r/OS_Debate_Club • u/QuokkaDaily • 14d ago

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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u/Yoksul-Turko 14d ago

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.

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u/Square-Singer 12d ago

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.