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Discussion on: Why I'm sort of leaving Linux

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darthwalsh profile image
Carl Walsh

I don't understand the Windows update annoyance. I set up my working hours once, and it seems to find a time at night to apply updates--I never see it.

The only inconvenience is sometimes needing to reopen apps, but it also helps keep the system stable by rebooting every so often so I won't complain.

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rodtwo profile image
Rodrigo Nantes

I must be odd for actually enjoying updates...

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

For you:

(Kidding. Different strokes for different folks.)

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rodtwo profile image
Rodrigo Nantes

HAHAHAHAHHAHA I can't even argue with that

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safijari profile image
Jariullah Safi

"but it also helps keep the system stable by rebooting every so often..."

This is a thought I haven't had once since switching to Linux. My work desktop's average uptime is 2 months and my laptop tends to hover around 2 weeks (with it shutting down when I neglect to charge it every so often).

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timrichardson profile image
Tim Richardson • Edited

Windows updates are annoying for three reasons. They are very slow, and very rebooty. This can be hidden to nighttime now. But problem number three is that they break. It's probably a good thing that there is no direct report from Windows to Microsoft's CSuite these days because I imagine there would have been some very awkward moments in the past six months. It's a legacy product causing a lot of horrible headlines. Over the years I've had so many mysterious update breakages with weird error codes that are fixed with strange incantations, hotfixes and various evolutions of fix tools from Microsoft. Doing windows system admin is like a priest searching the holy texts for spells. When Linux breaks, you can fix it (if you are a skilled user). That's a big difference, although it is only meaningful to a small user base.

Of course, nothing is perfect. Windows with WSL is an attempt to stop developers defecting, since basically all IT innovation for the past ten years has been on Linux and runs better on Linux desktops. And windows does some things better, not just gaming. It does mixed DPI screen better ... I'd say it is five years ahead of linux, it's pretty good on Windows now, and two to three years away from that maturity on Linux, which is just starting to move away from early-adopter phase. For many people, that is really a big factor.
And Windows 10 is the best Windows by far, at least, Windows Pro.
But the future of Windows is a nagging concern. How will Microsoft monetise it? Will they keep investing in it? It is commercially a dead-end product in the enterprise. Will the future be a locked-down Windows (they keep trying this, now consumer users have to go through tricks to make locally authenticated accounts). The wise power-user would be careful to keep their options open.

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heytimapple profile image
Tim Apple

Soon I believe Windows won't matter as much to Microsoft's bottom line. The goal these days is all things lead to Azure. I don't think they necessarily care how you get there. Windows is just the path they maintain. Just as Gmail doesn't make money for google. It just feeds the machine that google does make money on, advertising.

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heytimapple profile image
Tim Apple

I think it just depends on peoples workflow and patience level with such things on how much they hate it.