Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

I wish Microsoft had been brave enough not to release Windows 11
PC Gamer ^ | 10/25/2021 | Dave James

Posted on 10/26/2021 9:03:50 AM PDT by fireman15

Sticking to just a major feature update for Windows 10 would have been a positive move for Microsoft and for us PC users.

"Windows 10 is the last version of Windows," says Microsoft's Jerry Nixon just ahead of the launch of the then-new operating system. It was a bold statement and now, in the face of the faltering Windows 11 launch, I can't help but wish Microsoft had followed through on that promise instead of giving in to the powerful lure of marketing bull.

It's a quote that was widely circulated at the time, continued to be shared around during the hyped buildup to this year's big Sun Valley Windows 10 update, and then again around the subsequent announcement and launch of Windows 11. Yet chief product officer of Windows, Panos Panay, seems not to have had any idea about it.

When quizzed about why Microsoft had changed its mind Panoy told The Independent: "I was actually asked that question earlier this morning and I had no idea."

"Windows was always meant to be innovation for customers," he says by way of explanation, "like always, it's never meant to be stagnant."

But that's actually exactly what Nixon was talking about with his ever evolving 'last version of Windows' assertion. Yes, a bold statement, and one proven mostly inaccurate given the release of Windows 11, but it was reflective of the prevailing idea of the time, of Windows-as-a-service.

It was the idea that version numbers ought to be irrelevant to the user given the promise of a regular bi-annual update process that would keep this version of Windows at the forefront of innovation.

I like Windows. I don't need a slowly increasing number behind it. Just a functional OS that can consistently keep up with the times, as was promised.

(Excerpt) Read more at pcgamer.com ...


TOPICS: Education; Hobbies; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: computer; micosoft; windows; windows11; windowspinglist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
I actually do not agree with the author for the most part. I just thought the article might be the basis for an interesting discussion here. I would rather that Microsoft gave people a choice. It reminds me of the debacles when Microsoft used heavy handed tactics to force people to go from Windows XP to Windows 7 and more recently from Windows 7 to Windows 10. It is a blessing that Microsoft isn't doing the same thing with Windows 11.

I almost wonder if the "no soup for you" policy for those whose processor isn't on the list for Windows 11 isn't some sort of reverse psychology.

Windows 11 feels more streamlined in many ways than Windows 10. I think this is an issue with constant updates. Windows 11 has quite a few departures noticeable to those of us who dig into the operating system more than most.

My processor is not officially sanctioned but it is working fine with Windows 11 especially since the latest "update". And so far the updates keep coming my way. I am running it in a Hyper-V virtual machine after initially installing it on a different hard drive. I decided to keep my primary machine running on Windows 10 for now

1 posted on 10/26/2021 9:03:50 AM PDT by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Linux Mint was my last Windows update.


2 posted on 10/26/2021 9:09:18 AM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Understand that Microsoft’s development of Windows 11 was around security. They’re putting their money where their mouth is on security implementations by designing their next-gen products with security built-in.

The processors not supported by Win11 are those known to be subject to the speculative execution and side channel caching exploits. These are not minor flaws, and while Windows 10 was patched to prevent exploitation, they’re admitting that it’s only a matter of time for those to be compromised. In lieu of continuing to patch Windows 10 to death for that specific exploit, they released Windows 11 to only support the newer processors.

Additionally, they’re requiring UEFI BIOS and TPMs in Windows 11 machines. These are much more secure functionalities in mainboards and go toward keeping that OS secure. TPMs especially offer cryptographic localization to help with disk encryption and certificate management. These new features will usher in a new way of maintaining security and integrity in the world of computing.


3 posted on 10/26/2021 9:11:27 AM PDT by rarestia (“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.” -Hamilton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15
My six-year old work computer works fine but won't support Windows 11. Not too concerned as I do work and no games.

Will install on my new laptop.

4 posted on 10/26/2021 9:13:24 AM PDT by Reno89519 (FJB. Respect America, Embrace America, Buy American, Hire American.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Will MS relent on the stringent requirements to run 11?

I lost a laser printer and a scanner when I upgraded from XP to Win7. No driver updates.

When I recently upgraded to Win10, again, I lost a color laser printer and a scanner. No driver updates.

I just recently bought a Win10 desktop — which will not run Windows 11. I have a Win10 tablet — which will not run Windows 11.


5 posted on 10/26/2021 9:14:53 AM PDT by TomGuy (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Been using 11 for months now, and it’s rock solid...


6 posted on 10/26/2021 9:15:40 AM PDT by TexasGunLover
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Microsoft products are turning just buggy junk. On my corporate laptop running MS 365 my outlook hangs every damned time my VPN has a hiccup and I am forced to kill it in the Task Manager at least 4 times every day every time the message popup window “You cannot access this right now” appears. It is combination of bad Microsoft code and corporate IT mistakes but it still sucks.


7 posted on 10/26/2021 9:19:16 AM PDT by WMarshal ("Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dalberg-Acton
Linux Mint was my last Windows update.

