Linux Who? Windows Still King of the Desktop

The cynic in me remains pleased Edge is failing for no other reason than the bullshit nagging Windows 10 makes you go through to remove it as your default browser. "Are you sure?!" "Wait, are you SUPER DUPER SURE!??"

Edge is crap on the desktop, it literally feels like a touch browser on the desktop. Everyone asks me to replace it with Firefox or Chrome.
 
The cynic in me remains pleased Edge is failing for no other reason than the bullshit nagging Windows 10 makes you go through to remove it as your default browser. "Are you sure?!" "Wait, are you SUPER DUPER SURE!??"

As a Chrome user at home and an Edge user at work, I can honestly say... it ain't that bad. Faster on older hardware, surprisingly. Thankfully I have an i5 desktop at work (since I wouldn't accept shit), but others aren't so well informed and there are a couple machines scattered around that are still running Pentium Ds (somehow). Startup time and responsiveness is significantly better with Edge on them.
 
As a Chrome user at home and an Edge user at work, I can honestly say... it ain't that bad. Faster on older hardware, surprisingly. Thankfully I have an i5 desktop at work (since I wouldn't accept shit), but others aren't so well informed and there are a couple machines scattered around that are still running Pentium Ds (somehow). Startup time and responsiveness is significantly better with Edge on them.

It'd want to be, compared to Chrome it feels stripped out. As stated, like a touch browser on a desktop.
 
FTA TV isn't dying off everywhere.

The fact is MS lost interest in WMC and that's what killed it. Had they added Netflix and YouTube native support at minimum it may have been a more popular product worthy of keeping.

Windows 10 has a great UWA Netflix app and some very nice YouTube UWAs as well, along with Hulu and Sling. I watched the NCAA basket tournament mostly through the NCAA March Madness app. As I said, there's not a single thing in WMC that doesn't have a number of great alternatives with the exception of CableCard.
 
On the flipside, Microsoft is doing much less impressively in the browser world, as its Edge continues to flounder and be irrelevant.
Generally use Edge on the laptops when running on battery or streaming online, but Chrome for pretty much all other times. Don't really have a big problem with Edge, and it IS a lot better on battery life, but prefer Chrome probably since I've used it so long.
 
Windows 10 has a great UWA Netflix app and some very nice YouTube UWAs as well, along with Hulu and Sling. I watched the NCAA basket tournament mostly through the NCAA March Madness app. As I said, there's not a single thing in WMC that doesn't have a number of great alternatives with the exception of CableCard.

I just stream Netflix via Chromecast and there's no real alternative for a really good, fully featured media browser like Media Browser under Windows 7 using WMC or Kodi. MS needed to actively support WMC, instead they abandoned it.
 
Actually, under Wine many 16yo games run better under Linux than they do under Windows.

Got any proof of this?

Who purchases an OS to play 16yo games?

The point being if you have a lot invested in software it's nice to be able to continue to use that software. If you don't understand that this is a HUGE point in why many people use Windows then I don't know what else to say. It is.
 
With the disaster that win10 is to me, I'll go back to Linux for my next build, and if it goes somewhat smoothly/with the direction win is going. I'll probably move forward as Linux only.
 
Got any proof of this?



The point being if you have a lot invested in software it's nice to be able to continue to use that software. If you don't understand that this is a HUGE point in why many people use Windows then I don't know what else to say. It is.

I've got a copy of Quake 2 here that hasn't run on any Windows OS since Windows 98, it does run fine under Wine last time I tried it years ago though.

The fact is, backwards compatibility can be an issue under any OS, considering the number of software titles available under Windows I'd say the issue is probably worse under Windows than any other OS. I do not regard backwards compatibility as a selling point of Windows and I still cannot see the point of this whole thread.

I'm not going to back down from my opinion, so why not just move on?
 
I just stream Netflix via Chromecast and there's no real alternative for a really good, fully featured media browser like Media Browser under Windows 7 using WMC or Kodi. MS needed to actively support WMC, instead they abandoned it.

