Mastodawn

PlasticBagHelmet Jun 28, 2023

Microsoft wants to stream your OS to you. Ignoring the whole "Microsoft" angle on this, I personally hate this idea. I miss the days when a computer was a standalone device that COULD connect to the Internet, but didn't have to. These days, so many things DEPEND on having that connection, and just flat out won't work without it. Maybe I'm a stodgy old guy, but can't we go back? I want my computer to with exactly the same online or offline.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/27/23775117/microsoft-windows-11-cloud-consumer-strategy

Microsoft wants to move Windows fully to the cloud

Microsoft’s long-term ambition with Windows is to move the OS to the cloud. Windows 365 is just the beginning on the commercial side, with plans to get consumers into a cloud version of Windows eventually.

The Verge

Mark Burnett Jun 27, 2023

@mike I like the idea of buying Windows once and not paying monthly for it.

deFraid Jun 27, 2023

@m8urnett @mike you don't buy windows, you pay for a licence to use it. Just sayin'

Dan Jun 28, 2023

@defred @m8urnett @mike and that in itself is a problem

Ryuno the Rhino🦏-🐉dragon Jun 28, 2023

@defred @m8urnett @mike
Once upon a time you would buy you're Microsoft Office suit or whatever Microsoft software and that was it, you only paid Microsoft more money when you were ready to up grade to a new set of software which could be a few years or a decade away. Depending on when you upgraded you're hardware usually.

deFraid Jun 28, 2023

@theRhinoDragon @m8urnett @mike once again you only paid for a licence, not the software.

⠀Jun 28, 2023

@defred @theRhinoDragon @m8urnett @mike

Do you remember the days when Adobe software could be individually bought before they moved to a bundled subscription model that requires internet connection? Man, software as a service has not been great for consumers.

Ursidinoj/The Bjornsdottirs Jun 28, 2023

@defred @theRhinoDragon @m8urnett @mike https://cr.yp.to/softwarelaw.html

Ryuno the Rhino🦏-🐉dragon Jun 28, 2023

@ellenor2000 @defred @m8urnett @mike
Looks like a redirect link, no thanks. (cr.up.to, 🤣 seriously 🙄)

Ursidinoj/The Bjornsdottirs Jun 28, 2023

@theRhinoDragon @defred @m8urnett @mike Nope.

It's the website of one Daniel Julius Bernstein, a crypnoGRAPHER. The page I linked does not redirect.

Ryuno the Rhino🦏-🐉dragon Jun 28, 2023

@defred @m8urnett @mike but you got the software on CDs 💿or floppy 💾 or actual discs that were floppy without their paper case. So they couldn't stop you using it. The joys of pre-internet software.

Adam Jun 27, 2023

@mike I entirely agree. Our devices shouldn't be taken this far. They may evolve into appliances, but not to this point where one needs Internet all the time which is not realistic. I realize a lot are use to being always connected, but that is not possible in all scenarios. This is a power move by Microsoft, to generate constant stream of money which is not reality of what people can afford.

@mike I 100% agree with you. You can't even work on a flight without paying for their shitty wifi anymore. But I would say that the fact I'm using Linux helps me a lot. I feel like it's the right way to do things. Can't stand cloud computers anymore. Same for phone. I'm trying really hard to switch to a Linux phone for that particular reason. My Pixel watch ECG won't even work without a connection... There should be no reason for that....

@mike we are going back to the mainframe

Rupert Reynolds Jun 28, 2023

@dottorblaster @mike
If only!

This is heading for something worse, I fear.

My mainframe experience was system docs that matched reality, rock-hard networking, and a few other benefits in return for the old-school hassle and remoteness of borrowing someone else's computer.

Maybe I'm wrong, but this could be worse than that.

𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊

Buy Windows for only 12/dollars a month, and it might increase every year

Michael A. Murphy

@mike You can still have that experience with Linux, so regardless what Microsoft does with their OS, the door to Linux is always open.

That said, if Microsoft were to do this, then technically they are going full circle to the way we used computers in the 1950s. Thin clients connected to a mainframe.

