A community for PC Master Race.
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Yep my 10 year old laptop still chugging along on win10 my new one has Linux.
Ironically it's used to be better the other way around.
and Microsoft just can't push holdouts to Windows 11
BECAUSE IT REQUIRES NEW HARDWARE!
AI made that impossibly out of reach for too many people.
I understand why tpm chips are a good idea but you can't just say "fuck you, fork out cash and cut over".
Look at the move to digital broadcast television.
The percentages are way different (way more people are using legacy PC's than had legacy tv sets) but they sold adapters for the tv folks.
They did the opposite and pulled the rugs out from under any "proceed anyway" options that were present for putting 11 on incompatible harfware.
TPMs would be cooler if they weren't proprietary. I understand the benefits of having a place to store sensitive things in a way that they never have to touch disk, but having those chips be controlled in a proprietary fashion by some tech megacorp is not ideal.
because win11 is a miserable experience. the other week I decided to install it on one of my thinkpads cause I just wanted to "see how it is now" after being on linux for the past couple years. the whole process sucked. it was slow to install, they blitz you with emails as soon as you set up an account and login, and the updates either broke or took forever and ONE of the updates insisted on updating the bios on the thinkpad and totally borked it to the point I immediately uninstalled windows and had to reflash the bios cause Windows decided that my media keys were no longer necessary.
why would the average user want to experience any of that?
"Win10 refuses to die"
Why would it need to?
Windows 11 feels awful to use. My home laptop whirrs like crazy because it feels the need to download updates so often. There's a bunch of creepy processes/tasks running all the time. I tried to disable as many as I could, but some they prevent users from deleting. You don't want your laptop to run the "UsageAndQualityInsights" task every day? Well TOO BAD!
Windows 11 forces updates whenever it can. If I close the lid on my laptop, which should put it in a light sleep, I will sometimes open it up to it being restarted, so all my previously open programs being closed, because I guess they wanted to forcefully make me get their latest updates, potential unsaved work be damned. They don't care at all what you want, just "too bad, we know what's best for you."
There are so many basic bugs that I'm surprised exist. I have to use ExplorerPatcher to get some sense of normalcy back. The UI in some ways is so frustrating. Every time I want to use the calendar, it shows a giant empty blob for "notifications", even though I disable all notifications... why still show me this waste of space? I just want a calendar when I click the date...
I was shocked to find out that the inability to drag files onto applications in order to do basic drag-and-drop functionality is not a thing anymore. Why?! (I think ExplorerPatcher fixes this on my home laptop, but on my work laptop which also uses Windows 11 I am baffled by this every time I forget and try to drag a file onto a taskbar icon.)
It sucks having to constantly look up various tips, tricks, and hacks to make the operating system slightly bearable in all these little ways. "Here's how you can disable OneDrive which apparently had a habit of removing people's files whoopsie, here's how you can disable Copilot which had a super helpful feature where it literally just snapshots pictures of your screen all the time haha how helpful and totally not creepy, here's how you can bring back the normal right-click menu." But it only can do so much, and it's exhausting.
I feel like it's not "my computer," it feels like the most "Big Brother" operating system ever; it always feels like "something" is watching me or lurking in the background reporting back to some giant Microsoft data center on what I'm doing, what my files are, etc. It's just this really creepy feeling. I feel "gross" when I use it.
I wish I could have Windows 10, but I know that's basically not an option anymore. I want to switch to Linux, but I'm not techy enough and worried I'll fail at switching over. I am slowly working up the courage to try to install Linux Mint, as that sounds like the most beginner-coming-from-Windows-friendly distro of Linux.
I feel like it’s not “my computer,” it feels like the most “Big Brother” operating system ever; it always feels like “something” is watching me or lurking in the background reporting back to some giant Microsoft data center on what I’m doing, what my files are, etc. It’s just this really creepy feeling. I feel “gross” when I use it.
You know what feels great? Not having that feeling. Not having the whispering chorus of surveillance like a fat fucking argus of paranoia weighing on your psyche while you attempt to use YOUR computer. Quite frankly how dare they fucking do that to you. MS wastes your time and agitates your conscience. Nowadays you really don't need to know much about many Linux Distros before you use them, and the best way to know a bit more is to simply try.
I’m not techy enough and worried I’ll fail at switching over.
Considering how much technical workaround you have to do just to make 11 bearable, I strongly doubt this statement. Think of it in small steps: Download the version of WhateverOS you want (Mint is great). Put it on a USB. Try out the virtual Desktop without installing anything. See if you like it. Maybe a day later back up your files. I mean everyone should do that every now and again regardless of what OS you use, right?
