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> LTSC versions Microsoft consultants very actively discourage the use of LTSC for... "reasons". Translation: "It hurts our KPIs if our telemetry starts falli

> LTSC versions Microsoft consultants very actively discourage the use of LTSC for... "reasons". Translation: "It hurts our KPIs if our telemetry starts falling off and we can't push Minecraft and AI updates to as many desktops at will!"

gruez 1y ago
The quite sensible reason is that LTSC doesn't contain the windows store, and as a result a bunch of driver apps don't work because they moved to using UWP apps (eg. realtek audio console). Not to mention that you'll eventually get weird compatibility issues because you'll eventually be running a windows version 5-10 years old, whereas most devs assume you're using be using the normal versions which are at most 2 years out of date. All of these issues can be worked around if you're sufficiently technically inclined, but people who are hiring "Microsoft consultants" probably aren't.
- 1718627440 1y ago
  But you can install it?
  - gruez 1y ago
    >All of these issues can be worked around [...]
- jiggawatts 1y ago
  I recommend LTSC for terminal services environments like Azure Virtual Desktop, where driver issues just aren’t a problem. Windows LTSC has semi annual updates, the same as Windows Server. Speaking of which, that’s essentially what it is: a cut-down version of the Server Desktop Experience with pretty much the same defaults and capabilities. Microsoft could implement App Store support for LTSC (and Served), they simply choose not to. It’s telling that this isn’t a problem in practice.
  - gruez 1y ago
    >Windows LTSC has semi annual updates, the same as Windows Server You mean biennial? It definitely doesn't get updates twice a year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11_version_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11_version_history https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semiannual#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semiannual#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biennial#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biennial#English
    - jiggawatts 1y ago
      The relevant link for LTSC version history is: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/whats-new/release-history#windows-11-iot-enterprise https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise... Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 25H2 2025‑09‑30 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 24H2 2024‑10‑01 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 23H2 2023‑10‑31 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 22H2 2022‑09‑20 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 21H2 2021‑10‑04 Looks like annual versions...
      - gruez 1y ago
        "IoT Enterprise" =/= "LTSC"
thewebguyd 1y ago
Microsoft "consultants" are are usually just license auditors in disguise. We ignore them, and I suggest everyone else do the same. They "helpfully" reach out and offer to optimize your infrastructure and spend. That 'optimization' is actually "let's make sure you bought all the CALs you were supposed to, and when you inevitably didn't, because we make our licensing confusing, we'll charge you extra and threaten legal action for non-compliance" Better to find a reputable VAR and get your licensing through them and don't ever deal with Microsoft directly.

gruez 1y ago

The quite sensible reason is that LTSC doesn't contain the windows store, and as a result a bunch of driver apps don't work because they moved to using UWP apps (eg. realtek audio console). Not to mention that you'll eventually get weird compatibility issues because you'll eventually be running a windows version 5-10 years old, whereas most devs assume you're using be using the normal versions which are at most 2 years out of date. All of these issues can be worked around if you're sufficiently technically inclined, but people who are hiring "Microsoft consultants" probably aren't.

1718627440 1y ago
But you can install it?
- gruez 1y ago
  >All of these issues can be worked around [...]
jiggawatts 1y ago
I recommend LTSC for terminal services environments like Azure Virtual Desktop, where driver issues just aren’t a problem. Windows LTSC has semi annual updates, the same as Windows Server. Speaking of which, that’s essentially what it is: a cut-down version of the Server Desktop Experience with pretty much the same defaults and capabilities. Microsoft could implement App Store support for LTSC (and Served), they simply choose not to. It’s telling that this isn’t a problem in practice.
- gruez 1y ago
  >Windows LTSC has semi annual updates, the same as Windows Server You mean biennial? It definitely doesn't get updates twice a year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11_version_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11_version_history https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semiannual#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semiannual#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biennial#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biennial#English
  - jiggawatts 1y ago
    The relevant link for LTSC version history is: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/whats-new/release-history#windows-11-iot-enterprise https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise... Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 25H2 2025‑09‑30 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 24H2 2024‑10‑01 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 23H2 2023‑10‑31 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 22H2 2022‑09‑20 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, version 21H2 2021‑10‑04 Looks like annual versions...
    - gruez 1y ago
      "IoT Enterprise" =/= "LTSC"

thewebguyd 1y ago

Microsoft "consultants" are are usually just license auditors in disguise. We ignore them, and I suggest everyone else do the same. They "helpfully" reach out and offer to optimize your infrastructure and spend. That 'optimization' is actually "let's make sure you bought all the CALs you were supposed to, and when you inevitably didn't, because we make our licensing confusing, we'll charge you extra and threaten legal action for non-compliance" Better to find a reputable VAR and get your licensing through them and don't ever deal with Microsoft directly.