Microsoft seems intent on pushing people to alternatives. Not only did they quietly remove the higher RAM recommendation, but now the OS is more expensive.
So what people are likely to get an underpowered computer that costs more if they have to buy a new laptop. On the tail of Apple recently releasing a relatively nice and cheap laptop to much fanfare, no less.
It sounds like we’re about to see a repeat of the Windows Vista days. Where people hate Windows because it’s slow and horrible, and it is slow and horrible because it’s running on an underspecced machine barely meant to run the previous version of windows.
A year of Linux desktops indeed. I’ve switched PC and a laptop to Linux and guess what? Works better, faster, more secure and I fucking love it.
Never ever going back to Windows. I might run win10 in virtual pc, but never main host and nothing => 11
They’re trying to kill the home PC. They’ll have all of the computing power and we’ll have subscription access.
And they’d get away with it too if it wasn’t for those damn Linux distributions.
They literally said that’s the plan. Consumers better fight back.
Sure in terms in computing power. But Microsoft still needs you to be able to access a windows device so that they can push you onto their subscriptions. I think in this case, they think people will just cough up the extra costs to get windows. Of course at one point even regular people will consider Linux. And that is when Microsoft will break.
I feel like Linux needs to be just a little bit more accessible to the tech-illiterate too. It is getting closer but go show some uninitiated person a Linux forum where power users are talking about maintaining their system daily or weekly, the average person is going to still nope out. I run Linux and and Windows, but if Mac could run more games I’d think about giving them a try because they all suck in their own special way.
Some distros are surprisingly accessible to be honest. And with the enshitification of windows people will be very tempted or pushed to make step to Linux. And when the crossover point is there is can go really quickly. More an more companies are deciding that the cost of Microsoft alone is worth the migration. Exposing even more people to Linux. My biggest barrier is that some online games won’t run on Linux but if that changes then why not.
Good.
Lmfao, here comes manufactures selling their own versions of Debian and Fedora. I bet we’re going to see a rush of manufacturers selling blank no OS PC’s with hardware being the only added on cost.
I have no idea why this makes sense? What about hardware getting more expensive justifies the license for software going up? Is this just because they can?
Volumes are going to be down, but they want the same revenue, so they increase unit price, comfy in the reality that it will still be, percentage wise, not worth it for most to care. Will it make it unaffordable for some? Probably not appreciably more than the hardware is doing all by itself.
So in short, it is just because they can.
It makes sense in terms of opportunism, greed, and for laying three groundwork for a future where you do not own your own computer but do everything in the cloud (because that is where the power is). Remember the whole “you will.own nothing and be happy” thing… so same argument as when businesses moved from self hosting on site. Short version, they want you with a subscription for everything and they can control everything you do.
Pretty much. If hardware is constant lly going up and consumers put up with it, why not get a slice of the pie? It’s not like an OEM buyer will reconsider just because of a few bucks for Windows, if they were going to buy anyway.
Gotta pay off those data center loans.
Why am i hearing Linux music?
The Tux trumpets are getting louder…
The lyrics are in C!
I’ve been hearing Linux music for the past 9 years lol it’s incredible how much it’s improved as a desktop OS over that time.
Blastbeat of millions of penguins stomping.
This. Linux use on the USA is now over 10% in computers. And growing. I hope Europe follows the same path, but it is slow. Growing also. At home we all have ditched Windows years ago.
Really? I was thinking Europe would be leading in Linux adoption, kernel originating from Finland, distros like SuSE, NixOS etc.
Somebody needs to finally compose a Linux install music that’s even more memorable and awesome than the Windows XP install music
Ah, the famous SuSE songs, instant classics.
Only the real know (i have never used openSUSE)
Bah gawd, that’s Stone Cold’s music!
Let’s be honest… people who can’t figure out how to deal with Windows licenses wouldn’t be able to deal with a switch to Linux either.
This is about OEMs, which realistically only have 2 choices: Either sell it with windows, or Linux pre-installed.
The general public isn’t going to buy a device without an OS installed.People that can rub two neurons together have figured out they can get their 10yr old nephew to install something for them… so the included OS means nothing besides how it affects the final price. They’ll buy a laptop with Windows/Linux/no OS or whatever on it. In markets that don’t allow computing devices to be sold without an OS it doesn’t even have to be Linux, the vendors and manufacturers will happily slap FreeDOS on it to bypass the regulation.
Shit, even those who do know Windows will find it daunting.
