[A]n INI configuration file in the Windows Canary channel, discovered by German website Deskmodder, includes references to a “Subscription Edition,” “Subscription Type,” and a “subscription status.”
I’m looking forward to the Year of the Linux desktop ™️
q47tx@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Veedem@lemmy.world 1 year ago
For the average consumer, this would help Apple and Google out more than anything. People want what they know.
On the more savvy user side and for gamers, this move would, potentially, help Linux adoption rates.
penguin@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
It would help all of their competitors. A non zero number of people would move from windows to each of the others.
Whether or not the number moving away from windows and on to each of the others is significant or not is a different matter.
The biggest thing helping Linux right now is Valve’s work improving the gaming experience, IMO.
cm0002@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Exactly, which is with this will probably work, do you really think the average consumer that’s used to Windows is going to switch to Mac when they can just pay 5$/month instead? Lol
As long as the price isn’t ridiculous like 50$/month or some shit, the average consumer is just going to pay it lolol
johnlobo@lemmy.world 1 year ago
valve would be really happy if Microsoft do windows subscription, lmao
Venutianxspring@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
Yup, Chromebooks are already cheap and pretty intuitive, I think this will bump their sales a lot. I’ve ditched windows long ago except for my gaming PC and the PCs at my office (I don’t have a say in those though, I just much prefer Linux
wintermute_oregon@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I’d switch at that point. I’ve only not switched because the pain isn’t worth the reward right now. I’d have to learn a bunch of new apps and hasn’t been worth it.
Start charging a subscription fee. I’ll learn to use whatever tools a priority.
WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
Trust me, it’s already worth it. Literally every other operating system in existence is better than windows. I’d use Temple OS before going back.
Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Start trying some of the new apps on Windows. For example, try using LibreOffice for a bit and see how it compares to Microsoft Office.
SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 year ago
My biggest argument for Linux is: Windows isn’t going to get better, but Linux will.
isles@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I started using a lot of the same open-source tools that are on Linux as replacements in Windows to ease the transition. As someone else mentioned, most of the top projects strive to match the workflows of traditional Windows options. Some lemmy instances have huge posts of top tier open source alternatives to most things you need and somethings you don’t.
ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
There might be a subscription option or a subscription tier with a windows suite like office and stuff included in it, but for normal windows OS, they’re decades away from going to a subscription only model, at best.
cmbabul@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I imagine they’ll split it into an enterprise version and then multiple cinsuner tiers, with a “free/lite” version with ads and progressively more function or less ads. Folks that dont use a computer for more than web browsing will jump on that
GigglyBobble@kbin.social 1 year ago
Judging by this decade I don't estimate in decades anymore.
Neato@kbin.social 1 year ago
Why? They could roll out W12 with subscription-only plans. Besides the contracts they currently have that specify a specific amount of security updates for X years, they can let W11 and previous versions die. No more updates besides what they need to protect themselves.
It's not like governments and businesses will balk. They already pay a premium for Windows licenses and they'd probably get deals, anyways. Average home users might not upgrade, but all new PCs sold will have W12 and require a subscription if you want to be able to use most of the features.
This is what happens by not breaking up MS more or imposing penalties for anti-competitive behavior.
hamsterkill@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
I could see them releasing hardware that’s tied to a subscription that Windows would track, perhaps, or offering subscription as a payment model for Windows.
You’re right, though I can’t see a straight migration to subscription-only happening. They haven’t even gotten Office to subscription-only yet, despite their wish to.
1bluepixel@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I’ve been hearing a variant of this since I joined Slashdot in 1999. “Microsoft really messed up this time, mainstream Linux adoption is right around the corner!”
sebinspace@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah, except the Steam Deck has been giving a huge reason to provide compatibility with Linux, and Valve/WINE have been pushing hard as hell to help facilitate it.
Unity pushed me to go with Godot. Unity already had a Linux editor, but this has pushed me to also move from Photoshop to Krita, since we’re in that kind of mood.
I tried several games last night that were rated gold or platinum rather than native on ProtonDB. While some people provided launch options, they all worked flawlessly out of the box.
Piper let me configure my mouse and keyboard without the need for GHub. My HOTAS works flawlessly without the Saitek software, since I’m used to configuring buttons in-game.
I tried this last year, and went back to Windows with the same “it’s not quite there” response as everyone there. But I’ve been keeping an eye on this since I had to use ndiswrapper to get Ubuntu to play nice with my wlan adapter, and this month, I installed PopOS, and have been getting along pretty well. I haven’t encountered a single issue or compatibility that outright breaks this move for me, and I’m generally stubborn as shit to learn new things.
It may not be the “year of the Linux desktop” for everyone, but it is for me. If you’re expecting some monolithic mass adoption, keep dreaming, but this progress doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
PeutMieuxFaire@kbin.social 1 year ago
Right!
If I had gotten 10 cent each time I heard (or said) this I would be close to 10 € by now :D
I switched to Linux back in 2006 but not everyone has the knowledge, the capacity or the motivation to do so.
wjrii@kbin.social 1 year ago
Someday Linux desktop percentage will jump up, but not how the optimists have thought. It's going to be more because the younger generations don't think they need desktop operating systems, leaving them exclusively to to younger gen-X, older gen-Y, various hobbyists, and those who need a desktop workflow at work and like it enough to bring it home. The desktop will settle into its niche, like live theater, fountain pens, and a thousand other mass culture relics, and Linux will still be there chugging along while Windows and OS X (as we know them) slowly molder due to reduced profits in the desktop space.
I have a kid, and yes, there's a laptop she uses, but to her it's exclusively for games and for dicking around in Roblox Studio or TinkerCAD. I've even seen her close a game, settle into her chair at the very same desk, and pull up Youtube on an iOS device. And this is from a kid who is more comfortable with a PC than most of her peers.
Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 1 year ago
2025 is the year of the linux desktop!
MrOxiMoron@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah, and steamdeck might gain more customers too
SuiXi3D@kbin.social 1 year ago
Or folks like myself that refuse to get a TPM just to run a worse OS. I’m fine with Windows 10.
ares35@kbin.social 1 year ago
if microsoft doing stupid shit with windows affected linux adoption rate, we'd all have switched by now.
Spellinbee@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I’ve played around with Linux before, but never really wanted to use it. I’ve always just been happy with windows. Without a doubt though, if they started a subscription for it. I would switch to Linux.
knova@links.dartboard.social 1 year ago
I’m the tech savvy guy in the family. I’ve always said that I keep windows around for gaming and some level of music production. However, if this happens with Windows 12, I’ll move 100% to Linux and deal with the ramifications. Most of my game collection is on Steam which I know has some Linux support now for certain titles.
GenEcon@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Only if they manage to contain pirates.
sock@lemmy.world 1 year ago
im really sad to say this because linux bros are cancerous but if they did a windows subscription i would probably have to swap linux…