I use Linux on my home computer, and Windows on my work computer (begrudgingly).

Windows 11 does not feel like an ‘upgrade’ at all. One obvious downgrade is that when I try to change the settings when printing a document, the settings window does not fit on the screen. … I don’t blame Windows for that - its a big settings Window. But the issue is that Windows doesn’t allow me resize it, or scroll down on it, or even let me drag it partially of the screen. And so the result is that it is impossible for me to click the ‘ok’ button when I’m done. The only way to save my changes is if I memorise which button is ok, then press ‘tab’ the exact right number of times to have it select the ok button while I can’t see it, and then press enter. That’s pretty crap. I didn’t have that problem on windows 10. (To be honest I don’t remember exactly what was different. Certainly the window with all the settings was the same, but I believe it had a scroll bar, maybe? In any case, I could certainly press the ok button before ‘upgrading’!)

There are so many annoying features in Windows 11 that I’ve spent ages trying to turn off. For example, I was happy with the way windows could be snapped to the top and to the sides of the screen in windows 10. In Windows 11 they’ve expanded that feature, but made it worse. The snapping brings up menus, and behaves different ways at different times. It’s fiddly and harder to predict. It tries to do more, but ends up being less useful because it is unreliable. I’ve disabled most of the differences in the settings, but not all can be disabled.

And there are heaps of weird inconsistencies in Windows 11. For example, when I rename a file in file explore; often stays in the same places even though it is no longer in the correct file order with the new name. So with alphabetically ordered files, there are often a few things that are out of order - because Windows is inconsistent. (Closing and reopening reorders them.) There are also some weird glitches. For example, I often see graphical glitches while using Excel in Windows 11 which I never saw in Windows 10. Things like rows partially overlapping other rows after scrolling, or the outline of the selected cell sometimes not being visible in parts of the document until you minimise and restore the app. It’s pretty bogus. Obviously they’ve tried to change some backend stuff and created some bugs in the process.

Anyway, the point is that it easy to see why someone would be reluctant to ‘upgrade’ to Windows 11.

I also have dual-boot with Mint, because I expected to be using Windows for gaming. It turns out I have never needed to. Every game I’ve wanted to play has worked on Linux; and so my Windows partition has just sat idle.

I get by alright without a smart phone. Over the years I’ve seen more and more “just scan this QR code to do such-and-such”, and I ignore them. I think you’re right that it is a lot of added friction compared to using a phone. A lot of stuff is instantly at your fingertips with your phone.

But to be honest, I really truly think that a bit of friction is a good thing. Without it, we just slide helplessly into oblivion. Or, less metaphorically speaking, the friction turns an automatic decision into a deliberate one. The friction pushes people to think about their actions and choices a little bit. And that’s generally a good thing - even if its a little bit harder.

<insert "GNU + Linux" copypasta here>

Company says that everyone should give them money and stop using competing products.

Obvious thing to say in the land of self-interest.

It’s not so much an aversion to algorithms as it is a version to corporate controlled algorithms (which are often targeting highly questionable metrics).

So what you’re saying is that if we just keep switching to different data sources, we could get above 50% in less than two months!