I just bought a PC over the weekend to replace my PS5 (because fuck Sony) and I installed SteamOS onto it.
I am having a hell of a time figuring it out. It’s such an alien OS to me as a lifelong Windows user. I’m still trying to learn how everything works, like udev rules and the file structure/hierarchy it uses. It’s mad confusing, normal/less tech savvy people definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I’d suggest Bazzite instead, still gaming oriented but it’s a lot more user friendly than SteamOS which is moreso designed with the steam deck and steam machine in mind.
SteamOS is not meant to be used on normal desktop/laptops. You’re making things harder for yourself.
Personally, what I hate about Linux is terminals and having even less reliable information about what has gone wrong. I will revisit Club Penguin in a couple of years, provided that Valve has further expanded SteamOS to the desktop PC.
In the meantime, I am using Windows Enterprise via Masgravel activation, installed via RUFUS, and paired with ShutUp10 to improve privacy without having to be a guru. ShutUp10 also has a paid version that automatically reverts changes that Microsoft does to privacy settings.
I wish that Microsoft licenses of Windows Enterprise were sold to individuals, much like Windows 7 Ultimate. The lack of a good Windows option is why I don the tricorn hat and sail the Masgravel Sea, RUFUS in hand.
This is the way of the world right now.
“Oh no, things are going bad for us, raise prices so we will be OK when this dies!”
Screw the future. Sad times.
I didn’t expect my PC to become a better investment than my house - until the bubble pops.
Now I also know the feeling of buying something when it was more affordable. I can now dish out advice like “You should just buy fewer boba teas, so you could afford a PC like I did when buying it with my student loan.”
Every RAM stick I bought in the past 15 years is worth more per GB now than when I bought it… If you bought RAM in 2008 the same is true, I just didn’t buy RAM at that point.
To me this is positive news. The less appealing Windows machines are, the better. Let Windows PC rot peacefully.
While I understand your sentiment about Windows, this is how you end up in a world filled with iPad kids who become adults who accept technology that they don’t own.
Walking down the aisles of any store selling computers, I can attest to this. If a company can’t sell a Windows computer, they will simply sell a Chromebook instead.
Or a manufacturer finally decides to make a budget Linux laptop that starts selling better than expected.
I still miss my Acer 5315 that came with Linux. It was an instant buy.
Y’know, some manufacturers used to do this actually, and more might start again.
Only if we stay quiet.
BURN BABY BURN
I would love if pc manufacturers would just ship laptops with e.g. Linux mint or fedora and just knock off the windows licence cost. I don’t even mind if they have to ship it with bloatware, that’s fine, as long as it just doesn’t ship windows. Savvy users will just uninstall it
It’s possible to get refunds for unused OEM Windows licenses in the EU.
Wow, nice. It sounds like Asus makes it the easiest, reimbursing for the license without shipping your machine to them. I don’t understand why the others that will reimburse require physical inspection of the machine.
to discourage you to do so
This, and probably clearing the license from BIOS. Otherwise you keep the license. Not sure how Asus resolves this. Maybe they just don’t care.
I’d guess something using armory crate.
I would love a tick box setup. Maybe 2 Linux distro options and a windows option for +$X or whatever so ur laptop can arrive ready to set up with the OS desired on it. Should lower cost for customers who don’t need windows, and maybe people on the fence will decide window isn’t worth however much more it cost to get and order the Linux version. The more units are sold with Linux the more incentive there will be to sort drivers for more hardware etc.
Dell has this.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops/appref=ubuntu-linux-os
No clue if you’re still paying for the Windows license in that price though.
So the computer without Windows/with Linux will be cheaper, right/ 🥹
Yes. Plenty of manufacturers do sell computers without windows.
Insert the Padme Anakin meme here.
Yes, that exact thing was the crux of a major lawsuit at one point.
If a company is doing it it’s already is. But most are selling you windows compulsively.
Huh, that changed? The last time i bought a Laptop in 2018, it was still more expensive to get one without Windows preinstalled.
Oh, they fucking do that? Bloody hell, that’s low. Maybe it depends on a country, but when I bought my previous Lenovo around 2019, they had an option without the OS and it was slightly cheaper, and only available for a small subset of laptops.
The only new laptop I got since was Framework, and obviously, they’re also great in this regard, but I feel like they’re outliers.
Always was… just had to find the seller who sells you the laptop without a prepurchased license/preinstalled windows. Sadly was always higher tier stuff that had a choice.