I have never had a problem with Linux. There are several software applications that I depend on for various past times and hobbies that have no equivalents that run in Linux. For instance I have a 3-D printer and I have become very accustomed to design suites that run in Linux. I have too much time invested in this software to try and learn the much cruder versions available in Linux.

Linux helps so many believe they are masters of the universe after they are able to get a Linux distro running on their PC. It truly is a wonderful thing; I still remember the first time I got Linux working on a computer in the mid 1990s. I was hopeful that it would become the dominant operating system. But it never has.

And Microsoft truly is an evil corporation along with Facebook, Google, et. al... So more power to you.

8 posted on 10/26/2021 9:27:24 AM PDT by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: fireman15
Every update to an OS has the possibility of causing an application to stop functioning properly. Major corporations have invested millions in dozens or hundreds of apps. Slowly evolvolving an OS would mean that companies were in perpetual danger of important apps failing.

The current system where major updates are rolled up together as new releases gives companies time to test their apps on the new OS before releasing it companywide and only having to do so once every few years.

Gamer advice is often lamer advice.

9 posted on 10/26/2021 9:29:04 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

The secure platform might be a problem for many PCs, UEFI less so.


10 posted on 10/26/2021 9:29:33 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

The problem is any “thing after the actually last version of Windows” needs to break downward compatibility. Because that’s the best reason for a “last version” stop carrying forth baggage, start with a fresh code base. And since MS doesn’t just make the OS but also some of the most used apps they have a massive vested interest in NOT end downward compatibility. Because then they’d have to rewrite EVERYTHING from scratch.


11 posted on 10/26/2021 9:30:20 AM PDT by discostu (Like a dog being shown a card trick )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia
The processors not supported by Win11 are those known to be subject to the speculative execution and side channel caching exploits.

That is partially true, but not completely. The processor in my primary laptop is an AMD Ryzen 5 2500u with a 25 watt TDP. It did not make the list, yet it has all the public announced required security enhancements. It runs Windows 11 with no problems but there was a bug affecting the performance of AMD processors when the list came out.

Currently it is very easy to run a noncompliant computer on Windows 11.

12 posted on 10/26/2021 9:45:01 AM PDT by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

Has anyone actually used Windows, or just been tortured by it for the last 30 years? It’s always been useless and undesirable except for the strength of Microsoft’s lobbyists. Utter garbage software all around.


13 posted on 10/26/2021 9:46:57 AM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay Metal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15
I respectfully disagree with Microsoft forcing OS upgrades, particularly with moving from XP. They supported it for 8 years: an eternity in the computer world.

Given the fact that most of Windows 2000/Me apps and even Windows NT/95 apps ran fine on XP, and also given that you could if you want to still run 32-bit Windows 10, some, not all, of the apps on XP still run on Windows 10.

For instance, I made some homemade apps to help me with my finances in Windows 95, including some browser automation and API calls to gather investing information into a data file. I had to re-do them somewhat in Windows XP (using .Net Framework stuff). But they still run fine on Windows 10 even though I haven't changed them much since around 2003 (just added new features like what metrics it analyzes for buy and sell triggers).

I like Linux for back-end stuff in my work. If more of my users liked Linux I'd be fine with that, especially now that Microsoft's .Net Framework runs on Linux and lets me develop using Microsoft's Net Studio (hands down the best IDE out there). Java is okay, particularly if you want to enhance an Oracle back-end. But for desktop client apps or web client apps where a bunch of the logic has to be above the database layer, I'll take Visual Studio development over anything else any day.

14 posted on 10/26/2021 9:57:00 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

IHO the only thing MS has going for it today is inertia.

People only stay with Windows is their legacy software and the need to retrain personnel to a new OS.

I am personally heavenly invested in Xcel so I know what I am talking about.

I am close to retirement and really do not want to spend a lot of time converting my spreadsheets to another product.

If I was going to stick around for another ten years I might think about moving to a different OS.


15 posted on 10/26/2021 10:00:14 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

From what I understand many currently used computers will not be able to run Windows 11. That would be an issue for many users. New OS and computer at same time.


16 posted on 10/26/2021 10:03:02 AM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show hosts to me.... Sting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

So you just made a registry change for TPM and used an ISO for the installation? That is what I did - bypassing their compatibility check. What processor do you have? The one I upgraded is a Ryzen 1700X.

11 is working very well on mine. I have heard of some issues with processor caching though on some processors.


17 posted on 10/26/2021 10:11:51 AM PDT by Codeflier (Please stop calling these violent totalitarian collectivist Democrats, liberals. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy

I got a tablet with win 11 and it sucks because it does not have a tablet mode.


18 posted on 10/26/2021 10:12:05 AM PDT by algore ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

W12 is prolly pure cloud based...


19 posted on 10/26/2021 10:33:27 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WMarshal

Try rebuilding your wi-fi profile so VPN won’t hiccup. It takes a minute and might work.


20 posted on 10/26/2021 10:33:49 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson