I’m on 24H2 Windows 11 with a local account set up, ran windows debloat tool and have CoPilot/onedrive/other data mining features un-installed.
Edit: I have a plan to make the switch to Linux. For now I was just looking for any feedback on how to handle current Windows OS. I whole heartedly hate Microsoft as much as the next, I promise lol.
I have a plan to make the switch to Linux. For now I was just looking for any feedback on how to handle current Windows OS.
I would recommend moving to win 10 in the meantime. Much easier to avoid a lot of the nonsense than on 11.
Never really considered it till now. Thanks!
I have no idea why Microsoft always attempts to implement the next “big new tech thing” in Windows for every version, just for them to always inevitably reverse course after it flops as they repeat it again
‘you miss every shot you don’t take’
‘the people don’t know what they want until you show them’
They throw everything including the kitchen sink in the hopes that they score the next big thing. Users be damned.
Both of those statements are true, though.
“Next big thing” may actually work, nobody knows for sure. One thing MS actually has is a big userbase, and it would be unwise to ignore possibility of testing few hypothesises on them.
I used to work in startup during “big data” hype and some things we developed was truly outside of users imagination. Users knew their problems, “pains” as we called them, but they lacked tech skills to even imagine ways of solving them. Picture this: you are showing spreadsheet editor to people who are used to keep all ther records on paper. You are
- Forcing them to spend money on software
- Making them learn new stuff they didn’t need in their work before
- Exposing their data to the government
- Are being an elitist asshole in general, assuming they need your help
AI may work for some people. Paint can get you pictures based on scribbles, notepad can turn your drafts into proper notes. You wouldn’t know until you try it yourself, and most non tech savvy people won’t even search for a ways to try. But if it’s already installed - why not? Click on that fancy ✨AI✨ button and enjoy wonders of technology.
For some context - i’m not an MS shill, not even using Windows since Vista (used my literal lunch money to buy it). But i can’t be mad at them for trying, especially when they don’t charge extra for it.
Has anyone tried setting their region to europe?
As someone in Europe,
- I still have AI in paint (to create images), but I think it’s opt-in
- I don’t have Copilot, but I think it’s integrated to Microsoft Edge (but you can uninstall it)
- I still have onedrive by default, but you can also uninstall it
- I don’t have recall (or maybe I do but it’s disabled, either way I can’t open it)
- Microsoft still pushes you super hard to use an account
So here’s what to expect if you manage to change your region. I have no idea on how to do that however.
The region can be changed in settings, just google it.
Any non-system-essential app can be uninstalled in europe. Thanks to the digital markets act. (At least I think, could be some other law)
That account push is only during the windows install as far as I’ve seen.
this is it for me for windows. I stayed on due to my work and my wife but no more part time. its out and im really trying to get my wife to drop it.
I heard a report recently that suggested that Microsoft Recall (the program to take a screenshot of your PC every few seconds to process in AI at huge ecological damage for dubious benefit to the user) is an unlisted dependency for the file explorer.
What that means is if you somehow manage to remove Recall entirely, then you won’t be able to view your files.
And sure, they’ll probably fix that. And they’ll probably also include a “disable AI” checkbox hidden eight levels deep in the control panel to give the user a small sense of control over their own machine - which will turn itself back on with each update because Windows
I don’t think you’ll be able to actually remove AI from Windows. At least, not easily, and not permanently. Your plan to switch to Linux seems like it’ll be less headache in the long run
“disable AI” checkbox
They’re not that nice, if they did it, it would just be “Reduce AI experiences”
“cripple your brand new shiny computer, why would you do that, you’re an idiot for turning this off”
OO ShutUp+ has no problem disabling Recall and I’ve had no file explorer issue from it. I also had to rerun OSU+ after each update as its a setting Microsoft resets.
