Comments on: Google Is Developing A Rival To Windows 11

By: Mindblower

Mindblower — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:17:28 +0000

In reply to Reg Watson. Excellent rant Reg. "We did not buy a PC so we could become a full-time IT specialist in order to just to keep the damn thing operating. " Totally agree 100%, only wish I said it first, Mindblower!

By: Jim Hillier

Jim Hillier — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:56:20 +0000

In reply to Reg Watson. Well said Reg, and I agree 100%.

By: Reg Watson

Reg Watson — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:40:48 +0000

Thanks Jim
I really hope that an alternative to Windows can be viable soon. It will interesting to see if Steam OS (I understand Linux based) will ever be extended to the desktop and not just to gaming. Google certainly has a foot in the door with Chrome OS but that seems to have never really gained acceptance in a big way to date. Then of course we have good old Linux itself – it’s own worst enemy as far as adoption goes – “So many ‘distros’ so little time.” Yet finally Linux appears to be, potentially at least, in the right place at the right time to pose a more credible challenge to Microsoft’s dominance for the desktop.

I was watching a YouTube video on a Linux add-on called “Winboat” that allows you to run a virtual Win 11 inside Linux for Windows software you absolutely cannot leave behind. That got me to thinking – what exactly do I use in Windows that I absolutely cannot leave behind because there is no Linux alternative ? And if I can run Windows 11 Pro inside Linux on a virtual machine (I would have to pay for a licence of course) then what if any downsides are there at all from moving ?

In Windows 11 we have the constantly tinkering and changing of the desktop environment by Microsoft instead of just letting people use their computers for the reason(s) they bought it. We did not buy a PC so we could become a full-time IT specialist in order to just to keep the damn thing operating. Again just this month Microsoft have released another suite of updates that have broken or slowed some people’s computers and now those customers are in need of rushed emergency patches to correct things. We are sick of it. We are sick of being told to throw perfectly good computers in landfill because Microsoft arbitrarily decided to foist minimum software and hardware requirements onto us. We are sick of Ai infiltrating into everything just because it can and that is only because Microsoft is worried someone else will take their advertising revenue away. We are sick of cosmetic and procedural O/S changes being made that don’t benefit us and we then have to find ways to simply put stuff back the way it was – sometimes at a financial cost of the software to do so.

There’s an open opportunity just waiting for someone to end the Microsoft madness and I’m ready. Let’s hope they seize it.
Cheers
Reg

By: TomL

TomL — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:32:52 +0000

I say bring it on. I don’t care who comes up with an OS that will run my current software packages. Microsoft has pushed the OS way past what an OS should be.
If they want to add all this mostly useless software to the OS they should do it through Microsoft Store. That way the OS can remain mean and slim with lots of security.

By: John

John — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:46:20 +0000

I’m with thinking Jim concerning the trust factor of anything Google. I’ve gotten very comfortable with Zorin 18 and I control everything about it. I had enough of MSlop after dealing with 10 and a brief fling with 11.

By: Jim Hillier

Jim Hillier — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:12:31 +0000

In reply to Steve Kohn. Hey Steve, I can understand your reluctance to let go of your site. It's difficult to let go, especially if you've been working on it for some time.

By: Jim Hillier

Jim Hillier — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:04:51 +0000

In reply to Vince.

Yep, you 100% correct Vince. In fact, Qualcomm is partnering with Google in this project. The word is that devices running Google’s new OS will be limited to laptops, tablets, and mini PCs.

And Google’s new OS is expected to be largely AI-driven, so zero relief from AI there.

Thanks Vince for your comment.

By: Steve Kohn

Steve Kohn — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:17:22 +0000

I would be a customer but only if Google’s OS supported Microsoft’s FrontPage 2003, which Win 10 (and presumably Win 11) does. The program’s ancient but so am I. It’s the first web-writing app I learned, and one I still use to update my personal website. Which no one reads, so maybe I should face facts (and an annual hosting fee) and move on, huh.

By: Vince

Vince — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:55:13 +0000

In reply to Ed. My understanding is that it is designed only for those machines running the Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. The next version 26H2 will be available to both Intel and AMD chips. The reason is that the Snapdragon chips run an emulated version of Windows for some non-reworked software for compatibility. MS wants to push the Snapdragon chips for several reasons: Lower battery drain, cooler running, and faster. Some software has not been made compatible with the Snapdragon chips so MS is pushing the development. MS products have been reworked to run on Snapdragon. I suspect that Snapdragon may be the new replacement for Intel chips which are not as good for AI as the Snapdragon and AMDs are.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 01:35:55 +0000

Well I think someone needs to do something , reports are that Windows 11 26H1 will only be available to Copilot+ pc’s and will not be available to those who have upgraded on their home pc’s, so understanding that , everyone that has upgraded to a home pc, bought new pc’s or have shelled out good money to update their hardware are going to be left hanging out in the wind once again.