Posted on 03/11/2026 7:23:49 AM PDT by dennisw
Some rumored Windows 12 features could frustrate users and be the reason Linux finally starts looking better.
First off, the rumor about a 2026 release for Windows 12 is not true. Someone translated a German article about Windows 12 releasing in 2026, and it proved to be untrue (and was later retracted). Second, there are a lot of other "speculations" as to what Windows 12 will be like.
What could cause a large migration? I'm going to set the rumors aside, and instead, focus on what I believe will happen (based on the past, the present, and the future of technology). It's all about AI.
Microsoft is heavily invested in Copilot and has zero intention of backing down from its AI. Although many have claimed the rumors that Microsoft is planning on plunging Windows 12 deeper into artificial intelligence waters are false, I would argue that they are true.
Let me explain.
Also: The 6 Linux distros I expect to rule 2026 - as someone who's tested hundreds (and for decades)
AI started as third-party services that consumers could use. Those services then transformed into paid services. The paid services were soon replaced by free services, by way of various integrations. For example, the Opera browser gave us Aria, which we could all use for free. Google gave us Gemini. Apple gave us Apple Intelligence (sort of?), and Microsoft gave us Copilot.
AI then evolved into agentic AI, which could automate tasks like shopping, and that agentic AI started filtering into various browsers (some free, some not).
Then, AI started trickling its way into operating systems, with Copilot, Gemini, and Apple Intelligence becoming more and more deeply embedded. All of a sudden, AI was integrated into web browsers, email, notes, office suites, and more. What this meant is that user-facing apps were now intrinsically tied to AI.
The next evolution Here's where I think this goes with regard to Windows (ergo, Windows 12):
AI will take the place of Windows Service Manager, so users won't have to worry about managing services. AI will take control of software updates. AI will begin reading what's on users' screens (so it always has context for what users are asking). AI will be used for natural language system control (such as "I need to close the app that's consuming the most RAM"). AI will be capable of local processing (which will require even more powerful systems). AI will be able to monitor long-running tasks (such as research), and will be able to assist in that process. AI will be used for semantic search on the desktop. AI will be used for data collection. As you can see, I believe AI will be so deeply embedded in the next iteration of Windows that it will be impossible to break that tie. If you want an AI-less Windows, you'll be out of luck, and once Microsoft makes that change, there will be no going back.
At the same time, the Windows UI probably won't undergo much of a change, and it will most likely include even more ads and more data collection.
Also: I've used Windows for decades, but I tried Linux to see if it's truly 'easy' now - and one thing surprised me
When you put all of this together, it points to migration. Users are only willing to take so much before they finally break and change, and Windows 12 might be the metaphorical straw v. camel. And I believe that what we'll see with Windows 12 will make the migration from Windows 10 to Linux look quaint.
And then, you add to that the continued evolution of the Linux desktop into something that any user (of any skill level) can work with and enjoy (without all the caveats that come with Windows), and you have a perfect storm. Linux on the desktop will never:
Include ads. Be deeply interwoven with AI. Require users to purchase a new PC. Collect user information or track users' behavior. Cost a penny. Sounds appealing, right? Well, the combination of where Windows is going and where Linux is not going will have consumers flocking to the open-source operating system.
And there you have my take on the whole Windows 12/Linux debate.
Youtube. Really youtube is the now the ultimate answer to “how do I...” for everything.
Dream on.
Microsoft rules the world
Copilot is junk. A total resource hog. I hate the windows 11 update. I have a beast of a machine and it slowed it down with my engineering software like I was back on a 233 pentium. And by default copilot was installed three times all running simultaneously. One from the MS 365 update. One with the windows 11 update (customer forced me to use it for “security” when I log on to their servers) and one from my hated and never used “OneDrive.”
But no. I still can’t go to linux. Nothing ports to it and the cost of the OS is trivial compared to the tens of thousands I spend for software every year. And the ironic part is all the software I use was originally ported to Unix.
When I retire linux would be just fine. But for what I do, I’m stuck. Windows 7 is still my favorite and several machines still run on that and they have been rock solid and fast all these years.
LINUX Switch Bump!
😎🙏😇
Well I think and hope you are wrong, Mr. The Louiswu
US-OS to go along with our digital US currency. Run by Elizabeth Warren’s “Consumer protection” bureau. Mandatory fingerprint, face scan, and DNA test for every log in.
But don’t dare require ID for voting. That’s racist.
Life will be so much better when we all switch to Linux...
it’s only been 40 years and people can finally see they don’t need a user interface like windows
I’ll teach grandma command line functions so she can feel superior like all Linux users too.
Director of IT here. One of the first things about computers I learned back in the 80’s is what computer you use and what O/S you use is relatively irrelevant. The principle consideration is what programs you want or need to run. Yes; some people are computer hobbyists and spending extra effort to do things as a learning experience motivates some people. Most people however just want to perform their tasks whether it is for work or pleasure.
As long as Windows is the easiest platform for performing those tasks it will remain the dominant O/S. Speculating on Windows 12 may be fun/interesting but without actual data is a waste of time for most people.
Bump for later. Ms se3ms to be acrivrly trying to push people away from windows for some odd reason. Im seeing more and more people asking about alternstive os’s in many different forums, wondering ehat to move to since windows is becomming so crappy.
