"We did it, Patrick! We made a technological breakthrough!"
A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.
AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
Businesses will buy this.
Hell, they'll love it. Decision makers will jump on an "AI OS" faster than you can blink.
Some say businesses don't like extra costs, but that's not been my experience when it comes to Microsoft products and other software subscriptions.
...And that's what MS wants.
They couldn't care less about home users. They don't make them any money, not in the short term. MS wants business buyers sucked in, yesterday.
Which entry-level Linux distribution do you recommend?
If you've got a geeky power user strain in you, try Pop_OS! with their new COSMIC desktop. The blend of traditional window manager and tiling is an absolute delight. But if you're just trying to stay in your comfort zone as you explore the unfamiliar waters of Linux, I heartily recommend Linux Mint.
I've installed Mint on my own gaming desktop, and it's invariably what I install for customers who can't afford a PC upgrade to deal with Microslop's Windows 11 bullshit. They all do fine on it, no one even appreciates the difference from Windows except that they all recognize their old hardware is suddenly much snappier than it was. And as for Pop_OS! COSMIC, I'm running that on the laptop from which I'm typing this comment now. I like them both, but Linux Mint is definitely more battle-tested.
Ubuntu's GNOME layout isn't really for me, but if you're looking for something that's...I don't know, a little Mac-ier than Windows-y, then Ubuntu isn't a bad way to go. I tried Kubuntu (that's Ubuntu with KDE instead of GNOME) recently and I had a lot of trouble with it for some reason so I just fell back on Linux Mint (which is how it became my desktop computer's OS).
Don't over-think it. The joy of live ISOs is that you can put them on USB disks and try various interfaces out. At the end of the day though, it's like human DNA...99% the same product under the hood, and you can typically change things around after the fact.
Actually, I have a good example of that: I put Linux Mint XFCE on my grandma's machine because it was especially under-powered. XFCE is just about the lightestweight traditional desktop environment around. I was worried Linux Mint's typical Cinnamon environment might be a little heavier and therefore leaving some performance on the table. Well, I spent hours trying to troubleshoot why I couldn't use RustDesk to remotely connect to her computer for support, and it finally occurred to me that XFCE might be the problem. I didn't have to reinstall the entire OS! I just installed the Cinnamon package (one single line of a command in the terminal), then I logged out, chose Cinnamon on the login screen, logged back in under this different desktop environment, and was able to use RustDesk successfully! No fuss, no muss. I'm not going to say you won't have occasional headaches with Linux but you tell me what comparable options I have when Windows 11's heavy fucker of an interface with a taskbar I can't move around the screen is ruining my day, or macOS replaces a tried and true GUI aesthetic with a batshit broken liquid glass one? I certainly can't swap in the older GUIs I liked, but in Linux, it's totally an option, like changing the exhaust on a car or whatever.
Have fun :)
I'll go against the grain and say I like this. Maybe the AI, data collection, and enshittification will be something you have to subscribe to but the base bare bones OS will be free.... /s
Even then, you know it would be filled to the brim with unskippable intrusive ads for the paid modules.
just move to Linux
Bit early for April fools no?
God fucking dammit. I just know I'll have to use that shit at work too.
🤮🤮🤮🤮
It is a tough proposition without clarity on what happens to your data/log-in if your subscription expires. I'm sure this will be blessed as legal, but a line, subject to TOU shift, between subscription and ransomware is not one you should volunteer submission to.
These AI features won’t come cheaply, with Windows 12 set to debut a new hardware requirement just as its predecessor did with the TPM 2.0 requirement. This time around, a dedicated NPU would be required, a specialized processor designed to handle AI tasks.
This is so dumb if true. First they force HW upgrades because of TPM 2.0 and now, on the very next product they force yet another one for many due to NPU?
You can see they have long term vision...
I remember in early 2024 when I switched to Mint I got some mild pushback from acquaintances, saying in so many words that I was overreacting to Windows getting shittier and that "you can just strip all that bullshit out/you can make a local account/etc." (while at the same time telling me "linux is too hard/painful because of all the stuff you have to do to make it work right/doesn't have xyz program").
I have been getting ever more smug and feeling more vindicated about this decision every day for the past two years.
Pass
Subscription based lol. I think linux have enough free tools to support basic office work and retail stuff, so majority of work pc can just switch to linux. Hope m$ get fucked.
This might be the trigger to move my parents computer to Linux too. They aren't technical, but damn sure don't want to pay for an os subscription.
When windows 12 releases I and all Linux fans will be happy.
Let me guess? The AI usage is going to stick its hand in your pocket for usage credits. Remembering that AI is currently massively unprofitable, at some point they're going to try to make money off it. Ironically I don't think they've considered that any supposed savings they make in getting rid of employees will get eaten up in energy and compute costs by AI companies. The business case for this has never made any sense.
But the real question is, will it run the calculator app?
The calculator app is now a link to Copilot. You can ask it in natural language to multiply 2 by 3 and it will tell you "West Dakota".
