1444
Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has replaced the Hide Desktop icon with Copilot.
(programming.dev)
Switch to Linux!
From Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/1as1yjk/microsoft_in_their_infinite_wisdom_has_replaced/
"Microsoft continually makes their OS worse, but every time they do, Linux users come into the comment section telling me I should switch, so I'm not going to."
People don't switch just because of some minor inconvenience (as if Linux didn't have any...) and outside of Lemmy/the Fediverse echo chamber very few people are concerned about privacy. They will switch (maybe) if the new tool works better for them than thge previous one. Otherwise, why should they bother? Linux is my primary OS since many years, but it isn't everybody's cup of tea.
This echo chamber gets LOUD, too!
The thing is, is that it really doesn’t affect people in the way you guys seem to imagine.
I’ve used Linux, MacOS, and Windows. Currently use Windows for work as a C# . net, SQL / GraphQL, and React TypeScript developer and although I was shocked they’re all pro windows, coming from MacOS. Once you get used to it you don’t really notice the shit stuff as you just do what you’re doing.
I would still rate my experiences in this order though: MacOS, Linux, Windows. Best to worst, but like I said even though in now use the worst in my opinion it really doesn’t have much of an impact. Plus if I were to use Linux I’d need to geek out and waste so much time configuring it and I’m past that stage.
I work in healthcate and use windows, at work and at home if I need to do work related stuff. I don't mind windows at work as it's been configured for the purpose and all the shitty bits are switched off - something Microsoft let's it's business users do. It's a decent operating system when it's set up to do what it needs to do, and I'm very familiar with it from using it since Windows 95.
I used to use windows at home and had Linux for occasional interest. But in the last few years I've moved away from windows and now I'm on Linux as my main driver on multiple devices.
For home users Windows is getting pretty shitty - it steals data all the time with numerous privacy settings you have to set to try and stop it, it tries to force you ads, it tries to force you to use its Web browser, it bundles lots of sponsored apps and when it does a big update it resets alot of your choices on privacy plus reinstalls removed bundle apps. It also throws new "features" at you which take up resources and impact privacy. Like Xbox gaming - I didn't ask for it, I don't want it, stop installing it every year and stop forcing an overlay on my own games.
It's really a chore to use windows now; it feels like a constant battle to make sure it's not intruding on your data and privacy or showing you ads. I now use windows as the exception when there is a specific game that doesn't work in Linux. The rest of the time I boot into Linux, or use a separate work provided Windows device for home working.
I know it's probably a case of "who asked" but I guess I just mean I get that windows can be decent for work related stuff (or necessary) but when it comes to personal stuff it's a bit of a nightmare. And I guess it also comes down to whether the privacy invasion and advertising bothers users. Bothers me a lot, but some people don't seem to care how the customer has become the product.
Most people don't care because most of your problems are all privacy related. And that's what Linux people don't seem to get. They rant and rave about how much better Linux is.... for privacy. But the average Joe doesn't know or care that data is being collected and for the most part it doesn't affect them. It's just some Boogeyman being thrown at them. What they care about is ease of use and convience. They don't dig into those details because, for the most part, they're not even aware.
When Linux people say it's a "better experience", they largely mean detailed customization and more privacy.
When Windows people say it's a "better experience", they mostly mean that it's the same relatively easy to use experience on every device and it Just Works®.
They're both right. But each side argues their side of the conversation not seeing that the other side has a perfectly justified use case for theirs. It's like arguing that everyone should drive a van and not understanding why someone might not want one.
Ask most people if they're okay with the government installing cameras/microphones in their own home. If someone says they're sincerely okay with that then hopefully we can agree there is a difference between having a preference and not understanding what is in their own best interests. I draw the line further; the same applies for privacy of your own computing.
No, no. You're welcome here too and your experience is really helpful to share, and also helps to dispell this idea that all Linux users are basement geeks pushing a software cult LOL.
I'm the same way, right there with you. I loved classic Windows for decades. My real last straw was when I was helping my sister with a reinstall and discovered firsthand how pushy they were being with forcing a Microsoft Account.
