Windows 11 Makes Converts -- to Linux

Although, only a couple of years earlier, I openly described myself as a technophobe, I switched to using Linux as my primary operating system way back in 1996 and have used it as such ever since. I was recently-divorced and needed to make the best use of an already obsolescent 486 PC to get myself the rest of the way through grad school, and the switch saved me lots of money for other things.

It also, as I could tell any time I had to use a PC or a Mac, saved me lots of annoyance and inconvenience. Having to get my hands dirty came with the added knowledge that things don't have to be this way when dealing with the two most popular proprietary systems.

Fast forward to now, and one long-time Windows user reports numerous problems with Windows updates and describes his turning point in part as follows:

So there I was, finally grasping the reality of what you're up against, as a Windows user:

• Random bugs that break basic functionality
• Updates that install without permission and brick my system
• Copilot and OneDrive ads appearing in every corner of the OS
• Copilot buttons everywhere, coming for every application
• Can't even make a local account without hacking the setup with Rufus (they even removed the terminal workaround)
• Zero actionable fixes or even an acknowledgment of their fuckups [There is an impressive list of these elsewhere in his piece. --ed]

People often say Linux is "too much work.".

And I agree. They're completely justified to complain. There's the documentation page diving, the forums, the reddit threads. And, most importantly, you have to basically rewire your brain and stop expecting it to behave like Windows used to.

But I looked at the list above and realized: Windows is now also too much work.

And the difference with Windows is that you're going to do all that work while actively fighting your computer only for it to be undone when the next surprise update comes and ruins everything.

You might be thinking "just disable updates, man" or "just install LTSC", or "just run some random debloat script off of GitHub". Why? Why would I jump through all these hoops? I'd rather put in the effort for an OS that knows what consent is and respects me as a user.

Being at the mercy of random major changes that require me to drop everything to repair my broken workflow is something I have observed for years that has kept me from entertaining the idea of leaving Linux, but now it appears to have become bad enough to cause Microsoft to lose customers.

If this guy reminds you of yourself (perhaps minus the anti-corporate tone), you might consider Linux. And here's a report from another person who just made the switch. ("I replaced Windows with Linux and everything's going great.")

-- CAV