I’ve been using Linux exclusively for about 8 years. Recently I got frustrated with a bunch of issues that popped one after another. I had a spare SSD so I decided to check out Windows again. I’ve installed Windows 11 LTSC. It was a nightmare. After all the years on Linux, I forgot how terrible Windows actually is.

On the day I installed the system and a bunch of basic software, I had two bluescreens. I wasn’t even doing anything at that time, just going through basic settings and software installation. Okay, it happens. So I installed Steam and tried to play a game I’ve been currently playing on Linux just to see the performance difference. And it was… worse, for some reason. The “autodetect” in game changed my settings from Ultra to High. On Linux, the game was running at the 75 fps cap all the time. Windows kept dropping them to around 67-ish a lot of times. But the weirdest part was actual power consumption and the way GPU worked. Both systems kept the GPU temperature at around 50C. But the fans were running at 100% speed at that temperature on Windows, while Linux kept them pretty quiet. I had to change the fan controls by myself on Windows just because it was so annoying. The power consumption difference was even harder to explain, as I was getting 190-210W under Linux and under Windows I got 220-250W. And mind you, under Linux I had not only higher graphical settings set up, but was also getting better performance.

I tried connecting my bluetooth earbuds to my PC. Alright, the setup itself was fine. But then the problems started. My earbuds support opus codec for audio. Do you think I can change the bluetooth codec easily, just like on Linux? Nope. There is no way to do it without some third party programs. And don’t even get me started on Windows randomly changing my default audio output and trying to play sound through my controller.

Today I decided to make this rant-post after yet another game crashed on me twice under Windows. I bought Watch Dogs since it’s currently really cheap on Steam. I click play. I get the loading screen. The game crashed. I try again. I play through the basic “tutorial”. After going out of the building, game crashed again. I’m going to play again, this time under Linux.

I’ve had my share of frustrations under Linux, but that experience made me realise that Windows is not a perfect solution either. Spending a lot of time with Linux and it’s bugs made me forget all the bad experience in the past with Windows, and I was craving to go back to the “just works” solution. But it’s not “just works”. Two days was all it took for me to realize that I’ll actually stick with Linux, probably forever. The spare SSD went back to my drawer, maybe so I can try something new in the future. It’s so good to be back after a short trip to the other side!

  • spaghettiwestern
    28·
    2 hours ago

    I just reinstalled and configured Windows for a friend who’s machine was hacked, so my frustration with Microsoft is very fresh. (She lost 8 thousand dollars of her savings she’s still trying to get back.) After years of using Linux I feel like I’m being punished every time I help someone with their Windows machine.

    /Rant

    These things in particular drive me nuts:

    • Sending everything users do and type (including passwords) back to Microsoft. It’s called spyware when other companies do it. It should be called spyware when it’s an OS called Microsoft Windows.
    • Flooding 1/2 the screen with web search results when a search is done from the start menu. I’m looking for an installed program, not a potato recipe.
    • Requiring a registry edit to turn that web search off and lots of other simple things that use to be configurable in settings.
    • Placing ads throughout the operating system and making it difficult to turn those ads off.
    • Forcing the use of the Edge browser no matter what users choose.
    • Preventing the removal of unwanted programs without editing the registry.
    • Forced updates at Microsoft’s convenience.
    • Absurdly long restart times after updating.
    • Forced OS version upgrades.
    • Reverting settings that have been changed by the user to settings that directly benefit Microsoft’s sales and marketing goals.
    • Forced restarts of the operating system causing data loss and the loss of millions of hours of work for millions of users.
    • Removing more and more user settings with each new OS release.
    • Burying commonly used menu items multiple menus deep.
    • Preventing the removal of Start menu items. I will never use the Xbox Game Bar no matter how many time I’m forced to see it.

    /

    • Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml
      2·
      32 minutes ago

      That sucks about your friend. I can relate.

      Scammers hacked my elderly mother on her windows laptop. They tricked her with an ad saying there was a problem with her computer, and they had her install remote access software. She mentioned seeing the terminal so I assumed they installed (at least) a keylogger. Luckily, they either ran out of time, or their con took two days, but they said they were going to call my mom the next day and have her log in to the bank to make sure her computer was still working.

      So, I wiped her computer and installed Linux Mint with auto updates set up. She only had one simple question about logging in to google chrome and that’s been it for the last month. She has just been using it no problem.

      Side note: The next day the scammers had the nerve to call my mom and ask her why her computer was turned off.

    • lud@lemm.ee
      103·
      3 hours ago

      Sending everything users do and type (including passwords) back to Microsoft. It’s called spyware when other companies do it.

      Do you have any proof that Microsoft keylogs you? That’s quite a serious claim.

          • spaghettiwestern
            45·
            2 hours ago

            LOL! You’ve got a very long wait. I suggest you hold your breath.

              • spaghettiwestern
                11·
                18 minutes ago

                Anyone who’s so lazy they literally refuse to type the same words used in their comment into a search engine doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously. There are lots of adults on Lemmy, but apparently we have a few children too.

    • Hawke@lemmy.world
      54·
      4 hours ago

      Forcing upgrades at Microsoft’s convenience.

      This is the only one I agree with. Upgrades are necessary for security, it’s just a fact of life.

      • glitchdx@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        2 hours ago

        The problem isn’t the updates. The problem is microsoft downloading things and restarting my pc without my consent (annoying me until I say “fine, do it” is not consent). No one but me decides when my machine installs updates and reboots. I know I’m putting myself at risk if I let my system fall behind on updates. That’s on me, it’s my computer, it is my right to make that decision.

        • Hawke@lemmy.world
          12·
          1 hour ago

          It’s not just your decision though. Like vaccinations, your decision affects everyone else so it’s not your decision alone.

      • ddh@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        9·
        3 hours ago

        On my kid’s laptop I was holding Windows 11 24H2 back because of Recall, but this week it just decided to install itself. Now it’s a Linux laptop.

        • lud@lemm.ee
          1·
          2 hours ago

          FYI: Recall is delayed and will only work on specific arm computers anyway. So you weren’t in at any immediate risk. Not arguing against installing Linux though. That’s great!