"Oh no problem, you just have to disable WiFi completely via the switch, otherwise it'll complain that you need an internet connection, so then you need to try three times unsuccessfully on purpose and THEN it'll let you make a local account."
"Ok they don't do that anymore, now you need to use a keyboard shortcut to open a CMD prompt, disable a service..."
It's completely blunt anymore how Microsoft feels about customers: They think we're stupid cattle they've been raising since the 90's to "click OK" and make accounts for anything they want. I wish they weren't so right...
Since then, I found terminal stuff to actually be fun and at least Linux feels like it's MY machine, not like I paid $100+ for a license key to rent their software that always begs me for more and rats on me at every turn.
But yeah, "just switch" isn't helping anyone. We need to guide and support more people into it
Get AutoCAD on Linux and I'm there buddy. Some of us need to work.
True, the biggest sore points of Linux is Windows software support. This probably won't work for you because you seem to use AutoCAD for work, but for me I was able to just find alternatives to programs that were not available anymore when I switched to Linux.
For sure. I would love to ditch Autocad, but that would require me convincing my entire industry. I hate AutoCAD.
Sure, but it's also not easy to pivot an entire workforce to a new software platform. I work in architecture and the industry on a whole runs on the smallest possible margins and is managed by boomers that can barely mark up a pdf.
This seems to suggest they can download, locate, possibly extract, and then open one.
I'm genuinely awe struck. Yours are practically self-reliant compared to ours! :(
It's OK if it's FOSS. Imagine if Adobe Acrobat was FOSS and PDF was an open standard - it would have double the features and 10 times less suck.
Autodesk is the only entity who would be able to do that, due to the code being proprietary.
Not impossible to happen, though. Autodesk already has Maya available for Linux.
Obviously there are alternatives like FreeCAD, but alternatives aren't always an option.
Also, while AutoCAD might not work right now, WINE is getting better rapidly, and, while not guaranteed, it (along with Adobe programs) could theoretically work in the future without them needing to port the software. Of course, the companies porting the software would be the preferred solution here.
I'm personally not a fan of relying on proprietary technology for work, but most people are not in control of what their boss says they have to use, and the concept of proprietary "industry standards" continues to be a thing, partly due to lobbying and giving free copies to educators (Autodesk. Adobe, Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all very guilty of this). Unfortunately, I don't see that changing soon.
Hell forget about AutoCAD, what about word and EXCEL. now you and Linux dudebros will tell me there are alternatives on Linux like libre office and what not. To them I say this
Blame Microsoft for not conforming to their own standard. There's a reason the EU uses ODF instead of the mess that is OOXML. Different versions of MS Office aren't even fully compatible with each other. Also nowadays, you can use Office 365 in a web browser. For desktop, there is LibreOffice and OnlyOffice, which have okay compatibility. MS Office can also open ODF files, as is legally mandated by the EU, since it would be considered anticompetative if they didn't.
I don't use those functions of Excel, so I can't comment. Also to be clear, are you asking if you can program without a Terminal? I'm not even sure what the question is. VBA is a proprietary Microsoft-specific scripting language, so of course there won't be native support for that in non-Windows OSs, although there might be a reverse engineering effort I'm not familiar with.
Blaming Linux for a problem that Microsoft caused and won't solve due to anticompetative practices is just dumb. Microsoft basically invented the concept of Embrace, Extend, extinguish, and Office is a prime example of that.
I'm curious what their reason for porting Maya was? That's really interesting.
Likely because of the use of Linux (and historically UNIX with SGI workstations) in Hollywood for CG artists.
Maybe they are not Linux users, maybe they are Microsoft employees trying to keep you on Windows by making Linux users look obnoxious.
I for one enjoy salty Microsoft tears, just makes me feel better with my choice completely ditching them.
Keep 'em coming.
Literally what? I'm a Linux user bro
It wasn't directed to you, it is directed to people constantly crying about their choice