FSF Warns Windows 11 'Deprives Users of Freedom and Digital Autonomy' (fsf.org) 121
"October 5 marks the official release of Windows 11, a new version of the operating system that doesn't do anything at all to counteract Windows' long history of depriving users of freedom and digital autonomy," writes Free Software Foundation campaigns manager Greg Farough.
"While we might have been encouraged by Microsoft's vague, aspirational slogans about community and togetherness, Windows 11 takes important steps in the wrong direction when it comes to user freedom." Microsoft claims that "life's better together" in their advertising for this latest Windows version, but when it comes to technology, there is no surer way of keeping users divided and powerless than nonfree softwarechoosing to create an unjust power structure, in which a developer knowingly keeps users powerless and dependent by withholding information. Increasingly, this involves not only withholding the source code itself, but even basic information on how the software works: what it's really doing, what it's collecting, and how often it's snitching on users. "Snitching" may sound dramatic, but Windows 11 will now require a Microsoft account to be connected to every user account, granting them the ability to correlate user behavior with one's personal identity. Even those who think they have nothing to hide should be wary of sharing potentially all of their computing activity with any company, much less one with a track record of abuse like Microsoft...
We expect Microsoft to use its tighter control on cryptography that happens in Windows as a way to impose more severe Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) onto media and applications, and as a way to ensure that no application can run in Windows without Microsoft's approval. In cases like these, it's no longer appropriate to call a machine running Windows a "personal" computer, as it obeys Microsoft more than it does its user. Indeed, it's bitterly ironic that Microsoft is calling the program that verifies a system's compatibility with Windows 11 a "PC Health Check." We counter that a healthy PC is one that respects its user's wishes, runs free software, and doesn't purposefully restrict them through treacherous computing. It would also never send the user's encryption keys back to its corporate overlords. Intrepid users will likely find a way around this requirement, yet it doesn't change the fact that the majority of Windows users will be forced into a treacherous computing scheme...
Sometimes, Microsoft realizes that it can't be quite so overtly antisocial. We've commented many times before on the hypocrisy involved in saying that Microsoft "loves open source" and "loves Linux," two ways of mentioning free software without reference to freedom. At the same time, Microsoft employees do make contributions to free software, contributions which benefit many others. Yet they do not extend this philosophy to their operating system, and in the last few years, they've made an attempt to impair the ways free software makes "life better together" further by making critical functions of Microsoft GitHub rely on nonfree JavaScript and directing users toward Service as a Software Substitute (SaaSS) platforms. By attacking user freedom through Windows, and the free software community directly by means of nonfree JavaScript, Microsoft proves that it has no plans to loosen its grip on users.
No program that you're forbidden to copy, modify, or share can truly bring people "together" in the way that Microsoft claims.
Thankfully, and right outside the window, there's a true community of users you and your loved ones can join...
Let's stop falling for the trap of chasing short-term, superficial improvements in proprietary software that may seem to make life better, and instead opt for free software, the only software that can support the best versions of ourselves.
The post urges readers to sign (or renew!) their pledge not to use Windows and to help a friend install GNU/Linux, "sending Microsoft the strong message that software that subjugates its users has no place in Windows.... If you don't feel ready to take the plunge and switch entirely, you can use our resources like the Free Software Directory to find programs you can use as starting points for your free software journey."
The post also has harsh words for TPM, warning that "when it's deployed by a proprietary software company, its relationship to the user isn't one based on trust, but based on treachery. When fully controlled by the user, TPM can be a useful way to strengthen encryption and user privacy, but when it's in the hands of Microsoft, we're not optimistic."
And when it comes to Microsoft teams, "it seems that no Windows user can avoid it any longer.... we hope Teams' unpopularity and its newfound, unwanted place in Windows will encourage users to seek out conferencing programs that they themselves can control."
"While we might have been encouraged by Microsoft's vague, aspirational slogans about community and togetherness, Windows 11 takes important steps in the wrong direction when it comes to user freedom." Microsoft claims that "life's better together" in their advertising for this latest Windows version, but when it comes to technology, there is no surer way of keeping users divided and powerless than nonfree softwarechoosing to create an unjust power structure, in which a developer knowingly keeps users powerless and dependent by withholding information. Increasingly, this involves not only withholding the source code itself, but even basic information on how the software works: what it's really doing, what it's collecting, and how often it's snitching on users. "Snitching" may sound dramatic, but Windows 11 will now require a Microsoft account to be connected to every user account, granting them the ability to correlate user behavior with one's personal identity. Even those who think they have nothing to hide should be wary of sharing potentially all of their computing activity with any company, much less one with a track record of abuse like Microsoft...