WMC was supported for 14 years, that's hardly abandonment and there are ways to run it unofficially in Windows 10. It's an esoteric thing that very few used. Sure I'd rather have it still supported but it's beyond clear why Microsoft dropped it. If you're going to use Netflix or Hulu or Sling in Windows 10 there are apps for that and then there's always web browsers for other things.
 
I do not regard backwards compatibility as a selling point of Windows and I still cannot see the point of this whole thread.

But how much Windows software do you have? I've got tons and I'm telling you point blank that backwards compatibility is ABSOLUTELY key to why I continue to use Windows.

I'm not going to back down from my opinion, so why not just move on?

You can think whatever you choose to, it doesn't mean that you're right and am wrong. I would be using Windows 10 on my sig rig if it didn't run my games, most of which I bought long before 10. And that's going to be exactly how anyone using Windows 10 for gaming with a large game is going to see it.
 
What is the point of even posting this? To show that MS is doing very well in some markets and show it not doing well in other markets? wow?

Besides the clickbait, it seems like MS worshippers need to reassure their beliefs.

You clicked on it, haven't you?
Then it already fulfilled it's purpose.

Im here to see the two shills comments, always amusing.
 
WMC was supported for 14 years, that's hardly abandonment and there are ways to run it unofficially in Windows 10. It's an esoteric thing that very few used. Sure I'd rather have it still supported but it's beyond clear why Microsoft dropped it. If you're going to use Netflix or Hulu or Sling in Windows 10 there are apps for that and then there's always web browsers for other things.

It wasn't really supported for 14 years. They released it, it was what it was at the time, they never upgraded it or added new features - It was pretty much abandoned a couple of years after release.

But how much Windows software do you have? I've got tons and I'm telling you point blank that backwards compatibility is ABSOLUTELY key to why I continue to use Windows.

You know, prior to adopting Linux pretty much full time ~4 years ago I thought Windows was the shit, it was my primary OS and I used it for everything. Then Linux matured and I realised there were better alternatives out there for me.

So yes, I have plenty of Windows software.

Windows is not immune to backwards compatibility issues, it's just not. But if you want to believe that, be my guest.
 
It wasn't really supported for 14 years. They released it, it was what it was at the time, they never upgraded it or added new features - It was pretty much abandoned a couple of years after release.

Not much but the release in Windows 7, the last version, bought CableCard support though, the most unique feature in the product.

You know, prior to adopting Linux pretty much full time ~4 years ago I thought Windows was the shit, it was my primary OS and I used it for everything. Then Linux matured and I realised there were better alternatives out there for me.

Linux works for you but doesn't support the majority of the things I use natively. That's an objective fact.

Windows is not immune to backwards compatibility issues, it's just not. But if you want to believe that, be my guest.

No one said backwards compatibility in Windows was perfect, only very good. I've yet to run into a single thing I used under 7 that didn't work in 10 with the exception of Windows Media Center. Again, there'd be no point in me using it most of the stuff I use and have had for years before Windows 10 came out was broken or didn't work. That's just common sense.
 
Not much but the release in Windows 7, the last version, bought CableCard support though, the most unique feature in the product.

We don't have Cablecard in AU, so for the life of the product nothing changed.

Linux works for you but doesn't support the majority of the things I use natively. That's an objective fact.

We know, you've told us many times. What makes you think I care anymore about this objective fact this time around?

No one said backwards compatibility in Windows was perfect, only very good. I've yet to run into a single thing I used under 7 that didn't work in 10 with the exception of Windows Media Center. Again, there'd be no point in me using it most of the stuff I use and have had for years before Windows 10 came out was broken or didn't work. That's just common sense.

I wouldn't even claim very good. But hey! Believe what you want.
 
We don't have Cablecard in AU, so for the life of the product nothing changed.

We know, you've told us many times. What makes you think I care anymore about this objective fact this time around?

I wouldn't even claim very good. But hey! Believe what you want.
Your use case is uncommon, heatless is not. Guess what? Linux sucks, just as it has the past decades, for virtually everyone as a desktop OS. Keep feigning ignorance, we all know you have to have figured that out ages ago.
 
Without picking sides, saying backwards compatibility with a new OS version isn't a selling point is just ignorant.
 
Without picking sides, saying backwards compatibility with a new OS version isn't a selling point is just ignorant.

