Old computers seem so much more functional. Like they are real equipment. Modern stuff, especially when running windows, just feels like a blown up iPad. Ads everywhere, fun icons to click on and always pretending that everything is working the way it’s supposed to
Are those ads everywhere in a room with us right now?
Seriously though, I haven’t seen a single ad ever since activating an adblocker when I first used a computer. And macOS has just as many ads on websites when not using an adblocker.
Yes you have. Your top search engine results are ads at a minimum, even on DDG. Also most people use a browser extension for ad blocking, which doesn’t block all ads by design.
I too don’t see ads anymore since switching to Debian (GNU/Linux) but Windows is FULL of ads for Xbox, candy crush and Microsoft’s office. I’ve heard that iPhones and apples devices in general come preinstalled with an apple store app for specifically purchasing walled garden devices… I would say that counts as ads.
it doesn’t.
i uninstalled it on all of my machines and haven’t seen it ever since.
same applies to edge, i uninstalled it in 2021 and it only came back once (after the major copilot backport update, which restructured the way windows 10 handles edge (legacy edge got completely removed)), a month ago in 2024, uninstalled it and it’s still gone.
Windows defender is a real bitch tho, can’t get rid of it no matter what
enterprise (and “pro for workstations”) edition of windows 11 has little to no ads.
same applies to windows 10 pro or higher with local accounts
you should go with enterprise if you need windows for any reason anyway, as it’s the only edition with an option to disable telemetry (set it to “Security” in group policy editor, in pro it only goes down to “Required”, and no debloating tool will help with that) (it’s impossible to do without partching the os or using a firewall in other editions, yes, Microsoft basically paywalls privacy)
ma account login can be blocked via a gpo in pro or higher editions, the system pretends they don’t exist at all (e.g. add new account button brings up a menu to add a local account immediately)
Yeeeeeaaah I’m still not gonna use Windows. Thanks for the explanation tho! I did not know that there were substantial differences between the different versions.
this is why i use linux, and free open source software. most of the time it doesnt have random bullshit and just works, because the devs are actually passionate about their work and dont want to make a profit
I think Apple is mostly to blame. Microsoft is trying to be more like Apple with windows 11 layout and they tried the whole tablet and pc compatibility thing with windows 8. If Apple wasn’t so profitable I think windows might have tried to find their own style, but Apple does incredibly well with their marketing and people flock to Mac and iOS. Of course windows is rlstill the most commonly used OS, but Apple is slowly making their way to catching up. The only thing truly holding Apple back is their high price to make their product seem higher quality than it really is.
Old computers seem so much more functional. Like they are real equipment. Modern stuff, especially when running windows, just feels like a blown up iPad. Ads everywhere, fun icons to click on and always pretending that everything is working the way it’s supposed to
Are those ads everywhere in a room with us right now?
Seriously though, I haven’t seen a single ad ever since activating an adblocker when I first used a computer. And macOS has just as many ads on websites when not using an adblocker.
Yes you have. Your top search engine results are ads at a minimum, even on DDG. Also most people use a browser extension for ad blocking, which doesn’t block all ads by design.
I too don’t see ads anymore since switching to Debian (GNU/Linux) but Windows is FULL of ads for Xbox, candy crush and Microsoft’s office. I’ve heard that iPhones and apples devices in general come preinstalled with an apple store app for specifically purchasing walled garden devices… I would say that counts as ads.
Don’t forget onedrive, which seems to come back every other reboot
it doesn’t.
i uninstalled it on all of my machines and haven’t seen it ever since.
same applies to edge, i uninstalled it in 2021 and it only came back once (after the major copilot backport update, which restructured the way windows 10 handles edge (legacy edge got completely removed)), a month ago in 2024, uninstalled it and it’s still gone.
Windows defender is a real bitch tho, can’t get rid of it no matter what
Really? Is that a thing now? I mean it has been some years since my PC has seen Windows…
it’s not.
never happened to me
maybe a thing on windows home, but i only use enterprise
Do you know a way to purchase Win11 enterprise key? Afaik, you do need to own a company or something.
enterprise (and “pro for workstations”) edition of windows 11 has little to no ads.
same applies to windows 10 pro or higher with local accounts
you should go with enterprise if you need windows for any reason anyway, as it’s the only edition with an option to disable telemetry (set it to “Security” in group policy editor, in pro it only goes down to “Required”, and no debloating tool will help with that) (it’s impossible to do without partching the os or using a firewall in other editions, yes, Microsoft basically paywalls privacy)
ma account login can be blocked via a gpo in pro or higher editions, the system pretends they don’t exist at all (e.g. add new account button brings up a menu to add a local account immediately)
Which a regular person can’t buy.
The easiest legal route to a permanently debloated Windows with 10+ years of patches is Windows Server Essentials.
Yeeeeeaaah I’m still not gonna use Windows. Thanks for the explanation tho! I did not know that there were substantial differences between the different versions.
this is why i use linux, and free open source software. most of the time it doesnt have random bullshit and just works, because the devs are actually passionate about their work and dont want to make a profit
Almost like they WANT to make software instead of money.
Well they were built like a fucking brick. I respect it.
I think Apple is mostly to blame. Microsoft is trying to be more like Apple with windows 11 layout and they tried the whole tablet and pc compatibility thing with windows 8. If Apple wasn’t so profitable I think windows might have tried to find their own style, but Apple does incredibly well with their marketing and people flock to Mac and iOS. Of course windows is rlstill the most commonly used OS, but Apple is slowly making their way to catching up. The only thing truly holding Apple back is their high price to make their product seem higher quality than it really is.
When they are not stealing features from KDE.
Very true. Felt weird when I saw some features on school PCs which were on KDE for years…