We expect Microsoft to use its tighter control on cryptography that happens in Windows as a way to impose more severe Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) onto media and applications, and as a way to ensure that no application can run in Windows without Microsoft's approval. In cases like these, it's no longer appropriate to call a machine running Windows a "personal" computer, as it obeys Microsoft more than it does its user. Indeed, it's bitterly ironic that Microsoft is calling the program that verifies a system's compatibility with Windows 11 a "PC Health Check." We counter that a healthy PC is one that respects its user's wishes, runs free software, and doesn't purposefully restrict them through treacherous computing. It would also never send the user's encryption keys back to its corporate overlords. Intrepid users will likely find a way around this requirement, yet it doesn't change the fact that the majority of Windows users will be forced into a treacherous computing scheme...
Sometimes, Microsoft realizes that it can't be quite so overtly antisocial. We've commented many times before on the hypocrisy involved in saying that Microsoft "loves open source" and "loves Linux," two ways of mentioning free software without reference to freedom. At the same time, Microsoft employees do make contributions to free software, contributions which benefit many others. Yet they do not extend this philosophy to their operating system, and in the last few years, they've made an attempt to impair the ways free software makes "life better together" further by making critical functions of Microsoft GitHub rely on nonfree JavaScript and directing users toward Service as a Software Substitute (SaaSS) platforms. By attacking user freedom through Windows, and the free software community directly by means of nonfree JavaScript, Microsoft proves that it has no plans to loosen its grip on users.
No program that you're forbidden to copy, modify, or share can truly bring people "together" in the way that Microsoft claims.
Thankfully, and right outside the window, there's a true community of users you and your loved ones can join...
Let's stop falling for the trap of chasing short-term, superficial improvements in proprietary software that may seem to make life better, and instead opt for free software, the only software that can support the best versions of ourselves.
The post urges readers to sign (or renew!) their pledge not to use Windows and to help a friend install GNU/Linux, "sending Microsoft the strong message that software that subjugates its users has no place in Windows.... If you don't feel ready to take the plunge and switch entirely, you can use our resources like the Free Software Directory to find programs you can use as starting points for your free software journey."
The post also has harsh words for TPM, warning that "when it's deployed by a proprietary software company, its relationship to the user isn't one based on trust, but based on treachery. When fully controlled by the user, TPM can be a useful way to strengthen encryption and user privacy, but when it's in the hands of Microsoft, we're not optimistic."
And when it comes to Microsoft teams, "it seems that no Windows user can avoid it any longer.... we hope Teams' unpopularity and its newfound, unwanted place in Windows will encourage users to seek out conferencing programs that they themselves can control."
Welcome to the 90's, FSF! (Score:4, Funny)
Glad you could finally join us!
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Re:Welcome to the 90's, FSF! (Score:4, Insightful)
But the warnings are in general not being too effective.
the FSF while makes many good points, are often too stuck on many old ideas and methods, that they are not seeing and trying to adapt to the advantages that had happened with DRM.
Many of the things today, such as having access to a wide verity of music, movies and TV show with a monthly fee that is often less than the expense of us buying a new DVD or CD once every month, is something that we are fully use to now, and we have to thank DRM for that. Because the Media companies are afraid of rampant piracy, much more with the advent of digital media, where a digital copy is exact to its original.
FSF is just sticking to its ideology, without seeing that there are advantages of the different ideology that must be addressed and properly countered. The hippy movement didn't last too long, and by the 80's became the yuppies. Because the ideology had no good implementation, while the more corrupt ideology of the yuppies of the Big Man power business man, while in the long term destructive, was implemented better with more organization and rewards for following that method.
Sure I like Free Software, and I support Free software, the FSF does make good points, however it is mostly just empty ideology. Especially with RMS ideology, who had influenced the FSF to disregard business needs and protecting of the investment.
We know Gas in our Cars is causing global warming. However we are not just going out rushing to get an EV, Because of practical reasons, including not enough EV Supply, Power Infrastructure, and the Cost of new Cars. We know our Car is bad for the environment, But until it can be practical for the individual they won't get one.
Chicken Little - They Sky is Falling (Score:2)
But the warnings are in general not being too effective.