It's even one of the features of X11 that people have used against Wayland adoption in recent years, which is now resolved and solutions like RustDesk exist.

Theron Morgan-Brown Jun 27, 2023

@mmstick @mike Maybe if they take it all to the cloud Linux users will be able to buy PCs from major manufacturers again without having to pay the Windows tax :)

deFraid Jun 27, 2023

@mmstick @mike linux is massively dependent on network availability though, with workarounds ok, but massively

Michael A. Murphy

@defred @mike Weird. I can install Linux, log in, install applications from USB, use them, and access all my files without a network connection. Sure, you can't browse the web and download things while offline, but that doesn't make it massively dependent.

Ursidinoj/The Bjornsdottirs Jun 28, 2023

@defred @mmstick @mike *brings a tape containing the entire xbps archive* you rang?

Yora Jun 28, 2023

@defred @mmstick @mike That's just not true.
Unless you want to download a new program or update one, everything works perfectly fine without a connection.

deFraid Jun 28, 2023

@Yora @mmstick @mike allrite allrite, normal and comfortable use of GNU/linux is network dependent. Better ?

Jonathan Egbert Jun 27, 2023

@mike Not a single thing in that article sounds anything but terrible. 🤢

@mike Careful about asking to go back! They might continue rolling back to the days of Terminals connected to mainframes where you had NOTHING local!

C.Cameron 👻Jun 27, 2023

@mike
That's insane. Things like this just make my happier every day I switched to Linux years ago and I'm thrilled to stay with Linux indefinitely.

Andy Warburton ❌❌❌Jun 27, 2023

@mike for sure it sounds horrible, but then I realised at my day job most of the apps I run are either cloud based (gmail, Google suite, workday etc) or shitty wrappers around cloud based apps (Figma, Miro). Honestly don’t think it would make a bit of difference for me (well, aside from the fact I use a Mac!). On my personal machine though it would be a different situation as I use a lot more local software.

Giles Edwards Jun 27, 2023

@mike I agree with you on this. At this point in technological stability, this move is at least one presumption too far in the direction "everything will work all the time".

Jack Yan (甄爵恩)Jun 27, 2023

@mike Iʼm with you. I want the computer to work as quickly as possible, not wait for things to come down the internet.

Mark Foster Jun 27, 2023

@jackyan @mike my next exclusively-personal home workstation will be Linux native for these reasons. I'm almost certain of this. Unfortunately I still need to work (and volunteer) in a Microsoft ecosystem however.... But also fair to note almost all of that is doable in a browser now.

Jack Yan (甄爵恩)Jun 27, 2023

@blakjak @mike Most of my everyday work stuff is Windows native but maybe I can stay on an older version to do that. I was dual-boot for a while so maybe Iʼll go back to doing that.

Mark Foster Jun 27, 2023

@jackyan @mike the problem is updates for the OS, not sure if you'd want to put an unpatched OS anywhere near the internet. Linux does basically everything, if you havnt given it a go as your desktop it's worth a shot, basically all core functions are quite doable.
And it will be on your computer, not tied to a cloud subscription.

Jack Yan (甄爵恩)Jun 27, 2023

@blakjak @mike Used Ubuntu and Mint for ages, but my daily stuff is Windows-only or Windows- and Mac-only.

Mark Foster Jun 27, 2023

@jackyan @mike I have one app I use regularly that needs IE (or edge in compatibility mode). Pretty much everything else works with a Linux Native app or a browser - again, home use. Will be stuck with Windows at work for the foreseeable future.

Thomas Beagle Jun 27, 2023

@mike The micro-computer is dead, replaced by the internet computer.

@mike I've got my laptop like that actually; I use it for my music sheets from the orchestra (which I either download or scan in manually) in a completely offline fashion 💪😏

Also cropping or making a setlist can be done offline.

