Comments on: 2015- 2025: Microsoft’s Dismal Decade

By: Adelaide

Adelaide — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:54 +0000

That article is an accurate, brief, summary of the changes at Microsoft, and matches my opinions, for what they’re worth.
* Windows has become less reliable with each update (“Who needs QC? They don’t bring in money!”).
* My current PC’s are not designed for Windows 11, which demands TPM2 to protect digital rights, as much as the OS. Though I could use a workaround to foist the OS on the hardware, that invites future issues.
* MS has monetized every aspect of the OS, from login screen to browser to ads even in Windows Explorer, and I find that objectionable.
* Windows 11 makes it difficult or impossible to install with just a local account, so now MS has access to even more data.
BTW, this comment is written on a PC that had been Windows 10, and has moved to Ubuntu, with the old Windows OS kept in reserve for a single Windows app that does not run in wine.

By: Jim Hillier

Jim Hillier — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:41:09 +0000

In reply to RandiO. Hey Randio, I was in the same boat, stuck on Windows 11 23H2 with no update notifications. What did it for me was enabling the option to "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available". A couple of days after enabling that option, the update notification came through.

By: RandiO

RandiO — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:07:04 +0000

It’s like being wedged between a boulder and a hard place.
I looked forward to WindowsX to give me a just reason to go mobile << it never happened.

No desktop alternative really came to fight against Windows dominance, thus uS had no reason to invest further. Perhaps an AI-based OS maybe in the horizon, though it may be as an app-like portableOS.
My current (2023/DIY Z790 mobo) with Win11Pro has been stuck on 23H2 and having tried dozen different (recommended and various weird) attempts to step up to 24H2 and/or 25H2.
🙁

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:47:32 +0000

You spoke my mind, Jim. Here are a few observations:

1. I loved Windows 7 until Windows 10 came along. I had to be dragged by my feet to W10, but now, I am taking a page from Microsoft’s wishful rule – 10 “would be the last Windows operating system” I use. Period. Windows 10 ROCKS. As Mindblower said, I have fine-tuned my PC’s and laptops to precision, they are a dream to run every day.
2. People keep saying Android is enough. Sorry, there are many things I cannot, and will not want to, do on my Android phone or tablet. I will leave it at that.
3. Linux is overblown and Windows junkies will find it “clunky”, as Reg put it. I tried Linux a few times but lost interest as I am so used to the intimate details of Windows in ever way. A Mac? Hell, never!

By: Jim Hillier

Jim Hillier — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:12:54 +0000

In reply to Reg Watson. Hey Reg. I have some news regarding a potential Windows alternative emanating from a major player. Stay tuned!

By: Reg Watson

Reg Watson — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:36:38 +0000

Thanks Jim
I too never started out as a Microsoft basher but after so many years of Microsoft treating its customers like cattle instead of customers I have become, shall we say, very jaded. However despite the “jade” I simply cannot understand why Linux is still the only alternative in 2026 when everything else these days is either copied or reverse engineered. How, after all these years (20 odd ?), Linux is still nowhere near taking the reins from Microsoft is a mystery to me and despite all the Linux devotees constantly braying “I moved to Linux and have never looked back.” These commenters are usually found lurking in the YouTube video comments sections for Windows software. I firmly believe most of them are probably still dual-booting Linux and Windows if they were really honest – otherwise why are they wasting their time loitering and trolling in the Windows columns instead of solely enjoying the Linux ones ?

If I could have an alternative Operating System to Windows that easily allowed me to access the internet for banking etc, do all my productivity (speadsheets, word processing), use (play) all my Steam gaming software and also talk to all my other devices without needing to learn any messy CLI commands to achieve it all, then I’d be in. I have dabbled with a few Linux “distros” over the years and yes, a lot of it works far better now they have all moved into the Windows-like interface, but it just somehow still seems clunky to me somehow. I can’t really put my finger on it. Maybe bias or just because it “feels” different, I don’t know. Then suddenly something doesn’t work like it does so easily in Windows and I abandon the attempt.

I had been an Android user for many years and finally moved to using an Apple Iphone instead of Samsung because I moved to an IPad from a Samsung tablet. Being in two different ecospheres that don’t always play well together can be painful. Unlike the Linux attempts, I actually found my life is a lot easier now – things just work and don’t need me to tinker. Never thought I’d worship at the altar of Steve Jobs but here I am. Maybe there is still hope for me with Linux yet !

As annoying as Microsoft is (I actually buy software to undo the cosmetic and system changes that Microsoft keeps forcing on us) I have yet to be convinced that Linux is fully the complete alternative – as yet at least.
Cheers
Reg

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:22 +0000

I can do everything I want on Android. I think many people, like myself will drift away from windows to Linux or Android. The Apple people will stay put. I only used my Windows 10 laptop to enable printing. Now I can do it from my tablet. Done and dusted!

By: Mindblower

Mindblower — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:02:00 +0000

Thank you Jim for sharing that information. I many not like Microsoft for their silly (being polite) business practices, but do enjoy using Windows as an operating system. As long as I customize it the way I want to use it using third party programs, I am okay, Mindblower!

By: AtOdds

AtOdds — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:56:56 +0000

I don’t use it. I will never use it. All my work is done on a Windows7 desktop. My Windows 10 computer is used for some necessary internet access. With a little help from friendly software, I was able to bend 10 into something usable. I keep reading that many folks are moving to Linux. You’d think Microsoft would rethink their latest monster, but apparently they aren’t. Me, I simply have no future OS plans.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:11:46 +0000

Thanks for the great article Jim, I don’t think many people realize what is now Windows 11 was supposed to be a mobile or tablet OS that was originally scrapped and in order to justify the tons of money spent on it and save jobs the OS was pretty much ported to a PC OS and crammed down everyone’s throat whether we wanted it or not under the guise of “security”
What most do not know is regardless of hardware requirements Windows 11 is no more secure than it’s predecessor Windows 10, it’s all just a marketing ploy.