No, its that the consequences are not as dire as predicted. For example UEFI's secure boot was not the end of the world for Linux. Distros signed their code and Linux installs and runs just fine. This will continue with Win11.
Windows 11 is there for one thing (Score:3, Interesting)
and one thing only. That is to provide lots and lots of lovely data for Microsoft.
To paraphrase a song by 'The Police'
Everything you do, every keystroke you make,
They'll be watching you.
Stop using it. Now!
Proudly Microsoft free for 5 years.
Re: Windows 11 is there for one thing (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: Windows 11 is there for one thing (Score:3)
Your ignorance is showing. Microsoft Corporation's global search advertising revenue increased year-on-year in the fiscal years from 2016 to 2021. In FY2021, Microsoft generated around 8.53 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from search advertising.
$8.53 billion disappears and Microsoft will notice. And as aggressive as Microsoft is trying to get people to log in everywhere there is a Microsoft property, and even little things like Edge now telling you a site has coupons ... Tracking is also important to them
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and one thing only. That is to provide lots and lots of lovely data for <del>Microsoft</del> the NSA and FBI.
I wonder if Microsoft did this willingly or on receipt of a National security letter.
Except..... (Score:3, Informative)
I can't do what I do in Linux. Audio support still isn't great and Audacity is a laughable excuse for a program compared to ProTools.
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Except.... that's an artificial construct also placed into effect by coordinated illegal anti-competitive activity. The limitation isn't a technical one, it is a choice made by the company that makes your software - a choice mind you that probably actually costs them more money.
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The limitation isn't a technical one, it is a choice made by the company that makes your software
Pulse Audio? Oh, are we still talking about Linux?
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Have you tried Ardour?
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I can't do what I do in Linux. Audio support still isn't great and Audacity is a laughable excuse for a program compared to ProTools.
Sucks to be you! Although it seems more like you are bragging.
How did you like the exceptional support that Windows 10 had for audio? A program I used has 20 some audio drivers for a many channel server with an RF front end. Windows updates would rename all the drivers to the first one it found, then append a serial number on the end. Program stopped dead in it's tracks. It was eventually fixed after a few years, but the fix was hella time consuming every time it happened. Me? I have one program left th
Will there be a Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC? (Score:3)
I've got some software that can *only* be run in Windows. I maintain a VM that I run in my kubuntu host and distribute to the rest of the engineers. They can run it under linux or windows. Definitely not "one user, per instance"!
So far, there has been a reduced-fuckery version available to corporate customers. Not zero, just reduced.
A bit over-the-top (Score:2, Funny)
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This diatribe from FSF reads like the conspiracies from the anti-vax and flat-Earth peoples. It's so hyperbolic it becomes ridiculous. Please point on the doll where Microsoft touched you!
I think that FSF fills an important role and I've donated in the past (and likely will again). At the same time, I could replace whoever writes their press releases with a shell script.
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You just like throwing your lot in with that rapey guy, that's why you donate.
You know, in all seriousness that's a mess. I haven't donated since a couple of years before all of that came out.
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You could always donate to the Linux Foundation or the EFF instead.
Re: A bit over-the-top (Score:2)
Fair, though. (Score:3, Funny)
That's easy, the brain. Microsoft has touched people in the brain. And not in a good way.
Re: A bit over-the-top (Score:2)
The only thing more ebarrasing than believing the earth is flat, is believing there are actual flat earthers.
There's an entire community of losers with nothing better to do than gaslight rubes like you, and it's working. Hahah.
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Most of them aren't even gaslighting, exactly, they're just intellectually dishonest in a way that they don't consider dishonest, and almost nobody listens to them closely enough to understand what they are; and are not; actually saying.
Somebody will say to them, "Do you really believe the Earth is flat?" and they'll answer, "I don't think you can prove that it isn't." And the idiot they're talking to presumes that by defending the position, they're agreeing with it.
I've noticed it is a consistent problem w
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'Telemetry' AKA spying, MS doesn't allow you to turn it off, they only allow you to reduce it but they don't tell you what spying is still happening. There's nothing conspiracy theory about it. You appear to be pretending it doesn't happen even though all sides have discussed this spying. The kool-aid must taste good.
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'Telemetry' AKA spying, MS doesn't allow you to turn it off
I can't think of a better way to get the average person to approve of spying better than calling it "snitching," though.