Stewart X Addison Jun 27, 2023

@mike I was having similar thoughts recently when my system seemed to get stuck while I was trying to use the OS search facility ...
https://fosstodon.org/@sxa/110532290776032326

Stewart X Addison (@[email protected])

For since reason three networking on my windows laptop is very slow at the moment (ping times >1s) I've just pressed the windows key and tried to search for something local on the machine and it's basically got stuck. Are we that tied to the internet now?

Fosstodon

Aroop Roelofs Jun 27, 2023

@mike Can't wait to get cancelled and no longer have access to "my desktop" for the most arbitrary reason.

unmellow Jun 27, 2023

@mike is this s good place to talk about newpipe, shosetsu, and tachiyomi being some of my favorite apps because I can just download stuff for later?

Really really wished more "WebApps" had a nice simple to use save to use offline button.

zen3ger Jun 27, 2023

@mike I kinda wish they make such a splendid job that 1 blue screen takes down a whole server.

deFraid Jun 27, 2023

@mike this idea is sooooo old

@CharleneTeglia Jun 27, 2023

@mike Well there's my cue to go back to Linux.

Chris [list of emoji]Jun 27, 2023

The enshitification of Windows continues.

Bytebro 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇬🇱Jun 27, 2023

@mike Linux is your friend. Try a couple or so distributions, even in 'Live' mode. Maybe stick one in a VM and play with it for a while, and if you don't get it, *seek advice* - there are good forums out there. I doubt you'll rush back to MS.

none gender with left politics Jun 27, 2023

@mike @KayOhtie while I personally use Linux I do not and cannot recommend that to the average computer user. I wish the list of good options for what the average person can use without getting shitty decisions like this rammed down their throat weren't so tiny (and shrinking).

Breve Jun 27, 2023

@mike Oh wow, good thing the Azure infrastructure could never possibly have an outage that would disable computers worldwide without warning!

blobfoxthisisfine

Hyphlosion Jun 27, 2023

@mike Sure, why not. They better get me faster Internet and pay the bills for it though.

Tammy Garrison, MLIS Jun 27, 2023

@mike My GD printer, which I'm hardwired into, will not print or scan unless I am connected to the internet and logged in to the printer, which is INSANE. And sadly, work has spotty wifi, so some days I just can't effing print. If my OS moves to requiring connectivity, I will lose my mind.

Milcom Miasma Jun 27, 2023

Yeah, that's what Micro$oft needs, more of my money on a monthly basis. Hard no.

Time to turn my sole remaining Windows system into a Linux box I guess.

musr Jun 27, 2023

@mike "You will own nothing and be happy."

If they can force one to rent the thin client machine used to connect to the OS, I'm pretty sure they will.

First the software (relatively trivial because it's digital), next bait some people into renting things to normalise it, then lobby the government to make it illegal for people to own things.

WanderingBeekeeper Jun 27, 2023

@mike And people wonder why I advocate for wider adoption of Linux on the desktop.

BlueDot🇺🇦Jun 27, 2023

@mike
They want to get rid of general purpose computers that do what the owner wants. They want to replace them all with rented computers that do what the corporation renting them wants.

Chris M Jun 27, 2023

@mike Couldn't agree more. I like knowing I can still get to my stuff when the internet (or a service) is down. Companies want us to be dependent on them and I don't like it.

Kyle Memoir 🍉🐧Jun 28, 2023

It won’t be long until they’re offering brain implants to help us deal with the ‘unnatural stress’ of simply being alive, Which we will have the option of opting out of, naturally, if we prefer to live away from view in a cardboard box.

nickapos Jun 28, 2023

@mike had this setup in previous job. This has been coming for a long time.

Moving Pictures Jun 28, 2023

@mike
*COFF*
Ubuntu
*Coff*

Paul Chernoff Jun 28, 2023

@mike @lisamelton Wouldn’t work from my father-in-law’s house. Just happy that email and web browsing works from his location.

A. Rivera Jun 28, 2023

@mike You are not the only one nor stodgy. I do want my computer to work offline as well.

Kevan Jun 28, 2023

@mike @devinprater What the hell? So would you be able to use it while you don't have internet? If not, this will fly like a rock.