As someone with 50+ years of experience on mini and microcomputers, a user of Windows 1.01 and Slackware Linux in the mid-90’s (and got on the Internet with it!), my take:
1. Windows is less than garbage, and has been since Windows 7. Basically, it’s “free” or very inexpensive spyware. Unfortunately, I have to use it because many of my “legacy” and certain other tools are Windows only. This situation has been getting better. You might say, use Linux and Wine, etc, but I am too old to do that level of screwing around. I would not recommend any young person to learn it unless they go into IT and even then I would call specializing in it career-limiting. Remember, Windows DOES have a very good office suite (although I hate that too, all the developers of Office should have been fired after 2003) and the business version of Microsoft Windows is very different - no, or maybe much less spyware, you pick when you “upgrade” or bugfix (more likely) - but you have to pay dearly for both it and the OS and will need to buy into the entire toxic business ecosystem of Microsoft.
I wouldn’t recommend in a million years the use of Windows (whatever they call the server version now) as a server. SQL Server still isn’t as good as Oracle, and is a lot less cheap than it once was. There are a lot of free or free/supported databases, but I swear, Oracle is still the best for stuff that absolutely has got to work, although I dislike its very greedy manufacturer.
2. Apple is very good, I think they have a better moral compass than Microsoft, and their “walled garden” is a very nice and not terribly expensive garden. Their development tools make it very hard for an app to hide what they are doing on your (machine/tablet/phone). That and human examination is whey developers pay a percentage to the Apple Store for. I have bought into their ecosystem (TV, tablets, phone,watch,desktop) and the apps are free or fairly priced, and for the most part, they just work, although IMO not quite as well or as often as they did in the Jobs era. And, Carplay in my car is worlds better than the nav system that the previous owner of my car paid $5000 for.
A good example of how good Apple is, is the FREE app, “Time Machine”. Upgrading to a new machine or going back to a version of something that you screwed up is about as easy as farting into a sofa cushion. Microsoft has nothing like this but has produced garbage, weak substitutes for backup over the last 40 years. The reason is that Windows is such a horrible mess that is is basically impossible to write such a piece of software for MS.
That is what the “Apple Tax” pays for.
BEWARE: Microsoft’s office suite software for Apple doesn’t work quite as well or the same as it does on Windows. Also, the “lifetime” versions of MS office generally lasts for only the last three OS releases of OSx.
3. Linux gets better and better, and a lot of development tools are becoming “Linux First”. If all you do is surf the Internet and mail, it’s been very good for several years. Keep checking if your “must have” apps run natively on Linux.
They’ve told me that my desktop cannot update to W-eleven. And the W-ten installed can’t be updated. I’m not very savvy on the systems. I don’t want to spend thousands. What do I do?
Agree!
And after 40 years Linux users still don’t get that, yet still act superior.
They are like Vegans- if you go out to dinner with a group and there is a vegan EVERYONE will know they’re a vegan and how great it is to be vegan and what they can or can’t eat and why you should be a vegan too and eww you still eat meat (looking down their nose)
I’ve written computer software for over 30 years in BOTH windows and Unix/Linux.
I get it that Linux is superior for things, but not when trying to show gramma how to use the computer when they can barely log in without showing them how, again.
be a good consumer and upgrade your ancient perfectly working computer OR ELSE
Finally, I got around to installing Linux.
Here’s what I learned.
Originally I was going to do a dual boot dual drive system which would require adding another drive to my PC box.
Problem was if was an HP small form factor and it did not have any vacant PCI slots.
I could have worked around that but it would require some cabling that I really did not want to do.
After I thought about it for awhile which was months, I decided to pick up a used PC on Ebay which could not have properly run Windows 11.
Got a Mini form factor Dell Optiplex 7040 for less than 60 bucks with tax and shipping.
That would have been in the neighborhood of what new SSD and cabling would have cost for a dual boot drive system upgrade.
The nice thing about this was there was no risk of messing up my Windows 10 machine and the data on it.
The You Tuber Digital Scriptorium had the best install of Zorin 18 that I have seen.
I did a clean install on the Dell with no problems.
It’s faster and just smoother than my ten year old Windows machine was.
I bought a switch which allows to me to use just one keyboard and mouse for both machines.
Since I have a two monitor set-up I can run both at the same time although you have to switch the mouse and keyboard back and forth.
I was using open source software such as Open Office and Gimp on my windows machine and I don’t think it will be difficult to transfer open office files to Libre whic came installed on Zorin 18 or I could install Open Office.
I was very fond of the music player Music Bee which does not have a Linux version.
I’m using VLC to play a stream from Classic FM UK my favorite internet radio station.
Although I may just keep using my Windows 10 machine offline for a word processor, music player for my digital library, and Microsoft Solitaire.
I’m not sure about Bluetooth as the computer came with a dongle plugged in.
But I really don’t use Bluetooth on my PC.
China is already doing this with its new Harmony OS designed from the ground up. Huawei and other ChiCom biggies are in on this new OS, that China will mandate in China then push it out on the world for free of course. You Tube videos on this.
The weird thing is that AI actually makes Linux more appealing at least to me. I’m a lifelong Windows user and never wanted to wade into waters of Linux and having to learn a new OS. I’ve now installed Ubuntu on a half dozen older computers using AI to tell me all steps that I need to do including creating bootable media, installing apps, etc. I haven’t ditched Windows completely yet, but I’m getting closer.
People who include “here’s why” in their title should be publicly flogged.
Where does Apple fit into this mess. My PC is aging, but it’s not quite done yet. When I replace it, I may go Mac.
Does Linux support Photoshop/Lightroom?
Can’t wait to see California and most blue states ban Linux as a “right wing hate tool”. EU, soon after. Can’t have citizens opting out of the Surveillance State or Ads for Proper, state approved purchases.
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