My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

At this point, I have lost count of the number of times that I've left my perfectly working Windows computer at the end of my work day, only to return to a completely broken computer that won't boot the next morning.

I find this to either be a lie or self inflicted. I manage a small fleet of a few hundred windows systems and all updates have been fine for years.

In the windows admin user groups there are more than a few that are deploying updates within 24hrs of release to thousands of servers and workstations and have not reported issues.

Lastly I think that tech bloggers say things like this to get clicks, so they can get ad revenue. Then they also tell you how to disable updates so they can get more clicks and ad revenue.

It’s disingenuous and probably harmful to be telling people to disable updates that lead them to be exposed to vulnerabilities.

I just got a new laptop and was genuinely gonna try windows 11 and wsl for my coding needs. But in first boot, it demands internet to do updates. Ok, I connect to coffee shop wifi. Nope, won't do it because it can't handle the click through screen to accept wifi ToS. Fine. I take it home, where my Internet is great but has a glitch where it drops out for a few seconds now and then. Turns out that windows will literally cancel updating and demand I reconnect and restart for the kind of drop that I barely notice day to day. So I gave up, plugged in my ArchLinux thumb drive, and mkfs.ext4 before rsyncing my entire old computer to it

Let's be honest, very few people who talk about how much they hate Microsoft will even consider alternatives

Summary:

• The author expresses dissatisfaction with the commercial and impersonal feel of modern Windows operating systems.
• Past versions of Windows were disconnected and resilient, providing a more personal user experience.
• Advertising integration in Windows has made it feel cheaper and less user-friendly.
• Updates, intrusive changes, settings modifications, and lack of control are common issues plaguing modern Windows systems.
• The author compares the current Windows experience to the offline glory days of Windows, highlighting the shift in user experience.
• Windows now includes advertising, which some users find intrusive and unwanted.
• Updates on Windows often lead to issues, with users experiencing broken computers after updates.
• Users complain about settings changing after updates, impacting their preferences and privacy settings.
• The author switched to macOS due to technical issues with Windows updates, appreciating the user experience on macOS.
• Linux is praised for respecting its users by providing the operating system for free without intrusive ads.
• The author hopes for a future version of Windows that offers more user control and less interference from Microsoft's software-as-a-service products.

Microsoft is constantly experimenting with how far they can push users into a corner and get away with it. There might be a day when Microsoft caves and releases a Windows that is more like what we wanted, but I imagine it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. We have not yet seen the worst MS has to offer force upon us.

It’s so weird to me that Lemmy is full of anti-Windows, anti-Google posts but the comments are always “I’m thinking about switching.”

How about… just do it?

I don’t know what I’m trying to say but being 20 years into “Windows-free” a few years of “Google-free” it’s tiring. I know everyone isn’t me but it’s tough watching this from the other side.

I switched all of my Windows systems over to Windows 10 LTSC a few months ago, and it's been a game-changer. I still get security updates, but no advertisements, bloat, or new "features." I believe it's supported until 2032.

After that, I'll probably switch my remaining systems over to Linux, but until then, it's not half bad.

Acceptance is the last stage of grief. You are ready to move on.

Thanks in party to the spirit in Lemmy (thanks guys and gals) and getting pissed off at the ever more enshittification, I really went full-on on taking back control, and I don't mean just changing my home PC (mainly used for Gaming) from Windows to Linux, but also replacing the TV Box that's bundled with my ISP subscription (and will be changing ISP when the current contract is over) with my own Mini-PC with Lubunto and Kodi (which is also my Torrenting host with an always-on VPN and my home's NAS) replacing the original Samsung Android (which had been bloated due to updates to the point of filling up all memory) of my aging tablet, with LineageOS and even doing the same on my brand new Smartphone.

Granted, I've always had the spirit of avoiding "smarts" in stuff that doesn't need it - like TVs - but now I went and as much as possible took back control on even the stuff that does need "smarts".

So far I'm quite happy with it all: I've maintained (improved, even, such as my Tablet now having more available memory) my level of Tech access whilst cutting of the ways in which companies exploited my time and patience for advertising money - I definitely feel I'm better now than before: a lot of things became more convenient and less restricted than they were before.

Things are becoming really bad out there when it comes to treating customers as cattle to be milked and I reckon that the only future were Tech is actually a pleasure to use for users is for those people who take control back from the corps on all of their devices.

In Linux I wanted a window to open in a specific place on boot. Fairly simple bash script.

In Windows FUCK YOU.

With llm's you can get a lot of bad info but for Linux commands, basic tutorials and scripting Linux is WAY easier to learn nowadays.

Edit didn't mean to imply Linux is easier than Windows to learn in general.

Ask your doctor if Linux is right for you

It isn't your computer, user license clearly states you're renting the software. You always have been, it's just now they can enforce that agreement more readily. Microsoft is making a lot of bad decisions at the moment, but the majority of consumers really don't care - adverts and surveillance are what they grew up with.

You can switch to Linux, but as much as I love it (it's my daily driver for work and for travel gaming, oh and the community is absolutely amazing), it's not 1-1. You will have to jump through hoops sometimes to get things to run (but damn me there are amazing people out there who can and do help). Then again, you own it because it is free, and it will run most things with the right tweaks.

I can't speak for MACs (too poor to use one, my devices tend to be upgradable or VERY long life), but I hear they're a better experience in terms of less bloat/adverts. Again though, you are renting with Apple, and are largely trapped in their ecosystem, and they have a 'reputation' for lack of repairability....

That's because you're the victim of a crime: extortion

Permanently Deleted

Like, I'd understand a free version of Windows that has the ads and bloat, but the idea that people are paying $100 for this disrespect is insane.

I have nothing critical on it, and I will make my 8.1 last as long as the disks and fans still spin!

Using windows will do that.

Linux never looked so hot.

LIBREBOOT! LIBREBOOT! LIBREBOOT!

It never was yours

That makes the OP eligible for Windows-refugee status tbh.

lol "anymore"

What do Microsoft have to gain from not listening on to the users?

Oops

How intuitive

The "1000 and 1 Microsoft sucker lament" genre again.

One would think in a "technology" community people would be sharing mostly articles about some cool-working things, and news would be something supplementary.

I know that I haven't submitted a single post here, but just WTF.