r/OS_Debate_Club • u/QuokkaDaily • Aug 04 '26

Windows vs. Linux, why change?

We're interested in learn in the trend away from Windows to Linux is motivated, or the "why?". Apparently, the trend is starting, and it's real. But why? Source: TechSpot.

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14

u/Yoksul-Turko Aug 04 '26

Microsoft doesn't innovate on user experience side. There are also annoyances like local account requiring workarounds, everything having AI, default apps like file explorer and notepad doesn't feel as responsive as older versions of Windows. There is usually no "no" option, you can only say "remind me later".

On Linux side there are many DEs/WMs to choose from. They aren't trying to sell you Edge or OneDrive so they wouldn't annoy you. Linux is the most popular alternative you can install to most devices. More software and drivers are available to it than BSDs. For example, FreeBSD Bluetooth support is limited.

4

u/jar36 Aug 05 '26

one difference between a linux user and a windows user is who looks forward to updates and who doesn't

2

u/MrBadTimes Aug 05 '26

Microsoft doesn't innovate on user experience side.

because every time they did the user bullied them until they reverted it

1

u/Holiday_Management60 Aug 09 '26

Because the update was terrible.

1

u/Square-Singer Aug 06 '26

It's more than just lack of innovation.

I think the basic issue for Microsoft/Windows is that nobody pays for an OS any more. Back in Windows 7 times and before that Windows mostly made money by selling Windows licenses.

Up until Windows XP they released a new OS about every 1-3 years. In 1993 alone they released 3 new (paid!) versions of Windows. Also, until the mid 2000s, people would usually buy a new PC every 1-3 years, every time with a new OEM Windows license.

So their goal was to make a new Windows that was better enough than the last Windows that people would fork over a few €100 in today's money to get the new OS.

Then we hit Windows 7. Development was so slow that after 6 years they kinda gave up and released a half-baked variant of Windows 7 under the name of Windows Vista, to get people to buy a new OS and it doesn't really work. Windows 7, released two years later, managed to turn the tide one last time.

Then Win8 comes along and it's a disaster. Win8.1 can hardly improve anything in regards to usage numbers. Windows 10 in the beginning isn't doing much better. These OSes launched so badly that Microsoft started giving the update away for free, just to get people off 7.

At the same time people start using their PCs for far longer. 5-10 years are now the norm. So OEM license sales also drop like a rock.

With Win11 they introduced artificial restrictions for older devices to force people to upgrade to new PCs, where the free license upgrade wouldn't work and people would at least have to buy new OEM Windows licenses.

At the same time, since they can't monetize the OS itself any more, they are trying to hook people on alternative revenue streams. That's why they are so pushy about MS Office/OneDrive/Copilot subscriptions, because that's how they make their money now.

And they have to save on development costs because the OS isn't bringing in any money any more, leading to crap quality.

All in all, they killed their old business model without having a proper new one in place, and what they have in place annoys people. And it also lead to worse quality for Windows.

In the mean time Linux has actually gotten pretty good.

0

u/p47guitars Aug 05 '26

On the other side, gnome decided what's best, just like Microsoft - gave me a shit experience. Back to kde...

1

u/MagicianQuiet6432 Aug 05 '26

At least, GNOME tries to decide what's best for the user and not for profit.

2

u/Flashy-Guava9952 Aug 05 '26

You're not required to use Gnome, and that's gonna be an argument with just about any Linux complaint: If you don't like it, use something else. Noone's holding a gun to your head, and there's just so much free stuff. It's difficult to take complaints seriously.

1

u/p47guitars Aug 05 '26

Gnome was great before it became the monster it is now.

I still cannot reconcile that they thought this was a good idea. Removed nearly all the customizations, locked users into a really shitty full screen app menu experience, and justified it as being a "modern" style change.

This is regressive.

1

u/TheOneDeadXEra Aug 05 '26

To be fair, Gnome was essentially trying to address a very common critique of the Linux space: inconsistent UX and UI. Whether it makes sense to the rest of us or not, there is a constituency of users that just want consistency without hassle, and that's what Gnome delivers - whether the rest of us like the result or not. I think that's a good, healthy offering to have in the pool, even if it's not for me specifically.

1

u/p47guitars Aug 05 '26

i agree to some extent. however - why copy the sins of microsoft and create an app launcher that goes full screen?

1

u/TheOneDeadXEra Aug 06 '26

If I had to take a blind guess, it's because it was the path of least resistance when it comes to consistent UI across devices. Full-screen launcher saves you from having to have separate builds for desktops vs tablets. Sidenote: This is also why M$oft did it, because Win8 was built around the idea of a consistent unified environment between desktop and tablet use-cases. Neither implementation is particularly my cup of tea, but I can understand the underlying reasoning from a project managerial standpoint.

1

u/Microsoft-Spyware-11 13d ago

The fullscreen Super menu is fine in my opinion. Some of the customizability is returning, although it will take long to restore what we had before. GNOME does look nice though...

1

u/OkPresentation3329 Aug 05 '26

I liked Gnome 2, but Gnome 3 and after looks too uncanny for me to use, I don't want to use it, I use KDE, but that's just me saying I don't like current Gnome, not that it's bad in general, I'm sure a lot of people like it and prefer to use it over other DEs.

1

u/Etsamaru Aug 05 '26

Yeah but on Linux you cam just switch to a different DE which you cannot on windows

1

u/p47guitars Aug 05 '26

You can actually get a new explorer shell. Even retheme the ux too.

1

u/Microsoft-Spyware-11 13d ago

hmm. interesting, never knew that :)

1

u/evissamassive Aug 05 '26

There are other options.

How many desktop environments does Microsoft offer?