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Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

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Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#151

Post by 7bit »

Ranxer wrote: post #104
jeppester wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only way this get better is if the user gets to choose between an OS with ads, lock-in, telemetry etc. and then one with none of that. As it is now, buying a laptop in a store is a "pick your poison" situation.

Better yet: don't pick any poison at all -- both System76 and Tuxedo Computers (as examples, sometimes you can buy a latop without an OS and save the money, same goes for PCs) offer laptops with Linux installed: no Microslop tax, and hardware that's guaranteed to work with OSS.

Linux is one of the poisons bro

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#153

Post by PxldLtd »

piva00 wrote: post #129
ekianjo wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is capitalism's biggest flaw: it's based on the assumption that there will be competition The fact that governments allow Microsoft to abuse its position to force OEMs to install Windows is the biggest problem. This would never happen in a market where regulation ensures healthy competition.

That version of capitalism sailed 40 years ago in the USA, antitrust enforcement has slowly disappeared which creates a race to the bottom for other countries who would like their companies to compete against USA's companies. If they enforce antitrust then the behemoths created in the USA by absorbing competitors without antitrust enforcement can eat their lunch, even though it's better for consumers. Unfortunately t…

I totally agree. There seems to be absolutely zero focus on Glass Steagall or Citizens United so I can't see how this actually happens without political revolt at this point.

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#154

Post by olav »

GuB-42 wrote: post #84
ptero wrote: post #11

Microsoft lost its way much earlier than 4 years ago. It abused users at the time of Netscape wars and forcing Internet Explorer down people's throats. But they hit an infinite gold mine with government adoption and for the last 30 years no amount of bad engineering was able to shake off government use. Windows 11 is bad? Yes, but did you try Microsoft Teams? The only way to force Microsoft into "users matter" engine…

We could say that Microsoft never lost its way in that regard, it has always been predatory. Where it lost its way however is Microsoft actually cared about Windows, it was their flagship product after all. It was terrible in some aspects, but also excellent in some others. I particular, they took compatibility very seriously, which is far from an easy task in the wild PC ecosystem. They were also quite good in the U…

> The traditional Office suite is still good

I don't think so. The web version is mostly incompatible with the Windows or Mac desktop versions.

Have you compared the UI of Word/Powerpoint/Excel with alternatives like Apple Pages/Keynote/Numbers or Google Docs/Sheets? For me, the MS products are a complete mess with arbitrary collections of unrelated buttons, abysmal font rendering and insane defaults.

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#155

Post by Gigachad »

chii wrote: post #44
mschild wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other thing is availability of alternatives. Most standard users simply dont have an option. Mac Neo brought Apple into a lower price range, but requires a new device. Linux is there (and frankly fantastic at this point) but good luck getting the average person through the setup process.

> good luck getting the average person through the setup process. an enterprising hardware manufacturer can take on the mantle, and be the trail blazer with a no-setup machine that works. Personally, i would imagine something like framework laptop, and steam machine, are the best candidates.

This is what the Steamdeck is. But it took an absolutely massive amount of work over a decade from valve just to get gaming working. No laptop manufacturer could afford to do the same for fixing wine for desktop software since they aren’t getting a cut of the software sales like valve does.

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#156

Post by g947o »

I had enough of Windows 11's ads that I bought a Mac mini for personal use and requested a Macbook to replace my Windows laptop.

I will have to use Teams and Outlook at work because I don't have a choice. But that's it Microsoft.

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#157

Post by jacquesm »

raddan wrote: post #141
jacquesm wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What bugged me for years is that I ended up paying the microsoft or apple tax that way. In the end I figured out a more efficient way around that than any of the rebates/refunds: just buy second hand hardware. Someone else paid for and used the windows license, I just need the box.

If you don’t need a laptop, you can also build a machine from parts. This is probably the best way to run a desktop computer.

Anybody on HN that didn't know that you can build a machine from parts or isn't capable do doing so is probably on the wrong website ;)

Re: Microsoft's "fix" for Windows 11

#159

Post by cardanome »

alexb_ wrote: post #120
Ranxer wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Better yet: don't pick any poison at all -- both System76 and Tuxedo Computers (as examples, sometimes you can buy a latop without an OS and save the money, same goes for PCs) offer laptops with Linux installed: no Microslop tax, and hardware that's guaranteed to work with OSS.

Most people want a computer that works with their software. No, "learn the FOSS version" is not a solution. Especially because nearly everyone has some niche thing they like, some 5% that isn't covered by the FOSS solutions, that only a niche Windows program can actually do correctly. And that doesn't even get into gaming.

For better or worse, well mostly worse, most of the software people use these days is either directly running in the browser or is electron based so running perfectly fine on Linux.

Gaming on Linux is a mostly solved issue for anyone that doesn't do competitive multiplayer gaming. If a game isn't using some root kit level anti-cheat or copyright protection, it is going to run just fine. Same with running most other software.

The only part where Linux is sucks is for certain creatives fields. If you need Adobe products you are out of luck. Video editing well you use Da Vinci or free software. There are some good DAWS but no Ableton.

Yes, you have to compromise but Linux is definitely getting there. Not everything runs on Mac either and people cope just fine.

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