Interesting Commentary On Microsoft Windows' Rise- And Fall

[Judge]

So far perhaps the best explanation of seeing the rise and fall of Microsoft Windows, and how it has systematically (and shamelessly) sold out their customers.

And it appears to only be getting worse:

 

[NB79]

i have windows 7 still for games, my cpu is from 2008, and i was thinking in upgrading before, but
prices are crazy now, good games release are more rare than before.
And people says electronics are made now with 'planned obsolescence' which makes them break.
I would try other OS, if in not were i like games mostly old and i am afraid linux etc couldn't run them.

 

[Judge]

i have windows 7 still for games, my cpu is from 2008, and i was thinking in upgrading before, but
prices are crazy now, good games release are more rare than before.
And people says electronics are made now with 'planned obsolescence' which makes them break.
I would try other OS, if in not were i like games mostly old and i am afraid linux etc couldn't run them.

Perhaps some of our members who run old versions of Windows virtually through Linux can weigh in...

 

[Outdated]

Perhaps some of our members who run old versions of Windows virtually through Linux can weigh in...

And people says electronics are made now with 'planned obsolescence' which makes them break.

Computers have become faster by making all the components smaller so they can jam more switches in to a single processor. Smaller components means smaller wiring which means it doesn't need as much electricity to overheat it and burn it out. The more often your computer gets hot the sooner it's going to die.

I would try other OS, if in not were i like games mostly old and i am afraid linux etc couldn't run them.

The great majority of games made after about 2003 will run just fine in Linux. It's a little bit hit and miss though. There's a few different ways you can load games in Linux.

If you're an online player then you'll want to install Steam and play your games through that.

If like me you're an offline player then you're better off just installing the games directly in to Linux once you have installed the Wine compatibility layer. That's how I play most of my games, completely offline and sandboxed, no internet access at all.

Some very old games from the 90s and earlier require the specific graphics hardware from back in that era, for those games I run a PC emulator that has Win98 installed in it.

 

[NB79]

Computers have become faster by making all the components smaller so they can jam more switches in to a single processor. Smaller components means smaller wiring which means it doesn't need as much electricity to overheat it and burn it out. The more often your computer gets hot the sooner it's going to die.



The great majority of games made after about 2003 will run just fine in Linux. It's a little bit hit and miss though. There's a few different ways you can load games in Linux.

If you're an online player then you'll want to install Steam and play your games through that.

If like me you're an offline player then you're better off just installing the games directly in to Linux once you have installed the Wine compatibility layer. That's how I play most of my games, completely offline and sandboxed, no internet access at all.

Some very old games from the 90s and earlier require the specific graphics hardware from back in that era, for those games I run a PC emulator that has Win98 installed in it.

I don't play online, i got burned up, looking for friendly people and finding out everyone just was an ass.

I have 2 shortcuts on my desktop, to change dns gateway ip, to something invalid, and back to normal, that way i can disconnect the internet with a clic. (i suppose nobody can see my pc that way and it works because i can't access internet when i disconnect).

 

[NB79]

Perhaps some of our members who run old versions of Windows virtually through Linux can weigh in...

But why i would run windows on linux if i just run windows alone. For now everything works, i expect soon maybe software would not get updated anymore like antiviruses etc but.

 

[Outdated]

That's one of the plusses with Linux, no more worries about viruses and privacy protection.

Changing over to a new OS is a bit frustrating at first though, simply because you won't know your way around the system and it takes a little while for Windows habits to change. What most people do is dual boot, which is a lot easier to do with a desktop than a laptop.

No need to interfere with your existing Windows in any way, simply install Linux on an external drive and run it from there so you can swap back to Windows when you need to. That's how Judge runs his, I haven't had Windows since XP but I started the same way but using separate internal drives instead of external ones.

 

[Crabcore]

Live booting is always an option, too, to test hardware compatibility and to see if you like it.

I'm pretty sure this is how I started (my memory is hazy; see the sobriety accountability thread ), until over time I just ended up learning and doing more things with it. I wouldn't totally change OSes unless it was 100% necessary, but doing certain things on Linux is just a breeze when compared to Windows (and admittedly, vice versa, if you're still hooked on Windows software like I am).

I wouldn't be able to run old versions of Windows at this rate because of all the 'always online' / DRM-happy software that I use, and I'd wager that if anyone can still run old versions of Windows because they're not hooked on the newest gizmos and gadgets, they could almost certainly switch to Ubuntu with almost no learning curve. Learning will just enable you to do cooler things, if you ever feel like doing that later .

That said, I'm definitely going to save and watch the videos in the OP! I'm still kind of curious as to why they're making people choose between their PC that works just fine and however much money a new one costs nowadays.

 

[Judge]

But why i would run windows on linux if i just run windows alone. For now everything works, i expect soon maybe software would not get updated anymore like antiviruses etc but.

Think greater security. Particularly given how inherently vulnerable all versions of Windows are.

"Running Windows virtually inside Linux does provide a level of isolation, similar to sandboxing, as it creates a separate environment for the Windows OS. However, it is not the same as a dedicated sandbox like Windows Sandbox, which is specifically designed for running untrusted applications in a highly controlled and isolated manner."

And to avoid allowing any Windows application or the OS itself from accessing the Internet. Using Linux to maintain your Internet connection and deliberately leave Windows cut off from it.

 

[Judge]

No need to interfere with your existing Windows in any way, simply install Linux on an external drive and run it from there so you can swap back to Windows when you need to. That's how Judge runs his, I haven't had Windows since XP but I started the same way but using separate internal drives instead of external ones.

Actually my primary computer I built last year has swappable drives for multiple Linux distributions. It's my "legacy computer" that still runs Windows XP alone, though totally cut off from the Internet or my network. That system is around 25 years old.

