Windows progressively worsening and Microsoft’s dubious practices are entirely independent issues from whatever is going on with Linux, though.
People interested in and well-suited for Linux use may take that route, given the situation, but even users with no inclination toward or intention to switch to Linux can and do still have legitimate grievances with the company and its software direction.
Almost everyone has to interact with Windows and Microsoft at some level throughout their lives whether they like it or not, so it is natural and constructive for them to make their opinions known. Microsoft may not respond to these criticisms in a sane or useful manner, but that is their failing, not a failing of the criticisms themselves.
I find it helpful to consider the substance of the complaint and evaluate it on its own merits, as it sounds you may have already been doing. For example, someone that is solely spouting negativity with no concrete examples of what they dislike about this company and its products is not constructive nor contributing to the conversation, but if someone states specific grievance with a software or company behavior is contributing, whether or not Microsoft takes the contribution.
If you, personally, have not encountered any problems with Windows or Microsoft that give you any pause or problems in your life, go nuts and use Windows, but knowing that alternatives exist is empowering. At the rate of decline in the quality of the Windows OS, it is not impossible that Linux could become superior in every meaningful metric without even improving. However, it is also conceivable that a user’s needs are such that those quality declines have not impacted you specifically.
I had a Windows 7 machine for like a decade without a single crash or BSD, and now, a decade later, I have multiple brand new PCs with Windows 11 installs that came on them that have lockups, crashes, and other buggy behaviors right out of the box. It is not unusable, but its stability is more reminiscent of the Windows of the 90s than an improvement on the Windows of 2010. Again, if that’s not your experience, count yourself among the lucky ones and continue to use Windows and be lucky.
I think the rabid evangelism for Linux around here may have convinced you to try it because of their fervor, rather than their reasoning. I hope you continue to have luck with Windows, but if not, feel free to switch any time! The angry nerds don’t have to impact your decision one way or the other.
You’re absolutely right about how the grievances against the company should be factored in. You’ve formulated it very well and I entirely agree with you.
To be clear, what puzzles me about this community is the fervor you mention about Linux. In my own experience, and while giving Ubuntu the benefit of the doubt out of frustration with Windows, I personally found it to be exceedingly disappointing. I don’t think it’s fair to say that I’m among the lucky ones to have few issues with Windows, because distilling my experience with Linux, I might draw sweeping generalizations about Linux as a whole.
While I, too, encourage everybody to try Linux, I would caution them to set their expectations accordingly. In my opinion and experience, Linux is tailored towards an audience of users with more time to troubleshoot problems and a willingness to accept a lower quality bar (for a lack of better words) in exchange for distancing themselves from the corporation behind it.
Windows progressively worsening and Microsoft’s dubious practices are entirely independent issues from whatever is going on with Linux, though.
People interested in and well-suited for Linux use may take that route, given the situation, but even users with no inclination toward or intention to switch to Linux can and do still have legitimate grievances with the company and its software direction.
Almost everyone has to interact with Windows and Microsoft at some level throughout their lives whether they like it or not, so it is natural and constructive for them to make their opinions known. Microsoft may not respond to these criticisms in a sane or useful manner, but that is their failing, not a failing of the criticisms themselves.
I find it helpful to consider the substance of the complaint and evaluate it on its own merits, as it sounds you may have already been doing. For example, someone that is solely spouting negativity with no concrete examples of what they dislike about this company and its products is not constructive nor contributing to the conversation, but if someone states specific grievance with a software or company behavior is contributing, whether or not Microsoft takes the contribution.
If you, personally, have not encountered any problems with Windows or Microsoft that give you any pause or problems in your life, go nuts and use Windows, but knowing that alternatives exist is empowering. At the rate of decline in the quality of the Windows OS, it is not impossible that Linux could become superior in every meaningful metric without even improving. However, it is also conceivable that a user’s needs are such that those quality declines have not impacted you specifically.
I had a Windows 7 machine for like a decade without a single crash or BSD, and now, a decade later, I have multiple brand new PCs with Windows 11 installs that came on them that have lockups, crashes, and other buggy behaviors right out of the box. It is not unusable, but its stability is more reminiscent of the Windows of the 90s than an improvement on the Windows of 2010. Again, if that’s not your experience, count yourself among the lucky ones and continue to use Windows and be lucky.
I think the rabid evangelism for Linux around here may have convinced you to try it because of their fervor, rather than their reasoning. I hope you continue to have luck with Windows, but if not, feel free to switch any time! The angry nerds don’t have to impact your decision one way or the other.
You’re absolutely right about how the grievances against the company should be factored in. You’ve formulated it very well and I entirely agree with you.
To be clear, what puzzles me about this community is the fervor you mention about Linux. In my own experience, and while giving Ubuntu the benefit of the doubt out of frustration with Windows, I personally found it to be exceedingly disappointing. I don’t think it’s fair to say that I’m among the lucky ones to have few issues with Windows, because distilling my experience with Linux, I might draw sweeping generalizations about Linux as a whole.
While I, too, encourage everybody to try Linux, I would caution them to set their expectations accordingly. In my opinion and experience, Linux is tailored towards an audience of users with more time to troubleshoot problems and a willingness to accept a lower quality bar (for a lack of better words) in exchange for distancing themselves from the corporation behind it.