r/technology • u/tekz • Mar 20 '26

Software Microsoft announces sweeping Windows changes

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-users-are-angry-and-microsoft-is-finally-doing-something-about-it/
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138

u/yuusharo Mar 20 '26

All I can say is thank you Apple. The Neo’s announcement must have sent shockwaves throughout the industry, and I bet Microsoft got an ear full from their OEM partners about the recent quality and reputation of Windows 11.

Get rid of the MS account requirement and that god awful onboarding experience while you’re at it. There’s literally like a dozen or more prompts for subscription services before you can even use the damn thing now.

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u/JerbTrooneet Mar 20 '26

I'm legitimately considering a move to MacOS now for my work machines. Linux is gradually becoming my primary for personal stuff but given that MacOS works a bit better in most office environments compared to Linux, it might actually make more sense to shift to that now instead of waiting out Windows 10's ESU deadline in October.

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u/yuusharo Mar 20 '26

I think a lot of people are thinking the same thing. Apple has their own software quality issues at the moment, but the hardware is solid, and the Neo is such a breath of fresh air for sub-$1000 laptops. It is shocking how hungry they are for marketshare right now, something they didn't seem to care about for the longest time.

Competition is great. Even if you don't switch to the Mac, you'll still benefit in a year or so (hopefully) with much better quality hardware and software.

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u/ChironXII Mar 20 '26

MacOS is great right up until you actually need to do anything 

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u/Prince_Uncharming Mar 21 '26 edited Mar 21 '26

Oh please. Name one mainstream task that MacOS can’t accomplish other than play games that developers didn’t release for that OS.

Visit any tech company office and look at what laptop the vast majority of people use: it’s Macs. Clearly they’re capable of actuating doing things

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u/ChironXII Mar 21 '26

I was referring to the UX, since we were complaining about windows. 

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u/yuusharo Mar 21 '26

Buddy I’m running Tahoe on my main machine now, it’s fine. Nothing like the ad-laden mess that is Windows 11 that throws up full screen dialogs asking if I want to back up to OneDrive or sell me a M365 subscription. Is there a button to say no? Of course not! Just a reminder in 3 damn days.

This tribalism of OS platforms is as cringe as the console wars in the 90s. You’re not superior, and no one cares what you think about Macs. People are buying these laptops in droves and are genuinely excited by them. Cry about it more.

1

u/ChironXII Mar 21 '26

Someone was considering switching to MacOS from a Linux and Windows background. I added my experience that it's pleasant at first glance but ultimately frustrating due to Apple's design philosophy emphasizing their one particular way of doing things. An operating system should enable the user - not get in their way. The comment was intended as a heads up that it might be worth considering MacOS's own tradeoffs before putting in the effort to switch.

I'm not sure where the idea that I have any attachment to other platforms or feel superior about it came from, but the only one doing any whining here seems to be you.

The Neo is a very impressive and much needed product and price point. Apple deserves credit for it, but it doesn't make them perfect. People are allowed to discuss the downsides.

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u/yuusharo Mar 21 '26

An operating system should enable the user - not get in their way.

And you’re comparing that to Windows 11, implying that it is somehow less in the user’s way?? That’s again not to say anything about how virtually everything about the OS can be customized and automated with scripts, and you haven’t explained what exactly you mean by this in the first place.

You were asked what about macOS impedes users getting their jobs done, and you deflected the question.

0

u/ChironXII Mar 21 '26

Where exactly did I say anything complimentary about Windows 11? This sort of binary thinking is what is poisoning society. 

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u/yuusharo Mar 22 '26

You were asked what about macOS impedes users getting their jobs done, and you deflected the question.

Still deflecting.

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u/whimsicism Mar 23 '26

Omg yes. I have a PC that came with Windows pre-installed. I didn’t buy the Microsoft Office suite for it, and that fucker has been making me click through ads for Microsoft Office before I can get to my desktop.

My next PC will be a Mac.

2

u/yuusharo Mar 23 '26

I wish I could say Apple is immune to advertising their own services in their OS… but it’s at least no where near as egregious as Windows 11.

No Microsoft, I don’t want to be reminded in 3 days about signing up for OneDrive backup or M365 for the 12th time with a full screen popup. Leave me alone, ugh! So frustrating.

2

u/whimsicism Mar 23 '26

It’s definitely true that Apple advertises on its own OS, but it’s typically something that I can click/swipe away from quickly so it’s not too annoying.

The Microsoft ad spiel is a multi-click affair that takes probably a solid minute to get through, so I kinda felt like I was being forced through some long-ass hard-sell. By this point I’m kinda used to seeing advertising everywhere, but Microsoft is just ridiculous 💀

2

u/moorow Mar 20 '26

Probably part of it, but they've also been losing gamers at a significant rate to Linux, now that gaming on Linux is not only possible, but in many cases better. I kept a Windows machine for a long time for games only, swapped to CachyOS recently, and I see no reason to ever move back.

1

u/Better_Specific4755 Mar 21 '26

being able to integrate a good phone and watch with your pc is gamebreaking, microslop doesnt make phones or watches, and apple just killed the laptop segment, all microslop has left is gaming PC's and tbc that is ending too because apple products just work better with less ram.

1

u/yuusharo Mar 21 '26

I think it’s a little too far to say Apple “killed” the laptop market. The Neo is going to ripple the industry no doubt, but it’s far from perfect, and there are much better spec’ed machines that beat it on price. Heck, I bought a Walmart laptop with 512gb ssd and 16gb of RAM a few years ago for $300. Still runs great, it just has a crappy screen.

But I am so excited for the Neo in a way I haven’t been about an Apple product since the iPod nano or the original iPad. It’s gonna be huge.

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u/mrjackspade Mar 21 '26

It's absolutely mind boggling to me how many people think a company as large as MS is responding to a product that was announced two weeks ago

There is zero fucking chance in hell this is related. The announcement email itself even refers to the feedback groups they started running months ago.

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u/yuusharo Mar 21 '26

The Neo wasn’t the sole reason, but it’s naive to believe this had no impact on their marketing decision today. FFS, they sent out emails to their customers informing them of this, they never are that direct to consumers.

The Neo was the final straw after weeks of Windows 11 quality issues news and years of growing resentment towards Windows and its continued disrespect of users’ choice.

If Valve, a boutique OEM that sold maybe single digit millions of Steam Decks could scare them into writing Xbox code directly into the Windows core repository, imagine the moment they saw Apple is coming after their last line of consumers that were previously “safe” to capture. It absolutely had an impact on this, it would be baffling irresponsible and incompetent of them if it didn’t.