Microsoft confirms Windows 11 is about to change

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Reaction to AI-Centric Windows 11

  • Many commenters see “agentic” AI integration as unwanted bloat and enshittification, not a feature users asked for.
  • People complain about constant AI prompts in apps and fear an “all‑AI, all‑the‑time” OS that is slower, heavier, and less reliable.
  • Some can see the sci‑fi appeal of a “starship computer” you talk to, but doubt Microsoft will deliver that without ads, upsells, or lock‑in.

Enterprise Strategy vs Individual Users

  • Several argue this makes perfect sense for Microsoft’s real customers: enterprises and IT, not end users.
  • Integrated Copilot is attractive because it’s bundled with Microsoft 365, sanctioned by IT, deeply integrated with Office/SharePoint/Teams, and managed via GUIs.
  • Examples given: Copilot preparing meetings from company data, restoring lost files, or automating routine workflows for office workers.

Privacy, Security, and Control

  • Strong distrust of an OS‑level agent that “looks at your screen,” indexes all files, and phones home; fear that the system is more loyal to Microsoft than to the owner.
  • On‑device AI hardware is seen partly as a way to market “local, private” processing, even as overall telemetry expands.
  • Multiple threads question Microsoft’s long‑standing claim that “security is our top priority,” noting repeated compromises and a perceived shift of focus to AI.

Developers, Legacy Software, and Lock‑in

  • Some say it’s fine if developers use macOS with remote Windows VMs; Windows is for office workers now.
  • Others stress there is still a huge Windows‑only ecosystem: CAD/CAM, GIS, POS, ATMs, SCADA, trading terminals, etc., where backwards compatibility is critical.
  • This legacy makes a clean, simple, from‑scratch Windows unrealistic without massive breakage.

Linux/macOS Migration Sentiment

  • Numerous anecdotes of people (including non‑technical seniors) successfully switching to Linux or macOS and finding them simpler and less frustrating than Windows 10/11.
  • Many hope this is the moment for desktop Linux (helped by SteamOS/Proton, Valve hardware, Framework), though others note missing professional apps, anti‑cheat issues, lack of OEM installs, and support gaps.
  • Several predict Microsoft’s choices will boost macOS adoption more than Linux.

Linux and Alternative Ecosystems

  • Active debate over distros: criticism of Ubuntu and snaps; praise for Debian, Fedora, Mint, Arch, etc.
  • Acknowledgment that Linux packaging/ABI fragmentation is still a problem; Win32 via Wine/Proton is effectively becoming a de facto stable Linux desktop ABI for many use cases.