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This diatribe from FSF reads like the conspiracies from.. flat-Earth peoples
Actually, when they say ` "Snitching" may sound dramatic ' they sound like one of the tweakers camping out in the street, warning people about undercover cops.
Please point on the doll where Microsoft touched you!
It's more like, "Please point on the doll where you're worried microsoft saw you touch somebody."
I'm a 100% Linux user for over 20 years. The only proprietary software I even use is LTSpice, which runs perfectly under wine, and Civ V, also under wine. And their complaints don't even sound rational. There are lots of good reasons to worry about telemet
Even more amazing (Score:3, Funny)
Slashdot found a computer related story that's not from the virge
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The link to arsetech a lot, too.
Oh really (Score:2)
"Windows 11 Deprives Users of Freedom and Digital Autonomy"
A shocking report from the "No-Shit-Sherlock" wing of the newsroom.
The perpetual revenue stream (Score:2, Insightful)
Why does FSF emphasize the privacy/freedom angle?
Why are they not explaining Windows 11 as Microsoft, once again, reaching into your pocket and taking money from it?
Windows is undergoing another cycle of Planned Obsolescence.
Does General Motors or Toyota tell you that in 2025, your SUV will no longer be able to be repaired because they will stop offering spare parts?
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Why does FSF emphasize the privacy/freedom angle?
Because software Freedom is their entire mission, as is evident by their very name. Cost isn't even a distant second, as they are fine with developers charging money for their products.
Uh, its a free upgrade for home users (Score:2)
Why are they not explaining Windows 11 as Microsoft, once again, reaching into your pocket and taking money from it?
Because they are not complete idiots and understand that Win11 is a free upgrade to home users.
Free upgrade . . . riiighhhht! (Score:2)
for home users who have gone out and bought a new computer?
Yeah yeah and yeah, it installs on your existing Windows 10 computer -- if you make a dodgy Registry change and forgo security updates?
Free upgrade on relatively current systems (Score:2)
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I am using an over 4-year-old Dell Optiplex 7040 you ignorant clod!
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I am using an over 4-year-old Dell Optiplex 7040 you ignorant clod!
That is not a relatively current computer. Its 5 generations behind in terms of CPUs. Win11 requires something within the last 3 generations.
No stuff, Sherlock (Score:2)
And if your computer is 5 generations behind, it deserves to become toxic e-waste dumped in some country with weak environmental laws?
My original remark is that Windows 11 and whatever functionality it brings to the table (becoming end-of-life for security updates unless you pay serious coin a few years later than Windows 10?) is an excuse to nag you into buying a new computer, either a Surface from Microsoft or a computer from Microsoft's partners paying for Windows to be licensed on their hardware?
So
Win10 continues to get patches (Score:2)
And if your computer is 5 generations behind ...
It will run just fine on Win10 and continue to get patches.
My original remark is that Windows 11 is an excuse to nag you into buying a new computer
You did not say that. You said it will require a new computer or dodgy registry changes and no security fixes. That was incorrect.
Your goal post move is also incorrect. There is no nagging. There might be a one time notice regarding no Win11 upgrade, but that is followed by Win10 continuing to be supported and patched.
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You better believe there is now a time when Windows 10 will no longer receive (free) patches
https://www.windowscentral.com... [windowscentral.com]
In the university where I work, there will be serious and intense nagging about not connecting an unpatched and unsupported OS to the local network. The organization-within-the-organization that provides this network and does this nagging does not provide the funds needed to replace the devices that are unable to upgrade their OS. It is a sort of unfunded mandate kind of situat
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You better believe there is now a time when Windows 10 will no longer receive (free) patches
There was always a time, Oct 14, 2025, approximately 10 years since Win10 launch. This was known when you bought your Dell, which will be 8 years old. Assuming the hardware does not fail by then.
I trust this corrects any concern about moved goal posts.
There is nothing to correct. Your original claim was mistaken, as is your second claim. Incidentally, your third claim is also mistaken, 2025 is not "now" the EOL date, it always was the EOL date. Ten years of consumer support is MS' norm, expect the same for Win11.
MS account, really? (Score:3)
Holy shit. Is that really true? You can get away with such idiocy on a game console maybe, but this is supposedly going to be marketed as being for PCs?!?
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It was "strongly encouraged" by Windows 10, so this isn't terribly surprising.
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It was "strongly encouraged" by Windows 10, so this isn't terribly surprising.
