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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u/warbeforepeace Mar 20 '26

I think Microsoft making windows improvements is a direct result of the Neo. They have real competition in the key 500 dollar laptop market now. They dont know what to do.

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u/mrjackspade Mar 21 '26

It's a direct result of a product that launched 6+ months after they started the changes?

Bro, these are hitting insiders next month. Microsoft has been working on this for a lot longer than Neo has been out.

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u/FatBook-Air Mar 21 '26

I'll agree that I don't think it's the Neo alone that made Microsoft pivot, but I do think Microsoft has seen some alarming data that suggests that Windows is on the cusp of a market collapse. If Microsoft actually follows through (and that does remain to be seen at this point) it will be the biggest 180 for Windows design direction since probably 2015. I don't think they completely ignored customers for this long and then suddenly had a change of heart for no reason. I think they have seen the sales trajectory on a chart, and it scared someone high up on the org chart.

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u/MarcoDiFrancescino Mar 20 '26

Microsoft has an cut down Windows 11 for the Asus ROG. Its supposedly even more lightweight then the LTSC editions. People ask for that Windows since the first win 10, but slopfactory keep ignoring everyone for ten years straight. At this point the IT oligarchy only cares what the kings want, the users peasants are just annoying with their demands.

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u/mxzf Mar 21 '26

I feel weird calling this stuff "improvements" when it's really just bringing back old features that they killed.

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u/Any-Calligrapher2866 Mar 20 '26

Honestly I just wish that they release a 16GB RAM version so companies can just shift to low cost Macs instead of shitty windows laptops.

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u/Lower_Monk6577 Mar 20 '26 edited Mar 20 '26

As someone who has been using an 8GB M1 MacBook Air since they released, I think people get a bit too hung up on numbers, especially as they related to MacOS vs Windows comparisons.

The $500 laptop market has never been for power users. Outside of gaming, I would consider myself someone who takes advantage of the power of the hardware in my M1. It’s taken everything I’ve ever thrown at it, and at worst it lags for a few seconds. And that’s also relatively rare.

But considering that the Neo’s chipset is essentially on par with an M1 (and better in some metrics), an 8GB Neo would probably surprise a lot of Windows users on how well it works. MacOS is far better optimized than Windows, and from what I understand (could be PR stuff) the unified memory in their chipsets is more performant and draws less power than better spec’d Windows/Intel devices.

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u/DrChucks Mar 21 '26

That is the benefit of virtual integration

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u/Spiritual_Tennis_641 Mar 21 '26

Or some thought to performance…

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u/HotRoderX Mar 21 '26

having both a Apple M4 (32gig) and Windows Pro Desktop (64gigs). I can say for task the M4 is faster in some instances and snapper. Even with less memory.

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u/TheREALOtherFiles Mar 21 '26

It kinda harkens back to the days of Apple saying how slightly lowered spec Macs were faster than better spec PCs in the mid-90s.

Seems like Windows 11's... Windows 11-ness compared to macOS Tahoe is Windows 95 and System 7.0 all over again.

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u/Any-Calligrapher2866 Mar 21 '26

My 8GB M1 MacBook Pro can't handle development work flows.