I binned Windows 11 recently (only kept it around for gaming) because I didn't like the direction it was clearly going (and has been for a while - including their shoehorning of AI into everything when I don't want it or need it) and don't game enough that I care much any more.
For the first time since the 80's I'm not running a Windows OS on any of my machines.
I doubt they'll care, I'm one user of hundreds of millions but I don't have to consider whether every update is going to turn on something I don't want/hate so I care.
Windows is _always_ a pain in my a*. Every time I boot my windows box it costs me and average of 45 minutes of software updating.
And, FWIW MS's gaming-business is around 10% of its revenue, which is likely to be slowing soon:
- Valve made Steam OS (aka Proton) run on ARM architecture in addition to x86, and Valve also releasing a Steam OS PC to play Windows Games on in addition to its pioneering Steam Deck + clones (https://www.windowscentral.com/hardware/virtual-reality/valv...)
- Cross-platform title releases are happening more and more frequently, with MS / XBox owned studio games being released on PlayStation
I grew up using pretty much every major Windows OS release (3.11, 9x, 2000, XP, etc.) and that comment about bringing back Windows 7 was on point. That was the turning point for me when I felt like it was the relatively perfect OS.
It got out of my way and acted as a nearly frictionless layer between the user and the programs.
I'm usually a cross OS/platform guy. Using each for what they are good at. But lately Win11 has just felt like it's not bringing anything to the table except pain. Especially with Steam making linux so attractive for gaming lately.
I'm trying to switch to desktop linux these days. It's way better but still a few kinks relative to my windows7 experience but if they get there I'm done with Windows for personal stuff, hopefully work as well some day.
It is so hard to believe there was a time where bundling a browser with an operating system was a huge scandal requiring a huge government antitrust case to correct.
Maybe it’s just that I’m old and crotchety but we need regulation to debundle everything, including phones. Yes iCloud, so forth no longer is bundled with a phone you have to choose the providers you want and those providers have to compete and no the Apple company isn’t allowed to make its phone work better for its own products. Just like Microsoft once upon a time wasn’t allowed to make its OS work better for its own browser (how quaint).
Even if they "close replies", it's a message that needs attention. People should write a new message starting with "Re: @account ..." like in the past.
* One with Windows 7 level of features (with Windows 11 level security fixes).
* One with all the bells an whistles that gives product managers the feeling of having done something and justifies their raises and career advancement.
They mostly exist with IoT LTSC being the first one. (well, to some extent, it still has the "two control panels, two context menus, non-deterministic start menu search, hiding scrollbars by default" issues).
But they only sell the second one to regular customers. IoT LTSC is for companies only. Other customers don't deserve respect apparently.
Honestly, at this point if you’re still on Windows for your personal hardware, that’s on you. Linux gaming with proton is great. Most apps have web versions even.
No they won't, they already tried before with companies like Loki.
Android games done with NDK are made with the same APIs available on GNU/Linux, studios don't make them available on GNU/Linux as it isn't worth the additional development costs in QA and support.
While the argument can be very much made that Windows has been in decline for years, now, this ignoring of power users and evangelists will likely be seen as the beginning of the plunge.
Every company eventually loses its soul. And this is how it becomes truly visible to the public at large - by pissing off those who advise and influence others.
That's an entertaining read.
I binned Windows 11 recently (only kept it around for gaming) because I didn't like the direction it was clearly going (and has been for a while - including their shoehorning of AI into everything when I don't want it or need it) and don't game enough that I care much any more.
For the first time since the 80's I'm not running a Windows OS on any of my machines.
I doubt they'll care, I'm one user of hundreds of millions but I don't have to consider whether every update is going to turn on something I don't want/hate so I care.
The linked video (via a linked post) from Dave Plummer does indeed sum up my feelings pretty well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTpA5jt1g60
Windows is _always_ a pain in my a*. Every time I boot my windows box it costs me and average of 45 minutes of software updating.