I just reinstalled Windows 10 on my sisters computer after an HD failure. It forced me to make a Microsoft account. No matter what I tried. What a pisser.
So I created a Microsoft account and finished the install.
Then I created a local account, made it administrator, and deleted the Microsoft account person.
Every company has the right to be assholes, but Microsoft abuses the privilege.
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In the Home edition the easiest way to avoid creating a Microsoft account is to just disconnect from the internet.
If you look carefully there is a skip option when it asks you to create an account, but it's not very prominent. Disconnecting from the internet is the simplest way.
I tested Windows 11 in a VM and it's the same, if you don't have internet access you can create a local only account.
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In the Home edition the easiest way to avoid creating a Microsoft account is to just disconnect from the internet.
If you look carefully there is a skip option when it asks you to create an account, but it's not very prominent. Disconnecting from the internet is the simplest way.
I tested Windows 11 in a VM and it's the same, if you don't have internet access you can create a local only account.
I wonder if that might be for an older update of W10. I did have a option to skip on another computer I reloaded W10 on. This one fought me all the way.
MS lets you remove account after installation (Score:2)
In the Home edition the easiest way to avoid creating a Microsoft account is to just disconnect from the internet.
No, the easiest way is to follow MS' instructions on how to remove the Microsoft account after installation is complete. If you click on one of the links for more info the installer tells you how to do it.
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In the Home edition the easiest way to avoid creating a Microsoft account is to just disconnect from the internet.
No, the easiest way is to follow MS' instructions on how to remove the Microsoft account after installation is complete. If you click on one of the links for more info the installer tells you how to do it.
It's a pity that they want to force the issue though. The interesting thing is how people have just accepted every new intrusion, the BOHICA updates, the inability to avoid ET phoning home by hostfile bypass, the forced Microsoft account with a pain in the ass way to get around that. I call that a security risk when you are doing install work for others. This incrementalism will probably have no way of opting out. The incrementalism will likely have people renting their Windows soon, and if you don't pay wh
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Re:MS account, really? (Score:4, Informative)
They're right, but they also sound crazed (Score:5, Informative)
We seem to be living in an era of ever-increasing divisiveness and separation at all levels of our civilization. Personally I think that's being driven by corporations more than anyone else, and many others (like the FSF) have little else to do other than react to that as they will. But nevertheless it does not bode well for civilization in general.
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Well put.
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FSF is far from being wrong, and I agree wholeheartedly with what they're saying, but at the same time I'm fully cognizant and aware that to the Average Person they sound like nutjob conspiracy theorists, and as such are unlikely to sway that Average Person to their viewpoint.
This is why we need to tell the world about the dangerous of corporations controlling our eyes, knowing everything about us and privacy invasion in general! I'm doing my part, gonna posting this on Facebook.
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In order for their pledge to be reasonable, first linux on the desktop would have to be realistic. And it's just not for a variety of reasons. Linus Torvalds has outlined a few of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
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Given that video is more than seven years old, you might want to dig up something a little more current - or put together your own talking points.
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What difference does its age make when everything said in it remains relevant today?
I can add a few more:
If you write a GUI driven application, which stack do you use? xorg? wayland? and then do you use kde? gnome?
If your application runs as a service, do you build for systemd or init.d?
If you want to help a friend install linux on their desktop as the FSF suggests, which distro do you even tell them to use that won't outright confuse the hell out of them?
Actually the only realistic linux on the desktop for
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If you write a GUI driven application, which stack do you use? xorg? wayland?
I use Qt. GTK works fine under either as well. Unless, of course, it's something really simple, then it's just yad.
then do you use kde? gnome?
I use Qt. It works fine under KDE or GNOME. So do GTK programs. Yad is fine too.
If your application runs as a service, do you build for systemd or init.d?
I include a systemd unit file. If the user is on a non-systemd distro, I leave adding it to init.d or whatever as a trivial exercise for the user.
If you want to help a friend install linux on their desktop as the FSF suggests, which distro do you even tell them to use that won't outright confuse the hell out of them?
Kubuntu, usually. For more clueful newbies, or if I expect to have more time to help them, Manjaro KDE.
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I use Qt. GTK works fine under either as well. Unless, of course, it's something really simple, then it's just yad.
I use Qt. It works fine under KDE or GNOME. So do GTK programs. Yad is fine too.
