOS Parallels Coherence.
Parallels Desktop (macOS) vs WinBoat (Linux)
Below is a side‑by‑side look at the two products, focusing on the Coherence experience that Parallels calls “Coherence mode” and the seamless‑integration mode that WinBoat provides.
Core purpose
“Seamless” experience (the part that resembles Coherence)
Where they diverge
Depth of integration – Parallels’ Coherence is built around Parallels Tools, which injects drivers into the Windows guest to give tight integration (clipboard, mouse pointer, display scaling, audio, printers, etc.). WinBoat’s integration is functional but not as exhaustive; some peripheral passthrough (e.g., USB devices) is still experimental.
User‑interface polish – Parallels presents a macOS‑styled “Windows Applications” folder in the Dock and hides all Windows UI elements automatically. WinBoat shows its own Electron dashboard; you still need to click inside that UI to launch an app, although the resulting windows look native.
GPU / graphics support – Parallels can leverage the host’s GPU (including Metal on Apple Silicon) for smoother 3D and video playback. WinBoat relies on the generic virtual GPU provided by the container, which is adequate for office apps but can struggle with games or heavy graphics workloads.
Snapshot & rollback – Parallels offers full VM snapshots, revert points, and cloning. WinBoat’s container persistence is essentially a snapshot of the whole filesystem, but you cannot create incremental snapshots as easily.
Platform focus – Parallels is a commercial product aimed at professional/mac‑centric users who need a polished Windows experience. WinBoat targets Linux power‑users who want a lightweight, free way to run Windows apps without managing a full VM.
Support & updates – Parallels provides official support, frequent releases, and compatibility updates for new Windows versions. WinBoat’s development is community‑driven; updates depend on contributors and may lag behind major Windows releases.
Bottom line
If you are on macOS and want the most seamless, fully integrated Windows experience—complete with automatic driver injection, smooth graphics, and a polished UI—Parallels Coherence is the clear choice.
If you are on Linux, prefer a free/open‑source solution, and are comfortable with a slightly less‑polished integration layer, WinBoat’s seamless‑integration mode gives you a comparable “apps appear as native windows” experience, albeit with fewer advanced integration features.
Both aim to eliminate the need to juggle two separate desktops, but they differ in how deeply they merge the guest OS into the host environment, the level of performance tuning they provide, and the overall user‑experience polish.
Sources
Maybe you can suggest what they can add to Winboat since you have experience with Parallels advanced features
Hope that helps