And, FWIW MS's gaming-business is around 10% of its revenue, which is likely to be slowing soon:
- Valve made Steam OS (aka Proton) run on ARM architecture in addition to x86, and Valve also releasing a Steam OS PC to play Windows Games on in addition to its pioneering Steam Deck + clones (https://www.windowscentral.com/hardware/virtual-reality/valv...)
- Cross-platform title releases are happening more and more frequently, with MS / XBox owned studio games being released on PlayStation
The ads on 11 were enough to keep me away, at least til 10 expired.
The AI guaranteed I will never touch MS again, and recently switched when it did expire.
"No ethical consumption" under capitalism or whatever; every tech company has their finger in the pie. sigh
I'm slightly worried about the Linux Kernel and whether AI features pushed by NVidia, and MS in particular, will get brought in.
I grew up using pretty much every major Windows OS release (3.11, 9x, 2000, XP, etc.) and that comment about bringing back Windows 7 was on point. That was the turning point for me when I felt like it was the relatively perfect OS.
It got out of my way and acted as a nearly frictionless layer between the user and the programs.
I would pay good money for win7 resurrection.
I'm usually a cross OS/platform guy. Using each for what they are good at. But lately Win11 has just felt like it's not bringing anything to the table except pain. Especially with Steam making linux so attractive for gaming lately.
Win7's still pretty heavily used even today. Still has about 2.5% of all desktop searches from Windows hardware worldwide.
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/d...
100% It just worked and very few issues.
I'm trying to switch to desktop linux these days. It's way better but still a few kinks relative to my windows7 experience but if they get there I'm done with Windows for personal stuff, hopefully work as well some day.
Honestly if there were an Office, or rather Excel, alternative that ran on Linux perfectly, people would have switched aeons ago, even in corporate.
It is so hard to believe there was a time where bundling a browser with an operating system was a huge scandal requiring a huge government antitrust case to correct.
Maybe it’s just that I’m old and crotchety but we need regulation to debundle everything, including phones. Yes iCloud, so forth no longer is bundled with a phone you have to choose the providers you want and those providers have to compete and no the Apple company isn’t allowed to make its phone work better for its own products. Just like Microsoft once upon a time wasn’t allowed to make its OS work better for its own browser (how quaint).
Even if they "close replies", it's a message that needs attention. People should write a new message starting with "Re: @account ..." like in the past.
They need to make 2 variants of Windows:
* One with Windows 7 level of features (with Windows 11 level security fixes).
* One with all the bells an whistles that gives product managers the feeling of having done something and justifies their raises and career advancement.
They mostly exist with IoT LTSC being the first one. (well, to some extent, it still has the "two control panels, two context menus, non-deterministic start menu search, hiding scrollbars by default" issues).
But they only sell the second one to regular customers. IoT LTSC is for companies only. Other customers don't deserve respect apparently.
Satya and this guy are going to be what Prabhakar Raghavan was to google search.
Honestly, at this point if you’re still on Windows for your personal hardware, that’s on you. Linux gaming with proton is great. Most apps have web versions even.
Without Windows there are no games for Proton to translate.
Without Windows people would make games for Linux. What are you even talking about
No they won't, they already tried before with companies like Loki.
Android games done with NDK are made with the same APIs available on GNU/Linux, studios don't make them available on GNU/Linux as it isn't worth the additional development costs in QA and support.
i have win 11 ISOs first curiosity [quickly evaporated] gave way to one purpose; rev eng ing malware in its natural environment.
We are currently porting a game to Switch and everytime I boot into Windows I die a little. So slow, so messy, and just icky.
While the argument can be very much made that Windows has been in decline for years, now, this ignoring of power users and evangelists will likely be seen as the beginning of the plunge.
Every company eventually loses its soul. And this is how it becomes truly visible to the public at large - by pissing off those who advise and influence others.
super duper fun read ;)