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I've been looking for advice. I've been wondering if it was worthwhile to upgrade from 10 to 11. I heard 11 had ads and even more bloatware, a disgusting UI, and just general worse. But i was wondering if those are fixed/avoidable. I was thinking of upgrading before it gets too late, or idk...
No, they're not going to be fixed or fully avoidable and you want to stay on Windows 10 or just go to Linux.
Windows 10 is genuinely better in every single way and it is incredibly sad.
And also, there is no "too late" as you can always upgrade whenever you want.
Thank you. Just the news of windows 8 being unsupported got me thinking.
And i've never touched linux. I might have to take the plunge and learn once win 10 becomes obsolete and unsupported.
Linux is not much different depending on what you do, all I recommend is stay away from distrobutions that use snap packages and the like. Linux Mint is a common recommendation.
I mainly use it for gaming. Whether it be triple a games. Or indy niche gaming. Plus like the ability to run like anything.
I heard there was a better alternative than linux mint for amd cpu/gpu users, but really i havent looked into anything for linux yet.
If you don't mind not being able to run games with anticheat other than easy anticheat you're good, people recommend "Nobara" as a gaming distribution but I always think tailored distros are a bit silly as something like Mint can do all of it anyways.
There's not much you can't do on Linux nowadays anymore thanks to Proton.
Windows 11 is miserable. You are now required to add Microsoft accounts at the OS level. Tons of bloatware, embedded ads in start menu, heavy user tracking. Shitty AI implementation pushed on all apps including notepad. And all of the windows 10+ elements are built in the windows 8 base image so all of the settings are nested on top of the new settings UI, on top of control panel.
local accounts still work, even on home edition
ads in the start menu work the same way as they do in windows 10 (pinned tiles that download actual apps from the store, you just need to unpin 'em)
I still don't have any of the ai stuff, and pretty sure they should be controllable with a simple group policyYou can poleaxe the start menu ads with group policy as well. Same as with Win10.
Local accounts only work with a really convoluted method during install, involving physically disconnecting your Ethernet cable and running a command in the OOBE.
you don't need to do anything convoluted or remove your internet connection, you just need to run a single command before doing anything (which will cause your oc to reboot and the offline option to unlock)
Huh. The guide I read said you had to run the command then disconnect the internet at a certain point in the installation. Thanks!
it worked for me even with an internet connection, but you probably should still disconnect the internet while installing windows, you'll get less bloatware
I just built a desktop for Windows 11, unfortunately I need a Windows desktop in the house even though Debian is my main OS. Last desktop was 13 years old and just wasn't working for my needs anymore. Default 11 install is horribly bloated but I actually like the desktop environment now. Here's some stuff I did:
Customized USB image to bypass Microsoft account with easily found steps if you Google. Used Chris Titus Tech's tool to remove a bunch of shit, install apps, disable telemetry, configure windows update to security only. Used "Reclaim windows" script from github and customized for my purposes. After that I confirmed if all the shit was gone and did a remove-appxpackage for anything left, like widgets etc.
So I have a bare bones install, no Microsoft account, no Microsoft store, no "apps," no default associations to builtin tools, and a bunch of common foss utilities and all my favorite windows-dependent apps working. Can't believe it took the amount of effort it did but I like it now, given what my expectations were it definitely exceeded them.
I think with that much effort, ill just learn linux...
Yeah pretty much, most linux distros are at a usable state by default and you spend productive effort learning how to manage it, it's probably easier than Windows at the end of the day especially for general use. I'm a heavy user of Ableton Live with plugins and using Windows is the only way to run it on your own hardware. Also becomes my gaming machine, but everything else is Debian.
It's totally fine to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it's basically the same thing. Overall it's better in some regards (like better HDR support, direct storage is coming and so on) and a bit worse in others (I do hate the new right click menu). No ads though and barely any difference to Windows 10 as far as I noticed in over a year of using it.
Windows 10 already had all that stuff, telemetry, a link to Candy Crush in the start menu, it's the same shit. Windows 11 didn't get worse in that regard at all.
So just do a fresh installation of Windows 11 (don't upgrade Windows versions, it's a mess in the background) and have fun.
Not from what I can tell. While upgrading will not detrimental from what I've heard (since you can upgrade a local account), there's a lot which I personally don't like about with Windows 11 which will make me want to not upgrade. If you have no intention of moving away from the Windows, it may be best to upgrade while MS is offering it.
Otherwise, if you are willing to take the plunge Linux is the better option if you are looking for an OS which has no ads, no adware bloat, and a UI to your liking. Mint or Zorin are a Good Windows like starting point if you are looking to get started.
MS is offering it
Massgravel my friend
Ive used MS my whole life. So im just stubborn to move to linux. But really i think just have to put in the effort and i'll be happier in the long run.
They way I see it is this. I look at my computer as a tool and ask is it working for me right now? What software do I need for it to work? Is that software Windows only, if so can I move to an alternative software that cross platform?
Your computer is a tool that lets you do things. If some software, even the OS is holding you back take a look at what is holding you, and see if its worth the negative of staying to keep that software.
For me that answer was Yes Windows is holding me back, but for years I was shackled by Professional Software, games and Legacy apps which kept me to the platform.
Steam with proton fixed the games issue
Swapping myself to different cross platform software helped with my Professional software.
Legacy was managed with a cheap $20 thrift store laptop with Windows xp installed.
Imam now free to move away from windows, I chose Linux since I idealize a "do it all" pc, but Mac OS is also a viable alternative.
Install Windows 11 using UK English and you're basically dodging 99% of the complaints people have, I support 5 computers with W11, no issues with any of them and no adverts bothering me.
i think it's better.
the only downside is minor visual bugs with the taskbar, and the edge causing issues if uninstalled (may cause update loop or permanently break all pdf files unless you set another handler and previewer beforehand)
explorer got little bit slow ever since the tabs got added but it's definitely not unusable, and I'd rather take 1 second hit to the loading time than an explorer without tabs