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My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

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Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#281

Post by rkagerer »

flakiness wrote: post #117
listenallyall wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- stock is at all-time high - "all the people" is probably actually well under 1% of users - successfully switched all corporate accounts from single-purchase w/ occasional renewal to ongoing monthly subscription - also a lot of of consumer subscriptions - Azure - Github - LinkedIn - OpenAI investment I actually agree with you that the Windows experience is getting worse, quickly. But on balance, seems more is going…

And I think that's why Windows gets worse. They just don't care anymore. I have wanted to like Windows and hoped Microsoft to get serious against these consumer-centric companies like Apple and Google, to use their cloud revenue to pump Windows up. That hasn't happened.

What OS does Bill Gates use these days?

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#282

Post by Arainach »

gertop wrote: post #204
Arainach wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>As I understand, fast fractional scaling is impossible with Linux because fractional scaling is a bitmap operation while it’s just a rendering parameter on Windows. Windows, like every modern operating system 2006 or newer, has a graphics compositor to do basic things like allow GPU-accelerated window stretching, prevent screen tearing, and so on (OS X had one slightly earlier). Meanwhile while Linux has had multipl…

For the most part, Windows doesn't achieve fractional/integer scaling by doing gpu-accelerated bitmap scaling. On Windows and MacOS and iOS and Android the GUI toolkits are aware of the scaling factor and draw themselves appropriately. It has nothing to do with the compositor. Some legacy apps on Windows are indeed scaled like you describe, resulting in a blurry mess like on Linux, but they are few and far between.

That's a fair point. I could also have said "certain very vocal parts of the Linux community have resisted every effort to move to modern UI toolkits".

DWM, Direct2D, Direct Composition, and the fact that major Windows UX frameworks use them does allow significant offloading of drawing to GPU instead of CPU, however.

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#283

Post by Moru »

viraptor wrote: post #256
bruce511 wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're getting downvoted, as will I, because presenting an alternative anecdotal experience isn't acceptable in Windows threads. I've learned this the hard way. Unfortunately just like the original post is anecdotal (I haven't had a machine fail to startup after an update since XP) not all anecdotes are born equal. Interestingly, I don't see adverts myself, and I've never seen any at work. I -suspect- that's heavily…

> I don't internet search from the Start bar Unless you keep modifying the registry to disable it, you do, every time you do a search. You're just not using those results. But you're still getting the crappy experience of delayed actions when you just want the local results.

I just looked and I don't get them but I see them on others computers. I can't remember doing any registry hacks on this so not sure why I don't get them... Maybe because I upgraded from windows 7 and never had a windows account, running as local user only?

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#284

Post by dryanau »

DontchaKnowit wrote: post #116
OptionOfT wrote: post #14

I can't even remove 'Recommended' from the start menu, not even on a Pro for Workstations. Every time I search on the start menu there is a web search, impossible to turn off. How is that acceptable? I install Edge Beta to test something, and the I uninstall it. All of the sudden my search provider in my normal Edge is reset. And the nagging everywhere. No I don't want 'back-up' my files (OneDrive is not backup, it's…

My start menu hasnt even worked for over a year on 2 seperate computers now.

What do you mean when you say it doesn't "work"? You click the windows icon and nothing comes up? It displays but nothing is clickable? On 2 different machines? Really? This seems like hyperbole. It sounds like there's a specific feature that doesn't work for you as it used to, but instead of describing the issue you've thrown up your hands and declared it to not work. If it truly does not open or respond to clicks I'd love to know about it and retract this comment!

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#285

Post by josephg »

bongodongobob wrote: post #217
slicktux wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re the ideal windows user…whatever that may be??

It's not fucking with core components that aren't supposed to be fucked with.

I wouldn’t mind the defaults if they weren’t horrible. No, I don’t want Microsoft selling my data to 3rd parties. I don’t want an AI “assistant” watching everything I do. I don’t want crazy right wing conspiracy theory news stories in my start menu, or popping up next to the clock or wherever that junk lives. I don’t want my start menu to do an internet search. Or to try and get me to play candy crush. If I want a dropbox like service I’ll research my options. Don’t auto install onedrive and make it start automatically at boot.

