My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore • Hacker News Board

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

#411

Post by FRidh » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 9:48 AM UTC

gudzpoz wrote: post #208

msm_ wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, Linux configuration is not exactly straightforward in comparison to Windows. Dozens of obscure config files (each with a different syntax), stored in various random places in the filesystem, with the general expectation that every user should be able to run a terminal command once in a while to fix something. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Linux lover and user, but from an outside perspective Windows registry…

I've been wondering if these magical registry things are documented anywhere... Searching, for example, "site:microsoft.com DisableSearchBoxSuggestions", only leads me to tons of forum posts. I would love a configuration system with centralized database and centralized documentation, but no OS currently seems to be able to achieve that, and Windows' missing documentation appears even worse than obscure but documented…

NixOS system configuration is centralised and documented.

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

#412

Post by nhkcode » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 9:49 AM UTC

There is a reason why it was renamed from "My Computer" to "This PC".

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

#413

Post by tannhaeuser » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 9:51 AM UTC

I've been out of the Windows loop for roughly as many years as the "skip every other Windows release" is holding: Windows 98 good, Windows Me bad, Windows XP good, Windows Vista bad, Windows 7 good, Windows 8 bad, Windows 10 good, Windows 11 bad ... has this meta rule changed? There seems wisdom or even intent behind it in that MS keeps correcting their overreaching changes every other release.

The one thing Windows gets right IMO is binary backward compatibilty, in particular with games, but also with older apps still from the pre-subscription era (3D modelling, Adobe sw, ...). Unfortunately, x86 seems kindof going under. Haven't tested extensively, but I wouldn't be surprised if a regular (non-pro) iPad can run old DOS games on RetroArch/dosbox longer on a charge than any outdated x86 hardware can. Right now, MS also again attempts to bring Windows onto ARM after their former attempt failed miserably with no exclusive software available that people actually wanted to use (cf Dells new ARM-based XPS and others). Is there instruction-level emulation with JIT on Windows ARM for x86/64 like Apple's Rosetta/Rosetta2?

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

#414

Post by speff » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 9:52 AM UTC

llm_trw wrote: post #397

out-of-ideas wrote: post #391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

every software that ever updates has options that are subject to change; a user needs to be proactive in knowing whats running. i do agree we shouldnt need the privacy treadmill, but until we have better consumer laws the treadmill will continue... as far as powershell scripts; i cant say i am a fan (i do like the potential targeting of offline machines with something like the mentioned website) - but my favorite to…

Or you can just use Linux.

I love fighting my libinput drivers every time I update. And lately the driver for my laptop keyboard is suddenly crashing without warning prompting a hard reboot every time. This was not an issue prior to a few months ago.

Linux software is not immune to frustrating changes

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

#415

Post by pndy » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 9:58 AM UTC

msm_ wrote: post #175

rsanheim wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This illustrates just how ridiculously screwed up Windows is now. No one should have to resort to registry hacking or the many scripts or hacks available to regain control over basic UX, privacy, or usability selections. It is absolutely absurd.

To be fair, Linux configuration is not exactly straightforward in comparison to Windows. Dozens of obscure config files (each with a different syntax), stored in various random places in the filesystem, with the general expectation that every user should be able to run a terminal command once in a while to fix something. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Linux lover and user, but from an outside perspective Windows registry…

The basics I'd say are still pretty much configurable via GUI so a newcomer wouldn't have hard times with either KDE, Gnome or Xfce. For majority it probably would be enough if GPU, sound and network drivers are working and it's possible to easily install apps they used to use on Windows or OSX/

Back around 2003 I read in local "Linux Magazine" about some project that tried bringing kind of a registry equivalent to Linux world. Sadly these were Internet caffee times so it was hard to track projects, so I really don't know what happen to it. The closest thing that resembles that idea is dconf.

With Windows nowadays you do all this tweaking or juggling within registry/group policy editor to protect yourself (and of course you do that if you care - majority of people don't) while with Linux I'd say it's more a matter of fine-tuning your distro of choice to your needs.

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

#416

Post by globular-toast » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 10:03 AM UTC

tannhaeuser wrote: post #413

I've been out of the Windows loop for roughly as many years as the "skip every other Windows release" is holding: Windows 98 good, Windows Me bad, Windows XP good, Windows Vista bad, Windows 7 good, Windows 8 bad, Windows 10 good, Windows 11 bad ... has this meta rule changed? There seems wisdom or even intent behind it in that MS keeps correcting their overreaching changes every other release. The one thing Windows…

I mean, it's a classic tactic used by many companies like supermarkets to increase prices, for example. For supermarkets it goes like this: increase price (e.g. 1.75 to 2.00 per unit) and simultaneously put the product on offer (e.g. 3 for 5.00). Then remove offer, leaving the price increased to 2.00 per unit. It basically softens the blow by tricking the consumer into thinking every step is at worst neutral.

It's the same tactics with Windows: introduce shockingly bad new version, but continue support of old version (seems neutral because "I'm never upgrading"). Force new users to new version. Release new "good" version with all the compromises of previous version (seems positive).

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

#417

Post by ant6n » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 10:08 AM UTC

SkyMarshal wrote: post #320

ant6n wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s basically 1 reason I haven’t switched back to Mac: I want a non reflective screen - I don’t want to look at an outline of myself when working, and I want a laptop I can work with in any position, not just where light sources and reflections behind me are carefully removed.

Just put an anti-glare screen on it. Tons of Mac users feel the same way and do this (myself among them). And fwiw, you can make a glossy screen into a matte one with a cover, but you can't make a matte screen into a glossy one the same way. Which may be why Apple makes all their screens glossy.

Apple doesn’t offer such thing. And their laptops are too thin, you’re supposed to take them off before closing.

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

#418

Post by makeitdouble » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 10:09 AM UTC

atemerev wrote: post #289

klooney wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Linux requires you give up on cutting edge hardware.

Basically there's no alternative to the Surface Pro or the Asus' Z13 (or even X13), or Lenovo's dual screen or tablet lines that works with Linux.

Incidentally these form factors also doesn't come to macs either.

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

#419

Post by usr1106 » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 10:11 AM UTC

hawski wrote: post #390

atemerev wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

In every company I worked for (Germany, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland) it was all Windows laptops, that for the Linux component either used a VM, WSL or straight up servers.

I just don't want to work under such incapable management / IT department, that forces developers to use Windows. I have worked with Linux for 17 years and the last time I was forced to have a Windows VM was 14 years ago.

Yes, it limits available jobs and probably doesn't pay any top salaries. But better than selling myself to people I don't respect.

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

#420

Post by globular-toast » Sat, Jun 22, 2024, 10:13 AM UTC

sedatk wrote: post #181

The first time I needed to install Linux on my computer was last week because Wireshark didn’t support 802.11 packet capture on Windows or WSL. So, I installed Ubuntu on my Surface Laptop 3, and my experience had been quite terrible. (Disclaimer: I’m a former Windows engineer, but I’ve also been using Linux since Slackware 3 occasionally) * Setup started in 100% HiDPI scaling, making everything impossible to read. Ev…

If you'd been riding tricycles your whole life you'd fall off a bicycle the first time. Keep at it. It's worth it.