Qt isn't going to work with most commercial software that people use on the desktop. Yad is way too limited. Neither Qt nor GTK work particularly well with most languages that aren't C. (Though admittedly GTK is somewhat decent for my language of choice, Rust)
I include a systemd unit file. If the user is on a non-systemd distro, I leave adding it to init.d or whatever as a trivial exercise for the user.
That's the problem is your typical desktop user doesn't even know what bash is, or what a configuration file is. They pretty much just want to use a web browser, maybe something like office, photoshop, or CAD, and maybe gaming. Although people like us
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The very early 1990s called. They want their FUD back.
GUI app: easiest approach today is to make it a Web app if possible. If not, Gtk is one of numerous options that don't particularly care whether you use X or Wayland. Ironically, so is Microsoft's free/open-source .NET stack.
Services: it's not terribly hard to provide both systemd service files and traditional xinit scripts.
I won't recommend that a friend install Linux unless he or she is able and willing to do some learning. But if I do, then XUbu
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Torvalds highlights one of the more important reasons, yes, but it's not the only one; Bryan Lunduke has also highlighted a whole lot of them.
Linux is a mess for the average user.
No one wants to be told, go read the man pages, or recompile, or go fix the code yourself, etc.
If one has to read any manual to achieve a task, then clearly the interface / tool isn't user-friendly and intuitive.
There's a lot of talent in the Linux community, and sadly, there's no authority/company to control them all and bring the
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Torvalds highlights one of the more important reasons...
Linux is a mess for the average user.
No one wants to be told, go read the man pages, or recompile, or go fix the code yourself, etc.
In an ancient time, Linus Torvalds talked about how Linux sucked for the average user, because the print dialogs were inconsistent. But these days, you plug a printer in and it works. He said the thing many years ago.
Why would anybody be told to read the man pages? That's usually what people are told when they're trying to do some sort of system administration thing. Why would the average user being doing that at all?
These are ancient complaints. Windows will remain dominant on the desktop because the avera
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In an ancient time, Linus Torvalds talked about how Linux sucked for the average user, because the print dialogs were inconsistent. But these days, you plug a printer in and it works. He said the thing many years ago
This was not my experience [mageia.org].
And sure, you can tell me this was a single unusual case, and that printers generally work fairly well, but using Linux is full of one off unusual cases like this that nobody else is having, and they all add up.
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Reported: 2015
Yes, that was your experience. In ancient times, you had a problem with a printer.
Using proprietary drivers.
I've never had printer troubles in Linux, even in ancient times, but I used Epson printers. And I don't even touch a driver disk, that shit is crap.
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If you look at the followups, I reported it again in 2021. Still wasn't fixed.
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And I also wasn't using proprietary drivers in 2021. In fact, part of the problem is that I needed to manually download and compile an old version of Ghostscript because that was necessary to fix the printer problem using free software (and had been documented as such for years), and they said "sorry, that's an upstream problem, we can't include that, that's *old software*".
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Thanks for sharing your opinion. It's amazing that humans, when they discover the means to make life so much easier for everyone, so much better, they manage it in way that leads to the worst of the worst that was ever imaginable happening like it was inevitable. I think I never read the bible in it's entirety much less any substantive portion, basically concludes we can separate good and evil. Evil grows on good, and good on evil.
Kindness, sweetness, forgiveness, hope, patience, honor, love, honesty, respe
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but at the same time I'm fully cognizant and aware that to the Average Person they sound like nutjob conspiracy theorists, and as such are unlikely to sway that Average Person to their viewpoint.
We seem to be living in an era of ever-increasing divisiveness and separation at all levels of our civilization. Personally I think that's being driven by corporations more than anyone else
I don't think there is really anything an advocacy group is going to do to change things. Society has to go through the cycle and survive to the next cycle. None of these groups are powerful enough to dictate changes, and so they can't change the swinging of the pendulum.
I take some comfort in the fact that from the start of the Industrial Revolution until now, there have been multiple swings back and forth from corporate power to individual liberty. Corporations now are bad, and have too much power, but at
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Use Hurd! (Score:2)
Use Hurd instead! Coming Soon to a PC near 2008.
Now see here! (Score:2)
Some people like being controlled, they wouldn't know what to do if Microsoft wasn't here to protect them. The vast majority of people just want to get their work done, go home, and goof-off online. They aren't interested in using a computer as a personal research lab or as a finely honed tool to suit their needs.
