Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

neowin.net

51–60 of 166 posts

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#51
post #22

> Like in the case of StartAllBack, you can bypass the block by simply renaming the executable to something else. If you want to upgrade to a newer build, delete the app, update your system, and then launch it using a renamed executable. This is ridiculous. I assume they just want to prevent average Joanne to use the tool, but she wouldn't do it either way or even get the idea to look for it. I mean...there are still…

I’m not on windows 11 but I wonder if you could rename a different executable and get it blocked in the same way?

The "solution" is so stupid, this might actually work.

Don't have it though too.

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#52

Microsoft still haven't implemented a native vertical taskbar after all the years of it being in the top voted[1] request (part of the request to move to any side of the screen) and the fact it's been part of Windows for like 15 years. It's a dealbreaker tbh. Third-party tools that restored the W10 taskbar in W11 allowed users to continue having a taskbar that's usable for them yet the latest W11 betas show they're r…

It's because the Windows 11 UI was designed by people who've never used anything other that an Apple Mac.

Yes, Microsoft hires employees with zero Windows experience to design their operating system.

That's why the Windows 11 taskbar has the icons centred -- because Apple OSX does too.

That's why there's no way to drag the taskbar around -- because Apple OSX doesn't allow this either.

Etc...

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#53

There are plenty of reasons to skewer Microsoft, but this isn't one of them. Microsoft isn't blocking all customization apps here, of course. They're blocking known [1][2] unreliable, poorly written, high crash rate software that is extremely sensitive to OS changes, hotfixes, and/or upgrades due to the nature of the software (e.g. hooking functions, patching memory, etc). The block is geared towards a specific revis…

If they offered decent in house customisability then people wouldn’t need to resort to unreliable 3rd party solutions.

Why can’t I have a vertical taskbar? Is that really beyond the combined technical ability of a three trillion corp? Obviously not so it’s a conscious choice to not give users options and control

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#55

Microsoft still haven't implemented a native vertical taskbar after all the years of it being in the top voted[1] request (part of the request to move to any side of the screen) and the fact it's been part of Windows for like 15 years. It's a dealbreaker tbh. Third-party tools that restored the W10 taskbar in W11 allowed users to continue having a taskbar that's usable for them yet the latest W11 betas show they're r…

It's because the Windows 11 UI was designed by people who've never used anything other that an Apple Mac. Yes, Microsoft hires employees with zero Windows experience to design their operating system. That's why the Windows 11 taskbar has the icons centred -- because Apple OSX does too. That's why there's no way to drag the taskbar around -- because Apple OSX doesn't allow this either. Etc...

You can move the Dock to the side of the screen and in fact many people do. What's the excuse for not copying that functionality?

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#57
post #23
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kept you on their platform this long if you don’t mind my asking?

For me it's the hardware support in windows. I've been using Linux on and off for 15 years, but every time I've tried to switch my home desktop I've always run in to issues. I used mint Linux for quite a while and it makes a very good stab at competing with windows. Recently I got a steam deck and I'm surprised how good it is in desktop mode, and also at running windows games in proton. I'm actually considering getti…

It's been fine for me over the last decade, but I took the easy route and ran it on thinkpad T series mostly.

I've cobbled together a random ryzen system with an A380 half a year ago and didn't even check for Linux compat before buying, and steam with proton works pretty well on debian 13.

Deal breakers are usually those games that bundle the EA or Epic launcher, those two are fucking dumpster fires when it comes to proton. Like, you fiddle for an hour to get a stupid fucking launcher going that wants an additional account signup and then the whole AAA Windows game runs perfectly fine.

Makes you appreciate Steam/Proton/Valve even more every time.

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#58

Not being able to customise my environment is a dealbreaker for me. I will be converting my day to day machine to Linux rather than being nagged into a user hostile OS upgrade. Clearly Microsoft has given up on powerusers, the people who notice and sometimes fix flaws in their monolith. Seems shortsighted.

Choose KDE if you want the most options to customise the user interface, while retaining something fairly similar to Windows.

Indeed. I moved to Linux back in the WinXP/Win7 days, and KDE's been my pretty much "go-to" desktop environment of choice since pretty much day one. I've tried and used many others for various purposes over the years, but always end up back on KDE for the most overall "familiar" (most like the Windows I had spent many years on), "integrated" (KDE apps tend to "play nice" together), and customizable interface.

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#59

Not being able to customise my environment is a dealbreaker for me. I will be converting my day to day machine to Linux rather than being nagged into a user hostile OS upgrade. Clearly Microsoft has given up on powerusers, the people who notice and sometimes fix flaws in their monolith. Seems shortsighted.

I've been considering this more and more lately.

The Steam Deck is actually what's pushed me closer to adopting Linux on my desktop. I usually run Windows just because it's the easiest OS to run games on, but the Steam Deck has really shown that with Proton you can run... basically anything!

Every tool that I use is cross-platform these days, anyway. VS Code, Blender, Inkscape, Godot, etc.

Re: Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2

#60
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How good is running Windows in a VM with a Linux host nowadays? Does it work well for office users who want to run Office? How about people who want to run Adobe or Autodesk software? These use cases seem to be causing the most friction for the transition in my circles (apart from gaming, which is a different story).

Steam/Valve made a point of running Windows games under Linux as good or better as under.Windows. that is, Wine and Proton are really good these days. Running genuine MS Windows® in a VM is very possible but much less necessary than, say, 10 years ago, if you want to run some non-esoteric Windows software. It also technically requires a license.

They asked about Office, Adobe, and Autodesk. I’d say the situation is still the opposite there. In the early 00s, you could run Microsoft Office etc. pretty well with CrossOver Office and the likes. But these applications barely work anymore if at all, most likely because their complexity increased a lot over the years.

Using a Windows VM is a pretty good solution. Though last time I tried only commercial solutions like VMWare work very well, because KVM-based solutions didn’t have great graphics support. Maybe VirtualBox is better, but Oracle.

Post reply on HN