Technology

I use Kate on the windows work pc

I use Kate on the windows work pc

"But it turns out that, while this screenshot is indeed real, those eagle-eyed enough should already be able to tell that something isn't quite lining up here. In fact, nearly any Windows 11 user could open up the fully updated Notepad without getting this pop-up at all, even if they aren't already signed into a Microsoft account. So, what's the deal here?"

"The key is in the exact wording, identifiable within the first sentence: "Sign in with your Microsoft account to use Rewrite and its features in Notepad." This is a prompt that exists, yes, but one that's exclusive to Copilot+ PCs and explicitly requires the user to trigger it by clicking the Rewrite button, as confirmed by our own testing."

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/no-notepad-for-windows-11-doesnt-require-you-to-use-a-microsoft-account-unless-youre-trying-to-use-ai

https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/seen-those-complaints-online-about-having-to-sign-in-to-your-microsoft-account-to-use-windows-11s-notepad-app-its-all-a-load-of-hot-air

Please read the article. No. My access to notepad is not restricted. I also don't run any copilot features of any kind on windows 11. Yes, I believe Generative AI Copilot is enabled by default, but in this case the only time you get promoted to login is when you use a feature in notepad that directly needs copilot in order to work and you the user have to select that feature. Meaning you can use notepad without it entirely and never even see this prompt at all.

Microsoft is a tech giant with all the bad crap that implies. They do enough terrible things that we don't need to lie to make them look bad.

Sure but with Wordpad I wouldn't much care if they spam it up with this kind of crap. It's something that doesn't have much use now, because there's notepad for basic text files and Word or Libre Office for actual word processing. So if someone wanted something to type up some notes that get automatic backups, and have AI recommendations (not that it would be me, but who knows?) just put it on there so we still have a simple text editor that's installed by default.

If they're going to enshittify something at least don't enshittify the basic tools of the OS.

If you are in IT I'd hope you know some version of Unix. Consumers I wouldn't expect them to know, they just want it to work and don't care about configurations and how it works.

I want a clean, advanced, well designed desktop and Im okay with redoing my work flow

Use Gnome

Gnome is cool but can it be slightly more Windows?

Use Cosmic (PopOS)

I want lots of customization, advanced features, and a traditional windows desktop metaphor

Use KDE

I want Windows and don't really care about customization

Use Cinnamon

Dude the Windows 9x look was fucking dope

Use Mate

Im installing this on a potato

Use XFCE

Gnome is an opinionated desktop environment and that turns some people off. But it's bold enough to make some design decisions and have a limited scope. KDE tries to be another Windows alternative.

Of course, you could go with a tiling window manager but my vote goes to Gnome. I've had a very smooth experience on Gnome for the last couple years.

I really like my KDE plasma

IMO:

• want to show off? i3wm with gaps and rofi for menu launcher. Add it some transparency effects too.

• want the MacOS style? Gnome. Default on a lot of distros.

• want something stable? XFCE. Install and forget.