RMS and others view modern computers much in the same way as desk calculators. And they are flabbergasted that four-function calculators are sealed shut and almost nobody cares about opening them u
Pocket calculator requiring upgrade or replacement (Score:2)
Yes, I get that it is not Internet connected.
That said, I am not nagged that I need to perform "updates" on my calculator. Or that using my calculator poses a security risk at the educational institution where I work.
Does my calculator "go end of life" in however many years?
Were that a desktop computer more like a pocket calculator.
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You might want to be careful taking analogies further than the point they were intended to make, else you may miss the point entirely.
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You might want to be careful taking analogies further than the point they were intended to make, else you may miss the point entirely.
That would make an excellent tagline!
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The best computer for many people, maybe most people, is a Chromebook. Simple, robust, mostly just a web browser although you can install some other apps. Doesn't break, doesn't get viruses, doesn't need maintenance.
And yes, it's controlled by Google, they really want you to have a Google account, and they ask if they can collect data and most people let them in exchange for services. I'm not all that happy about it, but it does massively reduce the amount of tech support I'm called on for.
I no longer feel any joy in using computers. (Score:1, Interesting)
This is dead-seriously my experience with the modern Internet as of 2021:
More and more websites have started becoming ridiculously broken, displaying entirely blank pages, with no error, message, or even logged client-side errors in the browser's console. I'm even encountering ones which, when you click "checkout" to buy a service, which they clearly would want you to do, nothing happens; genuine incompetence rather than anti-automation/anti-privacy malice.
I've long since lost count of the number of times w
Quelle surprise. (Score:1)
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Installing Linux is not an insignificant easy to do solution for most people like their press release implies.
False. I moved from Windows 7 to LinuxMint in about fifteen minutes or so. Other than having to create a bootable flash drive, the install was flawless. Everything just worked once I created my account.
The only major issue people will have moving to Linux is how to find and install software. Yes, in the case of Mint there are repositories and a built-in installer, but once you go outside of that i
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Installing Linux is not an insignificant easy to do solution for most people like their press release implies.
False. I moved from Windows 7 to LinuxMint in about fifteen minutes or so. Other than having to create a bootable flash drive, the install was flawless. Everything just worked once I created my account.
I never got the idea that it was so hard to install Linux. Maybe in 1998, but modern Linux distros are as easy to install as Windows.
If all people want to do is surf the web, get into web sites and check their email, Linux is perfectly capable and user friendly.
I've set up a few Grandmas with Linux. They are doing just fine. Even do their own updates.
they're certainly not capable of migrating to Linux without a shitload of grief and frustration that ultimately ends up with them going back to Windows.
See what I just said above. If people can follow directions (ok, that's asking a lot of people nowadays), the migration is far smoother than anything Microsoft has come up with.
Ain't that the truth. Some of the folks just love to believe that it's still the 90's, when installing Linux was indeed a bigger chore.
But that ain't today. As long as your computer is on the internet, the installs just go out and grab the drivers, and boom - when the install is finis
deaf ears (Score:3)
The FSF's point completely misses what is important to users.
Most people don't get a computer to be free. People get a computer to play games, to communicate with friends and family, to create content, to keep track of finances, to buy and sell goods. In short, people buy computers in order to make tasks easier.
They can scream "freedom" as loud as they want. Yet, my kids will be asking: "Can I play Roblox and Minecraft? Can I watch youtube?", at the end of the day if the computer can't do that, it is as good as a "free" brick. Microsoft, Apple, and Google understand this very well, they are laser-focused on providing what customers want instead of pushing a philosophical agenda.
If they really want people to use free software instead of windows 11, then what really needs to happen is that free software should focus on why people prefer windows 11 and work on providing those features.
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> Most people don't get a computer to be free. People get a computer to play games, to communicate with friends and family, to create content, to keep track of finances, to buy and sell goods. In short, people buy computers in order to make tasks easier.
The FSF have been saying for years that Windows is bad for you, and the public reaction so far has been largely "yeah, whatever".
Doctors and researchers have been saying that smoking is bad for you since the 1890s, and the public reaction had been "yeah,
FSF warns paint is wet (Score:2)
People around the world go up and touch it.
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No. It just doesn't care about privacy as much as as the FSF. Society loads up Windows and see a list of benefits of having a Microsoft and Windows account linked and are like, whatever sign me up.
Windows 11: No Compelling Feature (Score:2)
JFC calm TF down (Score:2)
Who the hell wrote this nonsense screed?
