Live data from Hacker News

My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

howtogeek.com

651–660 of 678 posts

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

#651
post #290

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-s…

YouTube is absolutely not ok with adblockers. They try their darnest but just can't keep up with the workarounds.

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

#652

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its funny that a compiler forces you to update your OS.

It's a lot more than a compiler.

Yes it has an editor and a debugger, and some other stuff. So what? Its still an application. An application forcing you to update your OS would be laughed out of the room in any other situation. Personally I wouldn't defend such a broken design, but to each his own.

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

#653

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just simply untrue. Go to System Settings, General, Software Update, then click on the "i" next to Automatic. Turn off "Check for updates".

Your suggestion doesn't solve the problem. I want to know about updates without being forced to install them to avoid being badgered. AFAIK that's not possible.

> My Mac is constantly bugging me to install OS updates. Same with my iPad and my iPhone. Apple gives you no option to skip the updates. The only way to avoid the constant carping is to allow Apple to do the update automatically, which is not by any means having control of your own devices.

I've re-read what you wrote several times, and I can't help but come to the same conclusion that the problem you're reporting is related to "constantly bugging" and "Apple gives you no option to skip the updates". Turning off the updates solves both of these.

Now you say you want the harping, but don't want the automatic updates. That's easy: "Check for updates" is on, "Install macOS updates" is off, "Install Security Responses and system files" is off. Now you'll be alerted but the updates won't happen automatically.

I'm not sure if you really couldn't figure this out, or if you're just venting a bit, so I'm happy to give the benefit of the doubt. Either way, now you'll have exactly what you want :)

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

#654

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But spotlight replaces alt+space so you can’t minimise or move a window from the command line :(

You meant Microsoft's PowerToys Run, correct? Spotlight is Mac-only and uses Command-Space by default.

As the sibling comment mentioned, you can customize the keyboard shortcut so you don’t lose alt-space.

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

#655

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Leave it alone? It's unnecessary bloatware, that performs absolutely zero required functionality. It's continuous prominent presence in the _always_ visible part of the file tree on the left of _every_ explorer window is a constant reminder that what used to be my favorite OS is now user hostile. At least in Europe it did get a proper uninstall a while ago, which proves that it really was just there for promotion. I'…

Unnecessary bloatware? Bloatware really? What does it bloat? You can make all of these things disappear without removing them from Windows itself. You also have to remember that an inaction is an action. Ignoring a pop-up or not reading something and then just clicking x doesn't equal this thing will not bother me anymore. You can make the weather snippet widget thing just not be there anymore and it's not hard. I ha…

> Unnecessary bloatware?

Yes. I don't want it, I don't need it, my OS does not need it to function, I never asked for it and (until the EU forced them to change this) I could not remove it.

> Bloatware really?

Yes, really. "Unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer". What in this definition does not apply, according to you?

> What does it bloat?

My OS, duh. It probably does not waste too many resources, as long as I don't engage with it, but the fact that it's there and it was shoved into my face on every explorer window is something worse than spam. It's basically the modern day equivalent of those shitty browser toolbars that some programs used to try to sneak install.

> You can make all of these things disappear

False. I was only able to fully disable OneDrive with registry hacks, before EU forced them to take it out.

So you are telling me, a Windows power user since 3.11, that I should just rtfm?

It's not about being able to turn certain things off, it's about the playbook that Microsoft is following these days, displaying malignant, almost petty behavior, like restoring the Edge shortcut on the desktop after updates.

It's about all the black patterns, like how you need to first go back a page in the post-update maze before you even get the option to continue without attaching a Microsoft account to your OS. Yes, I know that you can turn the maze off, but that option is hidden so far in the settings most users have no idea it even exists.

It's about the fact that they even dared to suggest putting ads in Explorer windows. It's about the clear sensation that my OS is no longer on my side. It's selling out, stabbing me in the back, turning rotten. It's a crying shame, but I may need to take it out to the back of the shed one of these days.

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

#656

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are some thoughts: #1: Apple locks you into their ecosystem, and feels even creepier than MS. #2: The Linux distros I've used are designed in a way so you shouldn't have to use the CLI and sudo for normal tasks, but you end up having to anyway in practice. It's a combination of annoying, and I, sooner-or-later, end up in a state where the system is "totaled"; easier to do a clean install than get it working agai…

How, on macOS, does apple lock you into their ecosystem when you can run whatever you want?

You can't run whatever you want.

e.g. I used to install qlplugins on every new macos device as our company bought them. Then one day Apple refused to run any 32-bit library despite the fact that 32 bit code still runs natively on x86-64 chips (this when everything still ran on x86-64 btw).

Designers still ask me: "Hey, how do I see the dimensions of this picture when pressing spacebar to preview it?" And I have to say: "Sorry, Apple said you can't do that anymore".

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

#657
post #441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait... Windows calculator needs an internet connection to work?

Money exchange related maybe.

This, and it also sends diagnostics to microsoft so they can try to glean how people use it.

The calculator app is open source so you can see the code here: https://github.com/microsoft/calculator

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

#658

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's nothing restricting you to AMD GPUs though? Proton works great on my 3090. It's even been less troublesome than when I used to use AMD GPUs, where IIRC accelerated graphics drivers and the ROCm drivers had some sort of conflict unless installed a certain way (a few years ago now, my last AMD card was a 5700xt).

You're not restricted to AMD, but Nvidia Linux drivers are notoriously bad.

> Nvidia Linux drivers are notoriously bad.

This is true, but have also improved substantially in the last year or so.

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

#659
post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are some thoughts: #1: Apple locks you into their ecosystem, and feels even creepier than MS. #2: The Linux distros I've used are designed in a way so you shouldn't have to use the CLI and sudo for normal tasks, but you end up having to anyway in practice. It's a combination of annoying, and I, sooner-or-later, end up in a state where the system is "totaled"; easier to do a clean install than get it working agai…

I have to use ubuntu, and it is getting creepy too. just off the top of my head: - whoopsie - uploads crashes to canonical - motd - telemetry and nags - forced automatic updates - snaps and other features lots of people don't want, but can't be disabled - removing the ubuntu-advantage package disables most of the OS etc..

They also defaulted to sending searches through Amazon a few years ago.

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

#660
post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

The upgrade to KDE 6 (and switching to Wayland) has been particularly painful for me lately. Lots of bugs and stuff not working correctly (like zoom). So yeah, Linux is not a refuge either.

It's not a refuge from issues, true. But it's a refuge from deliberate issues.
Post reply on HN