Indeed, no one is going to upgrade an OS, any OS, if it's not largely backwards compatible with existing hardware and software. What would be the point?
 
On the desktop Linux simply isn't as good as many of its proponents say. And it's not so much the OS itself, it's the support. Sorry, but desktop Linux support sucks compared to Windows and these numbers are the reason why. Desktop Linux simply needs a LOT more users before the support issue gets better.

In the decades that I've ran Windows, I've not once had to resort to calling Microsoft for help with a problem. I've spent countless hours combing messages boards/forums for Windows related problems and eventually found a solution or reinstalled Windows to fix the problem.

For Linux, while there is no dedicated support number one can call, there are countless forums out there that provide a wealth of answers to a myriad of problems. Having switched over to Linux some time ago, I've yet to run into a problem that I couldn't fix with a little bit of searching.
 
Why did so many people chose the Iphone?

Because when a new version of their phone's OS is released, they'd like to upgrade to it vs. being told, "We no longer support Android on your phone, time to spend another $800."

Now, I know that there are a few Android phones (Google mainly) that do a really great job at keeping them updated but Apple takes the crown here. You can't deny this. If I'm ever in the market for a smart phone, and I want one that will keep getting OS updates for YEARS to come, Apple is the one to go with.
 
In the decades that I've ran Windows, I've not once had to resort to calling Microsoft for help with a problem. I've spent countless hours combing messages boards/forums for Windows related problems and eventually found a solution or reinstalled Windows to fix the problem.

For Linux, while there is no dedicated support number one can call, there are countless forums out there that provide a wealth of answers to a myriad of problems. Having switched over to Linux some time ago, I've yet to run into a problem that I couldn't fix with a little bit of searching.

I'm not talking about technical OS support, but 3rd party hardware and software support. With Windows being so dominant in desktop market share, clearly it's going to get most attention on the desktop from 3rd parties.
 
It doesn't "fit in there". It has such a small market share that it is not even worth mentioning.

A the netmarket share type companies report what their clients want to hear. :)

Which is why Chrome OS gets lumped into the mobile figures... pretty sure they just count it as Android.

What is more interesting if you believe the netmarket guys... 20% of all the browsing they see is happening on mobile devices. Seeing as 80+% of that market is running Linux I guess 16-18% of web traffic they are seeing is on Linux hardware.

I don't honestly trust any of the web hit report junk... it really really depends what sites they are watching. I mean if I sit and watch a mac hardware site guess what OS the majority of hits are going to come from. Ditto if you are looking at a Linux, server hardware, or software development centric site... the majority of the hits are going to come from Linux and "other" OSs.

The majority of people loading CNN.COM are running Windows.... ohhh shocker. lol
 
Real Linux bros are bouncing their shit off satellites and using multiple VPNs, and reporting their OS version as MS DOS 2.4 to avoid snoops and exploits. If you're good enough to use Linux you're good enough to make sure THE MAN doesn't know you're using Linux. #tinfoilhatbruh



I can use literally none of the software (99% DX 10+ games, true) I want to on this OS. Therefor this OS is shit and has zero effective support. Try again.



Confirmation I'm right about everything I care about (gaming, photo and video editing) from a current Linux user. And yes, I've used it in the past, I just don't bother with the shitshow any more. I am drowning in free Windows 10 licenses. Why would I bother with an inferior product that won't support most of what I do?[/QUOTE

If all you do on your PEE CEE is playing twitch games (Call of Duty part 47..... insert generic FPS with updated gfx...........insert ANOTHER fps with super duper updated gfx..........DX12903, etc.)......yeah, stick with Windows. Once you outgrow this part of your life, Linux will appeal to you as it won't spy on you or throw up ads when you click on buttons.
 
A the netmarket share type companies report what their clients want to hear. :)

Which is why Chrome OS gets lumped into the mobile figures... pretty sure they just count it as Android.

What is more interesting if you believe the netmarket guys... 20% of all the browsing they see is happening on mobile devices. Seeing as 80+% of that market is running Linux I guess 16-18% of web traffic they are seeing is on Linux hardware.