Microsoft Account (Score:3, Informative)
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Not sure why you were scored down on this. You are absolutely right. The part about the Microsoft Account seemed wrong, so I went and did a test. I fresh-installed Windows 11 Pro and was able to, rather easily, install using a local account.
Apparently it's the Home edition that requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account, to at least do the initial setup. On Pro, when it asked about an account I selected "Sign in options" and was able to create an "offline account" which is essentially a loc
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I'm not saying that this makes up for all the other privacy issues with Windows 11, but the FSF should at least be fair in pointing out that you can opt for an edition of Windows that doesn't require a Microsoft account. It may cost more (you can find legit keys for relatively cheap), but the option is there.
What a wonderful thing they do - making an option to pay more so that you don't have to jump through stupid hoops just to have the type of account you want.
And then if you really want something extra, buy the enterprise version, then you have a teensy bit of control over the BOHICA updates. Not much any more - I've got Enterprise on one, and Microsoft updated me at the worst possible time. No choice.
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I actually gave Home a try, and while it does, annoyingly require you to use a MS account on initial setup, once logged in you can convert it to a local account. Not that that's much better, but at least you can still use a local account on Home.
The automatic updating is garbage. It sucks to hear that they are doing that on Enterprise as well. I only run Windows on a couple servers, where the software requires it, and I'm still on very old versions (2012R2, and I even have a 2008R2 that I'm looking to ge
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I actually gave Home a try, and while it does, annoyingly require you to use a MS account on initial setup, once logged in you can convert it to a local account. Not that that's much better, but at least you can still use a local account on Home.
The issue that I had was I was setting up anew Hard drive, and it did the "Oh, but we insist!" thing, so I had to make up one for me, even though it was for my sister. Now my big question is after I eliminated the Microsoft account on the computer - exactly how much was eliminated? Could that be dug up by a bad guy? I'm pretty certain her level of computer security isn't all that comprehensive.
The automatic updating is garbage. It sucks to hear that they are doing that on Enterprise as well.
When I spoke with a sysadmin about it, he noted "yeah - this is a real problem, and we're being bypassed in control
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Out of curiosity I gave the Home edition a try, and while it does require you to initially use a Microsoft account to complete setup (the option for offline is not available on initial setup on Home), once that's done however, you can convert your account to a local one. (I had missed that option which is also available on Pro, in the event you use the MS account on setup there as well).
And yeah, the edition thing is annoying, especially since the core OS is the same with features disabled/enabled based on
Linux it is (Score:2)
I don't use Linux as a primary operating system, but I don't like being controlled and I don't like DRM. But it's not the DRM you have to worry about, it's the Microsoft store, and windows making it difficult to install it modify other apps. I won't be using windows for a primary operating system anymore
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anti-trust, anti-consumer, anti-competitive (Score:2)
Most people, these days, expect to be able to turn on their computer and it should "just work". If it doesn't, they call their local "techie" and ask him to help out. You _might_ be able to expect these people to know how to connect the wiring to the computer. These people call their ISP and ask a technician from said ISP to configure their computer.
In short: they don't care. If it works, they want it to keep working. If it breaks, it must be back to a usable state as soon as they need it. And that's up to
Forgotten lesson (Score:2)
It seems that MS has forgotten the lesson that helped found the company: that users want a PC, a "personal" computer, with all the privacy and power that comes with that, as opposed to a dumb terminal on some mainframe, with its shared resources and public identity nudity. People like being able to say "this computer is MINE, and I can do / tinker with it however I like."
The PC is what revolutionized the computer industry. That MS is going to relearn this painful lesson is simply a marker for how far the co
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People want privacy? Then why do they have Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? GMail? YouTube? etc. That's like saying you want privacy and then taking a dump in a greenhouse with a live stream.
crying wolf one too many times (Score:2)
Yet another form reply (Score:2)
(this extends to computing in general)
We are now at a crossroads here with only two streets to go down:
1- Keep dealing with an internet that is only going to get more user hostile, more government/corporation control freak friendly, more privacy invading, more manipulative, more everything that no sane decent person ever wanted.
2- Start over from scratch, with a firmly enforced "Users' Bill of Rights" to prevent the aforementioned abuses.
Nutjobs who welcomed alleged sexual harasser back (Score:2)
My eyes glaze over whenever I see anything from the FSF. When they welcomed back Stallman, they had said all they needed to say. If anyone took them seriously before, I don't see how they could afterwards.