That's an entertaining read.

I binned Windows 11 recently (only kept it around for gaming) because I didn't like the direction it was clearly going (and has been for a while - including their shoehorning of AI into everything when I don't want it or need it) and don't game enough that I care much any more.

For the first time since the 80's I'm not running a Windows OS on any of my machines.

I doubt they'll care, I'm one user of hundreds of millions but I don't have to consider whether every update is going to turn on something I don't want/hate so I care.

The linked video (via a linked post) from Dave Plummer does indeed sum up my feelings pretty well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTpA5jt1g60

I grew up using pretty much every major Windows OS release (3.11, 9x, 2000, XP, etc.) and that comment about bringing back Windows 7 was on point. That was the turning point for me when I felt like it was the relatively perfect OS.

It got out of my way and acted as a nearly frictionless layer between the user and the programs.

It is so hard to believe there was a time where bundling a browser with an operating system was a huge scandal requiring a huge government antitrust case to correct.

Maybe it’s just that I’m old and crotchety but we need regulation to debundle everything, including phones. Yes iCloud, so forth no longer is bundled with a phone you have to choose the providers you want and those providers have to compete and no the Apple company isn’t allowed to make its phone work better for its own products. Just like Microsoft once upon a time wasn’t allowed to make its OS work better for its own browser (how quaint).

Even if they "close replies", it's a message that needs attention. People should write a new message starting with "Re: @account ..." like in the past.

They need to make 2 variants of Windows:

* One with Windows 7 level of features (with Windows 11 level security fixes).

* One with all the bells an whistles that gives product managers the feeling of having done something and justifies their raises and career advancement.

Satya and this guy are going to be what Prabhakar Raghavan was to google search.

Honestly, at this point if you’re still on Windows for your personal hardware, that’s on you. Linux gaming with proton is great. Most apps have web versions even.

i have win 11 ISOs first curiosity [quickly evaporated] gave way to one purpose; rev eng ing malware in its natural environment.

We are currently porting a game to Switch and everytime I boot into Windows I die a little. So slow, so messy, and just icky.

While the argument can be very much made that Windows has been in decline for years, now, this ignoring of power users and evangelists will likely be seen as the beginning of the plunge.

Every company eventually loses its soul. And this is how it becomes truly visible to the public at large - by pissing off those who advise and influence others.

super duper fun read ;)