4 ms·

OTOH, 11 is the first version of Windows where Microsoft actively tells a large portion of their userbase that they don’t want them to run it. I’m not a believe

OTOH, 11 is the first version of Windows where Microsoft actively tells a large portion of their userbase that they don’t want them to run it. I’m not a believer in “the year of the Linux desktop” either, but those insane policies around fictitious hardware requirements surely must have some impact on market share?

signal11 5y ago
> I’m not a believer in “the year of the Linux desktop” either, but those insane policies around fictitious hardware requirements surely must have some impact on market share? I will give them (some) benefit of the doubt -- they probably are using Windows 11's more stringent hardware requirements as an instrument to drive increased security in the PC space. New PCs will want to be advertised as Windows 11 compatible, and will benefit from the newer features. Every type of Windows user will benefit. And yes, if it gets them more money, so much the better. But Windows 10's retirement date is October 14, 2025[1] and I don't think that's sustainable. They'll almost have to extend that date. Because otherwise, four years from now, there's a lot of devices that'll be out of support, on an OS that Microsoft sold as "the last version of Windows ever". There'll be lawsuits if that happens, mark my words. Of course I suspect Microsoft is hoping most Windows 11-ineligible machines will have been retired by then, but we know people (public sector, developing countries, lower income groups) hang on to their PCs. More realistically, they'll either extend Windows 10's support date like they did with XP, or lower the system requirements based on user feedback. More likely extend the support date, because honestly, the cost of supporting 10 vs 11 is minimal, it's not that big of an update. I'd definitely encourage people to put Linux on an old laptop though. For instance I know people who've put Linux on old Thinkpad X230s and given it to their children, who basically use them like a more-capable Chromebook. On the right hardware, Linux laptops are pretty darn good. But yes, if you have a weird hardware configuration which Linux isn't good with, and you have no time for mucking around -- do yourself a favour and stay away from Linux. [1] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-...
- hulitu 5y ago
  Security, with rootkits signed by microsoft.
- streamofdigits 5y ago
  > public sector, developing countries, lower income groups there are also people who think that the incessant production of e-waste through planned obsolescence is obscene and a crime against nature (and eventually ourselves). devices should be reparable, long-lived, upgradeable by design. and don't get me started on privacy and the grave risks from normalizing the ubiquitous collection of data. no need to mention names but you can perfectly well be a "tech titan" and a moral dwarf. each tech company (and each one of their employees) must assume their responsibility for what kind of world they are (literally) engineering
- pjmlp 5y ago
  Developing countries, lower income groups are more likely to use pirated copies of Windows bought on a street bazaar than bothering with Linux.

signal11 5y ago

> I’m not a believer in “the year of the Linux desktop” either, but those insane policies around fictitious hardware requirements surely must have some impact on market share? I will give them (some) benefit of the doubt -- they probably are using Windows 11's more stringent hardware requirements as an instrument to drive increased security in the PC space. New PCs will want to be advertised as Windows 11 compatible, and will benefit from the newer features. Every type of Windows user will benefit. And yes, if it gets them more money, so much the better. But Windows 10's retirement date is October 14, 2025[1] and I don't think that's sustainable. They'll almost have to extend that date. Because otherwise, four years from now, there's a lot of devices that'll be out of support, on an OS that Microsoft sold as "the last version of Windows ever". There'll be lawsuits if that happens, mark my words. Of course I suspect Microsoft is hoping most Windows 11-ineligible machines will have been retired by then, but we know people (public sector, developing countries, lower income groups) hang on to their PCs. More realistically, they'll either extend Windows 10's support date like they did with XP, or lower the system requirements based on user feedback. More likely extend the support date, because honestly, the cost of supporting 10 vs 11 is minimal, it's not that big of an update. I'd definitely encourage people to put Linux on an old laptop though. For instance I know people who've put Linux on old Thinkpad X230s and given it to their children, who basically use them like a more-capable Chromebook. On the right hardware, Linux laptops are pretty darn good. But yes, if you have a weird hardware configuration which Linux isn't good with, and you have no time for mucking around -- do yourself a favour and stay away from Linux. [1] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-...

hulitu 5y ago
Security, with rootkits signed by microsoft.
streamofdigits 5y ago
> public sector, developing countries, lower income groups there are also people who think that the incessant production of e-waste through planned obsolescence is obscene and a crime against nature (and eventually ourselves). devices should be reparable, long-lived, upgradeable by design. and don't get me started on privacy and the grave risks from normalizing the ubiquitous collection of data. no need to mention names but you can perfectly well be a "tech titan" and a moral dwarf. each tech company (and each one of their employees) must assume their responsibility for what kind of world they are (literally) engineering
pjmlp 5y ago
Developing countries, lower income groups are more likely to use pirated copies of Windows bought on a street bazaar than bothering with Linux.