What is a limitation that users may face when switching between different operating systems?

When users switch between different operating systems, one significant limitation they often encounter is the lack of direct application compatibility. Each operating system has its own architecture, system calls, and APIs, which means that applications designed for one OS may not run natively on another. This incompatibility can result in users needing to find alternative applications that offer similar functionalities, or in some cases, they may need to rely on virtual machines or emulators to run software from their previous operating system.

For example, applications built for Windows may not work on macOS or Linux without modification or specific compatibility layers, such as Wine for running some Windows applications on Linux. This limitation can disrupt users’ workflows and requires additional effort to transition to a new environment effectively.

This situation contrasts with other choices, where incompatibility with all hardware systems is overstated, as most modern operating systems support similar hardware configurations. The easy transfer of all applications does not occur due to the reasons mentioned above. Likewise, the assumption about a lack of potential for web-based applications is misleading, as most contemporary web applications are designed to be cross-platform and are accessible across various operating systems without the same compatibility issues.