Then try the Virtual Desktop again. Click the button that says install and just run through the process without intending to complete it. You can always back out. Have a look at how it partitions your drive. Consider how much space you might be willing to give it. You might not need much! Are you aware that you can read and access all your files on the Windows NTFS partition from your Linux partition? For myself way back when, this was a light bulb moment. Note some things you might wish to check out online, what certain terms and acronyms mean. When that is done run the installer again. Why not. Just for fun.
Make sure you have the encryption key if your NTFS partition is encrypted with bit locker.
I was able to recover my encryption key from my Microsoft account which raises the question of why bother encrypting my data if Microsoft has my key on file in their cloud? I was glad to be able to recover it but I was not aware that they had it in the first place until a friend told me where to look.
Aw, thank you, I appreciate the encouragement!
You know what feels great? Not having that feeling. Not having the whispering chorus of surveillance like a fat fucking argus of paranoia weighing on your psyche while you attempt to use YOUR computer.
For real! I saw the "windows wants to restart" icon next to my "Hibernate" option last night and I cringed internally. Every update they want to do makes me think "oh great, what creepy shit are you potentially going to slide in this time? (because it never feels like an update ever fixes anything I have problems with...)"
The Virtual Desktop sounds interesting, I didn't know about that. I'll give it a try first before attempting to do the install! Backing up my files is the first thing I plan to do, I'm kinda dragging my feet on that right now, but hopefully after I get that done, giving Linux Mint a try, especially with this Virtual Desktop thing, shouldn't be too difficult.
I'm not too good with IT kinda stuff, so I'm not sure if I can figure out how to do a partition. Unless it's easier than I've been led to believe. Though I guess if I backup all my files it won't be a big deal if I accidentally mess up lol.
Installing and using Mint is easier than about half on the things you've already "fixed" on Windows. You definitely can manage switching. If you can, backup your data on a separate drive and install Mint. If you don't have a spare SSD (or a few dozen), you can always put Mint on a USB, boot from that, and test it out without modifying your windows operating system.
But, I switched to mint "just to test it" and I've only gone back to windows once, and that was to migrate the data from my expensive Samsung SSD to the bargain bin SSD I bought for testing Mint in the first place.
Honestly, Mint has been so easy, I switched my mom's new laptop to Mint, and she vastly prefers it to Windows 11, and I haven't needed to touch her computer since then.
Set all your networks to metered, Windows will stop updating, and you can apply them when you want
Because you need new hardware for it. So you’d have to spend a shitload of money for an objectively worse experience. Why oh why are people not upgrading? Fucking mystery for the ages.
I daily drive Windows 11 for work. I'm so glad I upgraded by personal system to Linux.
I've never had more audio issues than when my work laptop upgraded itself to Windows 11, it's insanity
Several of my co-workers got upgraded laptops recently. Teams (yup, Microslop's own product) has been an absolute disaster on those systems. Cameras not working. Sound or Mic cutting out. Even chat just fucks off from time to time.
I get that software is complex and hard. Operating systems even more so. But, if you're charging hundreds of dollars for a product, you ought to have done some QA.
They went out of their way to ruin workflow and customer experience with win 11, then they stuffed it full of malware and spyware. There is a reason no one wants it.
No longer about providing a useful product to the end user. All about extracting personal and behavioural information while enshittifying the tech and "making deals" with hardware tech bros.
... I think they need to call it. 11 is dead.
I remember when they made the claim that windows 10 was the last windows you will use, and hey look they got that one right.
Usually this is the point where they have Windows 12! Yay! Totally not the same thing as Windows 11 but beta tested by your own customers.
Skip the evens. It's always held true.
? That would mean that 10 is bad and 11 is good.....
They are both bad, but one is more bad (and it is odd).
I can't afford a new PC (thanks AI
I do find this odd. I would never go back to Win10. I find Windows 11 far superior.
This is your sign. I don't know what kind of help you need, but go get it.
LOL. Operating systems aren't an ideology, they are a tool.
And some tools are objectively worse than others. Windows 11 loses to Windows 10 in every area except for AI integration (if you can call this a loss), and security updates (which Microsoft arbitrarily stopped to force people to switch).
If Windows 10 is a screwdriver, then Windows 11 is a butter knife glued to a 10 lb weight and a flock camera that Microsoft chained to your hand when they took away your other tools.