I don't honestly trust any of the web hit report junk... it really really depends what sites they are watching. I mean if I sit and watch a mac hardware site guess what OS the majority of hits are going to come from. Ditto if you are looking at a Linux, server hardware, or software development centric site... the majority of the hits are going to come from Linux and "other" OSs.

The majority of people loading CNN.COM are running Windows.... ohhh shocker. lol

Mobile VS desktop. Android is NOT desktop Linux.
 
Your use case is uncommon, heatless is not. Guess what? Linux sucks, just as it has the past decades, for virtually everyone as a desktop OS. Keep feigning ignorance, we all know you have to have figured that out ages ago.

Windows 10 SUCKS BIG TIME as far as privacy is concerned. Those of us that value privacy, over playing games, prefer Linux.
 
Without picking sides, saying backwards compatibility with a new OS version isn't a selling point is just ignorant.

Of course I never claimed this.

I claimed that backwards compatibility is an issue under Windows as it is under any OS. Most likely worse under Windows due to the amount of time it's been the dominant platform. I see nothing wrong with that statement.
 
Ok, but for those with CableCard, this was a big deal, it is the most unique thing in WMC by far and the most difficult to replace.

No doubt. But for the rest of the world, globally MS abandoned WMC not long after it's release, which was a real shame as it was one of the best packages they ever made - It shat all over their mobile handset products and yet they put more effort into those.
 
I'm sticking with Win 98 ME and I wont be swayed, it still works great on the system in my sig.
 
I claimed that backwards compatibility is an issue under Windows as it is under any OS. Most likely worse under Windows due to the amount of time it's been the dominant platform. I see noting wrong with that statement.

Sure nothing's perfect but Windows tends to have very good backwards binary compatibility. I think it's impossible to overstate just how important that's been to Windows over the years.
 
Mobile VS desktop. Android is NOT desktop Linux.

Android = Linux. I'm sorry heatle put your fingers in your ears if you like. It runs the Linux kernel, that makes it Linux. Desktop mobile are silly names that people will stop using soon enough. A computing device is a computing device. As for Linux it doesn't matter if your running a Gnome desktop or KDE or Unity or Mate or Android. Those are just UIs they are all still Linux.

I'm simply making my regular point... who cares desktop usage is still shrinking and Linux owns everything else. The shift over to the desktop is still inevitable. Sure sure the year of the linux desktop never came and never will... who cares the future of the "desktop" as you would describe it is bleak.

The future for the average user that sites hit counters are watching is in products like the Samsung Dex. I doubt highly very many of the average user crowd will be purchasing "desktop" computers for much longer.
 
No doubt. But for the rest of the world, globally MS abandoned WMC not long after it's release, which was a real shame as it was one of the best packages they ever made - It shat all over their mobile handset products and yet they put more effort into those.

Like you've often said, good and popular aren't the same thing. WMC was just never popular and it just doesn't fit into the way media is consumed there days. I mean I still have the CableCard hardware and it just isn't worth it anymore. I'm just looking at it realistically. Connecting a PC to cable to record TV, those days are just gone now.
 
I've got a copy of Quake 2 here that hasn't run on any Windows OS since Windows 98, it does run fine under Wine last time I tried it years ago though.

The fact is, backwards compatibility can be an issue under any OS, considering the number of software titles available under Windows I'd say the issue is probably worse under Windows than any other OS. I do not regard backwards compatibility as a selling point of Windows and I still cannot see the point of this whole thread.

I'm not going to back down from my opinion, so why not just move on?

Not backing down when you are wrong, is a poor character trait.

Quake II works on Windows XP, 7, 8, 10:
GoG sells it right here with all the expansion episodes:
https://www.gog.com/game/quake_ii_quad_damage
 
Like you've often said, good and popular aren't the same thing. WMC was just never popular and it just doesn't fit into the way media is consumed there days. I mean I still have the CableCard hardware and it just isn't worth it anymore. I'm just looking at it realistically. Connecting a PC to cable to record TV, those days are just gone now.

I cannot comment on Cablecard as I have never used one.

For terrestrial FTA DTV and with plugins such as Media Browser WMC was a great product - And you're right, it reinforces the point that popularity does not in any way equal better.
 
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