State of the Windows: What is going on with Windows 11?

Legacy vs Modern UI (Control Panel, Settings, UX)

• Strong frustration that the Settings app still can’t replace Control Panel after multiple Windows releases; many key options (power plans, input, audio/network details, device exclusivity, etc.) remain only in legacy dialogs.
• Users describe “archaeological layers”: modern Settings leading via links into old Control Panel, multiple generations of context menus, and 30‑year‑old dialogs popping up in Windows 11.
• Modern Settings is criticized as slow, low‑information‑density, and full‑screen for simple tasks; some users report giving up and going straight to Control Panel every time.
• A minority defends the iterative approach: more options do move into Settings each release, and having old UI still available is seen as a necessary safety net.

User Sentiment, Adoption, and What People “Want”

• Many commenters call Windows 11 a “disaster” or “hostile,” especially compared with remembered peaks like 2000, XP (with service packs), or 7; others argue nostalgia ignores how unstable 95/98 actually were.
• Some insist most users are indifferent and that online complaints represent a tiny, noisy fraction; others point to slow adoption and large numbers staying on Windows 10 as circumstantial evidence of resistance, though the causal link is debated.
• There’s no consensus on “what users want”: HN‑type users emphasize simplicity, consistency, and user‑first design; others say mainstream users care more about cost, familiarity, and a “modern” look.

Ads, AI, and Incentives

• Many see Windows as increasingly ad‑, telemetry‑, and AI‑driven (OneDrive pushes, Copilot buttons everywhere, upsells, bloatware), with the OS serving Microsoft’s services business more than user needs.
• Some say Recall/AI outrage was overblown and note they barely see ads after tweaking settings.
• It’s argued there’s little internal “code red” because profits come from Azure/365 and most users can’t or won’t switch platforms.

Performance, Bloat, and Technical Debt

• Complaints about sluggish Explorer, hangs on simple file operations, HDDs becoming unusable on newer builds, heavy background scanning, and RAM hunger (32–64 GB suggested by some).
• Others report Windows 11 runs fine on modest hardware and compare it favorably to current iOS/macOS performance.
• One view: NT internals are solid; the real “technical debt” is the accretion of modern layers and poorly integrated features on top. Loss of testing roles and institutional knowledge is blamed for regressions.

Alternatives and Lock‑In (macOS, Linux, ChromeOS)

• macOS “Tahoe” is criticized too (aesthetic regressions, inconsistent visuals), but some still find it far less obstructive than Windows 11; others see the complaints as design‑purist nitpicking.
• Linux is portrayed as:
  • Great for technical users and increasingly viable for gaming (via Steam/Proton, excluding kernel anti‑cheat).
  • Still rough for casual users due to drivers, fragmentation, and troubleshooting.
• ChromeOS is mentioned as the de facto “Linux desktop” for many ordinary users.
• Business reliance on Office, SharePoint, Windows‑only apps, and kernel‑level anti‑cheat in games keeps many stuck on Windows.

Real‑World Users (Seniors, Schools, Work)

• Seniors struggle with OneDrive “dark patterns,” confusing backup behavior, and fear of data loss when trying to disable cloud integration; they mostly want stability and simple customization, not constant change.
• Some schools issue Chromebooks; others still expect families to buy Windows PCs.
• Many office workers have no control over their OS; they just learn workarounds (e.g., disabling Copilot features).

Workarounds and Debloating

• A recurring theme: Windows 11 becomes “acceptable” after running debloat scripts, using LTSC or similar SKUs, and installing start menu/taskbar tweaks.
• Several argue this is itself an indictment: a modern OS shouldn’t require scripting, registry edits, or unofficial builds just to stop undermining the user.