My secondary computer is the one I just upgraded to Linux Mint 22.2 even though it's 13 years old. It too uses a swappable drive, though right now I have only one SSD for it.

 

[Misery]

Windows is one of those things that I've always just sort of... tolerated.

It's irritating, but I'm stuck with it. Most things I have not only dont support Linux, but they're often the types of programs that get all uppity if I dont sacrifice a goat to the moon once a month. A lot of very awkward things that aint getting less awkward ever. That's not even counting the emulation archive. That one's TWO goats per month and it still goes insane every now and then.

Even my blasted controller app (ReWASD) is like that. And that's one of those "cant go without it" sorts.

The one extremely specific thing I know will work on anything is Steam itself, but... yeah a lot of games are Windows only as well.

I miss DOS. "Command" went directly to "does things" and that was it. And no freaking internet. Never thought I'd start to develop a distaste for the internet as a whole, but here we are. Bah.

 

[thejuice]

I opted to have an extra year coverage of windows 10, delaying the inevitable, no idea what I'll do when that comes to an end..

 

[Outdated]

"Running Windows virtually inside Linux does provide a level of isolation, similar to sandboxing, as it creates a separate environment for the Windows OS. However, it is not the same as a dedicated sandbox like Windows Sandbox, which is specifically designed for running untrusted applications in a highly controlled and isolated manner."

So even AI is pushing the Microtoss propaganda.

The whole point of trying other OSs is because Windows is slow, clunky, unstable and virus prone as well as expensive. Any OS tested within Windows is going to be crippled by the Windows Desktop and behave just as poorly as Windows does.

Live booting is always an option, too, to test hardware compatibility and to see if you like it.

I used to carry around my own custom made Live Ubuntu USB many years ago, I used it as a very valuable tool for rescuing crashed Windows systems and for file recovery if Windows couldn't be repaired.

LiveCDCustomization - Community Help Wiki

 

[Judge]

So even AI is pushing the Microtoss propaganda.

The whole point of trying other OSs is because Windows is slow, clunky, unstable and virus prone as well as expensive. Any OS tested within Windows is going to be crippled by the Windows Desktop and behave just as poorly as Windows does.

LOL, oh come on...be pragmatic under the circumstances. I'm quoting it only to offer a more balanced emphasis that running Windows virtually inside Linux is the best way to go. To achieve that "sufficient level of isolation", as opposed to running any version of Windows (past or present) natively.

Not to mention that its presently unrealistic to expect most hardcore gamers to completely abandon Microsoft at this point in time. - They should, but they won't.

Though seeing the collusion of various dominant corporate entities flocking to support AI and eventually abandon the gaming community altogether could be a real possibility. Also to consider the decline in shareholder equity in software game development, supplanted by so many investors so eager to put equity into unproven AI ventures. It's always about the money, and which direction it's flowing.

LOL...besides you of all people here know that Microsoft lost me some time ago. And that has only gotten worse with Windows 11 and Microsoft's shameless disregard for the security and privacy of its users. To a point where IMO even considering using Windows solely as a gaming platform to be too risky.

Though I'll give you credit for AI likely biased in favor of Microsoft for political and economic motives, reflecting yet another major flaw in AI altogether. Would that make you happy ?

 

[Misery]

Not to mention that its presently unrealistic to expect most hardcore gamers to completely abandon Microsoft at this point in time. - They should, but they won't.

Honestly I just wish that more developers would support things that arent Windows.

Though it depends heavily on what tier the developers sit at. The major AAA guys? Chances are their games run on anything, and usually have lower required specs than most players realize.

But AA and indies, much less likely. Particularly for the super small dev teams. Heck I remember when I was working on the contract years ago, our game didnt hit Linux either. Just wasnt in the budget, nor in the team's skillset. We had a fair sized team, but only a couple of them were programmers of a level to deal with the engine. The rest were like me, working with scripting (XML). I remember everyone was kinda disappointed to not be able to hit that extra level of support, but that's just how it goes sometimes.

Boy do I wish game development was easier in a lot of ways. So many developers run into really frustrating walls like that. I'm stuck on freaking art, myself. Want to make stuff. Not sure how I can make usable graphics out of whacking infinity with a hammer and pouring paint on it. That's definitely a sentence I just typed.

Though I'll give you credit for AI likely biased in favor of Microsoft for political and economic motives, reflecting yet another major flaw in AI altogether.

To be fair on this one, it's VERY heavily dependent on exactly HOW you ask and phrase things, in terms of avoiding weird bias or whatever. That's the thing about AI, there *is* a learning curve to it. Which people keep tripping over.

 

[Judge]

To be fair on this one, it's VERY heavily dependent on exactly HOW you ask and phrase things, in terms of avoiding weird bias or whatever. That's the thing about AI, there *is* a learning curve to it. Which people keep tripping over.

Absolutely. A situation that is so prevalent that I occasionally ask similar questions in an alternative manner just to trigger a contrary response.

Again indicative of the failure of AI to objectively deliver responses beyond reproach. Where product integrity is marketed to the public, but not guaranteed as such.

I'm just wondering how ironclad the contracts of game developers may be to force them to remain with Microsoft on an exclusive basis. Not to mention that such corporations routinely play "hardball" when it comes to negotiating contracts with smaller developers where they send "Vito and Lucca" to make them the typical offer they cannot refuse. Something I witnessed firsthand while working in the marketing dept. of a once major player in computer gaming.

Sadly it's a scenario that leaves most fledgling developers reticent to even consider alternatives to porting their game products with other competing operating systems. Yet the handwriting seems on the wall that entities like Intel, Microsoft and Nvidia are putting their emphasis elsewhere, leaving the gaming community look like another "bastard stepchild" left in the lurch.

With all the emphasis confined only to AI and the optimal number of customers who would use it.