4 ms·

I don't get complaints about bloat and disk space is cheap but what I do hope is for some robust community distros that preserve the ability to have local accou

I don't get complaints about bloat and disk space is cheap but what I do hope is for some robust community distros that preserve the ability to have local accounts, if/when that stops being possible.

estimator7292 1y ago
It's not about disk space, it's about what all that data is doing. Quite a lot of it is what we would traditionally call malware. Or shovelware if you want to be generous. Given Microsoft's recent history, it would be reasonable to assume that most of that bloat is full of software that is actively aiming to harm you, scam you, or spy on you. More than disk space, it burns CPU cycles and bandwidth that you are paying for.
- p0w3n3d 1y ago
  It also burns the space literally, because a lot of writes to the SSD are breaking it
  - GuB-42 1y ago
    SSD wear is almost never an issue in a typical use case scenario. I don't know anyone who has hit the limit, even when very large applications are installed (ex: AAA games). It may be worth considering if you are hosting a database or a file server though, but this is very atypical for a Windows PC.
- add-sub-mul-div 1y ago
  You don't need a special distro to turn those settings off. I read FUD all the time about those settings being reverted in updates but I turned it all off years ago and it's still off every time I check.
bigstrat2003 1y ago
Whether disk space is cheap or expensive is beside the point. I still don't want to waste it. Water is cheap, but if I saw someone pouring water down the drain for no reason I would still think it's foolish and wasteful.
stirfish 1y ago
For my use case, I have an underpowered Linux computer and some proprietary hardware and software that only works on Windows. It works in a virtual machine with qemu, but could definitely run smoother. I guess this would also be good for things like ci/CD pipelines, testing, etc
dartharva 1y ago
Windows "distros" can only be hacks, not projects, and they can't support security. Hell, it's highly likely many of them will "debloat" off most of Windows's security features by default.

I don't get complaints about bloat and disk space is cheap but what I do hope is for some robust community distros that preserve the ability to have local accounts, if/when that stops being possible.

estimator7292 1y ago

It's not about disk space, it's about what all that data is doing. Quite a lot of it is what we would traditionally call malware. Or shovelware if you want to be generous. Given Microsoft's recent history, it would be reasonable to assume that most of that bloat is full of software that is actively aiming to harm you, scam you, or spy on you. More than disk space, it burns CPU cycles and bandwidth that you are paying for.

p0w3n3d 1y ago
It also burns the space literally, because a lot of writes to the SSD are breaking it
- GuB-42 1y ago
  SSD wear is almost never an issue in a typical use case scenario. I don't know anyone who has hit the limit, even when very large applications are installed (ex: AAA games). It may be worth considering if you are hosting a database or a file server though, but this is very atypical for a Windows PC.
add-sub-mul-div 1y ago
You don't need a special distro to turn those settings off. I read FUD all the time about those settings being reverted in updates but I turned it all off years ago and it's still off every time I check.

bigstrat2003 1y ago

Whether disk space is cheap or expensive is beside the point. I still don't want to waste it. Water is cheap, but if I saw someone pouring water down the drain for no reason I would still think it's foolish and wasteful.

stirfish 1y ago

For my use case, I have an underpowered Linux computer and some proprietary hardware and software that only works on Windows. It works in a virtual machine with qemu, but could definitely run smoother. I guess this would also be good for things like ci/CD pipelines, testing, etc

dartharva 1y ago

Windows "distros" can only be hacks, not projects, and they can't support security. Hell, it's highly likely many of them will "debloat" off most of Windows's security features by default.