5 ms·

I sometimes think about going from 10 to 11. Thanks for steering me straight.

selimthegrim 4y ago
No one is going to make a movie about this, but they should probably make a warning documentary
version_five 4y ago
I was actually considering buying a windows computer instead of a mac (which has it's own set of problems), I'll pass after hearing this.
- kneebonian 4y ago
  Buy a Windows computer and then put Linux on it. If you need Windows stuff just boot up a VM. It's the only way to own your hardware and your OS.
  - version_five 4y ago
    I have several Linux computers, I need a native way of running MS Office for work so I need either a Mac or Windows machine. I haven't looked at a local windows VM, is that something I can do legally? Does it mean I need to buy a windows license? The other option, which I'm lukewarm about is what I think is called Windows 365 where I can pay monthly to access a windows VM in a browser. The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word.
    - vladvasiliu 4y ago
      > I haven't looked at a local windows VM, is that something I can do legally? Does it mean I need to buy a windows license? Yes, you can do it legally and yes, you need a license. I'm not sure how that works if your physical computer came with a license (like moste PCs do). > The other option, which I'm lukewarm about is what I think is called Windows 365 where I can pay monthly to access a windows VM in a browser. The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word. I've never tried that, but for my basic Office 365 needs (for work) I've found that the actual apps running in a browser are great. I actually find outlook works much better than the local version.
      - heavyset_go 4y ago
        IIRC, Windows licenses are tied to processors, and assuming the license allows it, running a Windows VM on computer that shipped with a Windows license shouldn't be a problem.
        sekh60 4y ago
        A Windows OEM license is tied to motherboard. A retail license can be transferred to a new computer if you uninstall the old copy.
    - heavyset_go 4y ago
      Microsoft provides VM images that you can use for free.
    - oynqr 4y ago
      Take a look at https://github.com/casualsnek/cassowary https://github.com/casualsnek/cassowary. If your license key doesn't work/you don't have one, they really aren't that expensive. Might also work without any activation at all.
    - froggit 4y ago
      > The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word. Microsoft 365 is prolly what you're thinking of. It's all browser apps or PWAs (or whatever you may call online cloud shit), not a windows VM. If you've heard of Google Workspaces you have the right idea. Comes with Windows versions of the office apps that can be installed and run locally instead of using the online cloud shit, they tend to be more feature complete than the online cloud shit, and, unlike the online cloud shit, obviously don't work on Linux without some creativity.
  - denton-scratch 4y ago
    I have a Win10 Lenovo Thinkpad. I want to switch to Linux, but I'd like to keep my Win10 system. Is there a way I can install a VM underneath this pre-installed Win10 system, so that I can still launch Windows while I'm transitioning? Installing a VM, and then installing licensed Windows over that, isn't an option, because I don't want Win11, and you can't buy Win10 licences any more.
    - b1ue64 4y ago
      You can just dual boot/install Linux alongside Windows

No one is going to make a movie about this, but they should probably make a warning documentary

I was actually considering buying a windows computer instead of a mac (which has it's own set of problems), I'll pass after hearing this.

kneebonian 4y ago
Buy a Windows computer and then put Linux on it. If you need Windows stuff just boot up a VM. It's the only way to own your hardware and your OS.
- version_five 4y ago
  I have several Linux computers, I need a native way of running MS Office for work so I need either a Mac or Windows machine. I haven't looked at a local windows VM, is that something I can do legally? Does it mean I need to buy a windows license? The other option, which I'm lukewarm about is what I think is called Windows 365 where I can pay monthly to access a windows VM in a browser. The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word.
  - vladvasiliu 4y ago
    > I haven't looked at a local windows VM, is that something I can do legally? Does it mean I need to buy a windows license? Yes, you can do it legally and yes, you need a license. I'm not sure how that works if your physical computer came with a license (like moste PCs do). > The other option, which I'm lukewarm about is what I think is called Windows 365 where I can pay monthly to access a windows VM in a browser. The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word. I've never tried that, but for my basic Office 365 needs (for work) I've found that the actual apps running in a browser are great. I actually find outlook works much better than the local version.
    - heavyset_go 4y ago
      IIRC, Windows licenses are tied to processors, and assuming the license allows it, running a Windows VM on computer that shipped with a Windows license shouldn't be a problem.
      - sekh60 4y ago
        A Windows OEM license is tied to motherboard. A retail license can be transferred to a new computer if you uninstall the old copy.
  - heavyset_go 4y ago
    Microsoft provides VM images that you can use for free.
  - oynqr 4y ago
    Take a look at https://github.com/casualsnek/cassowary https://github.com/casualsnek/cassowary. If your license key doesn't work/you don't have one, they really aren't that expensive. Might also work without any activation at all.
  - froggit 4y ago
    > The challenge is needing constant, good internet access to access trivial stuff like Word. Microsoft 365 is prolly what you're thinking of. It's all browser apps or PWAs (or whatever you may call online cloud shit), not a windows VM. If you've heard of Google Workspaces you have the right idea. Comes with Windows versions of the office apps that can be installed and run locally instead of using the online cloud shit, they tend to be more feature complete than the online cloud shit, and, unlike the online cloud shit, obviously don't work on Linux without some creativity.
- denton-scratch 4y ago
  I have a Win10 Lenovo Thinkpad. I want to switch to Linux, but I'd like to keep my Win10 system. Is there a way I can install a VM underneath this pre-installed Win10 system, so that I can still launch Windows while I'm transitioning? Installing a VM, and then installing licensed Windows over that, isn't an option, because I don't want Win11, and you can't buy Win10 licences any more.
  - b1ue64 4y ago
    You can just dual boot/install Linux alongside Windows