I was curious about Windows 12 so I did some googling.
This article is based on rumors but it still made me laugh. I think this is the funniest bit: "a free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 might be available."
What to Expect in Windows 12: Leaks, Rumors, and More | PCMag
Will Windows 12 Require a Subscription?
Eagle-eyed code watchers have noticed references to "subscription edition," "subscription type," and "subscription status" in the code for a Windows Insider build in the Canary channel (the earliest release channel). These references have led to speculation that Microsoft will require a subscription for the OS in the future—and perhaps PC prices will be lower as a result. Further speculation has it that a free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 might be available as well.
Another possibility is that these references to subscriptions might be just for business users, similar to the already available Windows 365 Cloud PC option.
A subscription requirement would surely result in outrage from longtime Windows users. That's what happened when Adobe Photoshop first moved to a subscription model, only for many users to eventually pay up, boosting Adobe's profits and enabling the company to develop impressive new features for the imaging software.
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Let’s be clear from the start: Microsoft hasn’t officially commented on whether it's developing Windows 12. But credible leaks, rumors, and other indicators strongly suggest we'll get a Windows 12 in 2024—much quicker than the move from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Over the last 2 years I've started at least two (if not three) threads at Hexbear about buying a new PC and installing Unix. But I have yet to buy a new PC. I'm still using Windows 8. The only reason I stick with Windows is that I'm monumentally lazy and I'm an old dog. If I have a problem - I know 1,000,000s other people might have experienced the same thing so googling for a solution is a snap.
But my hard drive is now geriatric so I really need to buy a new PC. I should just buy one and put Unix on it. Or spend the extra money and buy Mac. I know Windows 11 would seem like absolute shit to me. My hunch is 12 will be even worse - whenever it actually comes out.
I'm not a gamer but I've thought maybe I should be. It would cut down on doomscrolling which is soul destroying. But from what little I googled - Macs seem to be shitty for gaming. If that's accurate - I think that's pretty funny. Apple doesn't want its Sacred, Holy Machines to be used for something as lowly as gaming.
If you use Ubuntu, you'll find similar support online (Google error message and thousands of people have had the same issue). But there's a lot of drama with Ubuntu these days, so you could try elementaryos, it's based on Ubuntu so a lot of the support you'll find online for Ubuntu also applies to elementaryos.
As for gaming, Windows is still the best, but with the steam deck, Valve has done a lot of work improving the Linux compatibility for games. You'll still run into issues with anticheat for competitive games and DRM for AAA titles, but if you're mostly interested with indie games you should have pretty good luck with Linux.
And of course you could dualboot Linux and Windows.