None of that stuff is a core component. The only reason any of that stuff is part of windows is because windows is a mature product. And all their desperate product managers need to add stupid features to windows to justify getting promoted.

Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I don’t use windows because I want to be part of Microsoft’s software empire. I just want an OS that boots fast and lets me play video games. I don’t buy ram from the computer store so some tasteless bozo at Microsoft can justify their 6 figure salary.

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#286

Post by ant6n »

petepete wrote: post #232
trynumber9 wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where can I buy a license / key for LTSC? I looked on Microsoft's site but all it says is to contact their sales team. Did you have luck with that process? Usually when a company says 'contact sales' that means it is very expensive.

It seems like Microsoft are afraid to make it easily available because if word got out every enthusiast and power user would switch leaving them without the ongoing ad revenue.

Much better business choice to have the enthusiasts move away from MS products forever.

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#287

Post by smetj »

Windows, after 98SP2 and XP it just became absolutely untenable. (it started during XP already) Any pre-installed version was rife with junk one just wanted to get rid of. What still remains to this day, the inexplicable slowdown between a fresh install and a couple of months down the road, at boot time processes which keep writing to hd choking the os for tens of minutes, restore point hell, ... anti-virus which guaranteed ruins your OS ... software that somehow gets installed out of nowhere ... a printer completely impossible to install, then there's the 600mb HP printer software you need to install ... the endless dialog questions you are bombarded with at random times ... I think many people accept this as normal, part of how things are. I switched to Linux and it stays out of my way. I do recognize that some of its configs are difficult for the non-experienced user, however on the flip side you can actually do fixes yourself. Its comparable to someone who can work on his/her own car. YMMV.

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#288

Post by jtriangle »

lozenge wrote: post #213
OptionOfT wrote: post #14

I can't even remove 'Recommended' from the start menu, not even on a Pro for Workstations. Every time I search on the start menu there is a web search, impossible to turn off. How is that acceptable? I install Edge Beta to test something, and the I uninstall it. All of the sudden my search provider in my normal Edge is reset. And the nagging everywhere. No I don't want 'back-up' my files (OneDrive is not backup, it's…

You can use Windows Firewall to block outbound connections from the Start bar. It would be nice if some basic features like calculator would still work, but no luck.

If you have a w7 install the calc exe still works on 10/11

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#289

Post by atemerev »

klooney wrote: post #81
OptionOfT wrote: post #14

I can't even remove 'Recommended' from the start menu, not even on a Pro for Workstations. Every time I search on the start menu there is a web search, impossible to turn off. How is that acceptable? I install Edge Beta to test something, and the I uninstall it. All of the sudden my search provider in my normal Edge is reset. And the nagging everywhere. No I don't want 'back-up' my files (OneDrive is not backup, it's…

Presumably all the executives, PMs, and designers all use Macs.

And half of software engineers (the other half have Linux laptops).

I only use Windows as a game launcher (and I’m still on Windows 10), I don’t understand why anyone would need it anymore except games.

Re: My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

#290

Post by idk1 »

karaterobot wrote: post #60

People don't switch operating systems at the drop of a hat. There's got to be a pretty good reason for it. All the people switching away from Windows, those are probably users that are lost to Microsoft forever. I get that their money comes from other places, but I bet there's a second-order effect of people who don't use Windows—maybe even people who now hate Windows—not having any desire stick with their other prod…

The issue is the people switching are the kinds of people who set up family computers and recommend things to others. So there is this huge hidden knock on effect of people going from pro-windows to nutrual or recommending a different os.

In the simplist terms, it's a similar reason youtube allows users with ad blockers, those people with ad blockers will still share videos to people without ad blockers.

Very short-sighted move from Microsoft. All of this gain now from ad revenue but long-term damage to the brand.

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