MissySassy
64716
1667
15
Ironically, most people don't know that windows 10 and 11 is already recording every keystroke you make. You can turn it off but it automatically turns itself back on every two weeks.
SolHSA
Apart from the obvious security implications this will completely kill your SSD. Not only fill it. It will eat the r/w cycles for breakfast.
ongabonga
where do you get this bullshit? facebook? was it circled in red? geez... I don't even wanna know
TohmaytohTohmahtoh
Goddammit, Windows. WTF... Time to switch to Linux.
TrapperQ
I'm reading this on Linux Mint. Not great for games but good to go for everything else. Many Steam games work on it fine.
chingadamadrex
Give me windows 98 with modern day protocols. All the shit windows has added I feel just eats processing power and it’s so useless….
MissySassy
Would it be better to run Windows 2000 or would you prefer to run Windows XP?
chingadamadrex
XP
UncleMeaty
So basically Windows 7?
NeoThermic
I'd at least suggest you want XP with modern protocols. The NT kernel is far far far more stable at running a user-land OS than the old Win kernel ever was.
chingadamadrex
I don't remember if Vista or windows 2000 was the one that was a nightmare... I liked XP
firni
My husband used to work for the borg. He mumbled something about Journal? Something like that. I have no clue as I quit using windows after … what was it before win 7? XP?
I honestly do not put it past them to insert spyware.
netprincess
Me neither also worked for the borg
MisterFluffi
It's not spyware, it's a feature. We should all praise the mighty Microsoft for blessing us with this gift (really hoping this will at least get the Microsoft AI overlord to at least spare my family)
vegivamp
Like Microsoft AI is ever going to get beyond the level of Steve Ballmer dancing on a podium.
llebkcir
yup yup 100% spyware
MightyUrto
https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/microsoft-windows-10-keylogger-enabled-default-heres-disable/#:~:text=Note%3A%20Windows%2011%20has%20an,The%20keylogger%20is%20now%20off.
DestinyPrevails
Back in the day when they began running ads in Skype, you could disable the ads by blocking their adserver in your internet settings. But since us modifying our own computers (not even their program!) is an affront to our IT overlords they integrated the ads directly into the program. This allowed ad companies to potentially watch what you did while Skype was open, as well as open a vulnerability to cross-site scripting.
Bigblackdick69
TK421isAFK
Thank you!
realGeorgelucas
I just checked and there's no such option showing up under Inking And Typing, however a similar looking option is under "Diagnostics & Feedback"
hwatL4bloopy
I just checked and mine is already off.
lordpsykojo
PicassoCT
Oh and it resets with every update and the button is moving to the cellar, with the broken stairs, with no light. These "here is a button you can press while getting fucked, so we know your in distress" are the final insult to human intelligence.
PicassoCT
Push the button, change your destiny, feel the control.
PicassoCT
Putting the dom back in free dom
GatDangHippies
My friend doesn't get it
PicassoCT
You have a button, that auto-reverts and does in the long run nothing but sap your energy to protest while giving the illusion of choice, its a dark pattern, to give users who would otherwise rebel, something to feel empowered and bound to busy work. So, its a baby-board
GatDangHippies
idk how imgur does this crap, but I didn't even comment on this post. My comment was for a completely different post.
anjeleyezjr
I will make my wallpaper a picture of my penis and rather full pubes, turn off my screensaver, and leave my computer showing the desktop for at least half the day every day. If they want to have millions of pictures of my fuzzy caterpillar, that's on them. Your move, Microsoft.
Zamerine
Mine is disabled by default since I refused to send diagnostical data when I installed my windows. And I just checked it hasn't been switched on again by itself even though I installed it months ago.
Ivain
Same, none of this shit is turned on for me. Ofc I also decline all feature updates, accepting security updates only. It's saved me from bullshit popping up in the past. Add to that some basic knowledge of 'below-the-surface' Windows workings and I've got an OS I can use that doesn't bother me. No Cortana, no non-security notifications (though those DO still kick me out of fullscreen games, which is annoying, but they're sparse).
Poppypoppoppop
"Feature" lmao
Nacon
It still is.
PicassoCT
This is ai, please train him your job over the next 2 weeks. You will be pro-motioned after that.
Provideniya
Windows itself is just a bunch of bloatware and spyware in a trenchcoat these days. It's honestly impressive they're managing to find new ways to make it more shit than it already is!
Scobragon
I've been sending Microsoft endless strings of nonsense. If there was any useful data from my computer, it's drowned in a sea of nonsense. Would be a shame if more people did that, it'd make any information collected very hard to use.
admiralawesome4213
I love that I have windows 10 that they're planning on sunsetting, and this is what I have to look forward to. guess I'm officially running Linux as my full time OS soon
OldJedi
The only time my pc is connected to the internet (not WiFi) is when I’m downloading something from steam. Then it’s offline mode. There’s no point in letting corporations into your home like that. They’re already in my pocket. That should satisfy them, but of course, it doesn’t.
Magus25
Just like crypto, and NFTs business are taking new technologies that had potential and are just destroying them in the public eye. Bitcoin could of been a banking and nationality free currency, NFTs could of been a fun way for creators to sell works but still share them with the world, AI has been twisted beyond usefulness in many ways already.
KerryCoder
I just installed Linux Mint because of this BS.
Cookie0fPower
Yuck
guitarfourtysix
[Scheduled Tasks] [Google Chrome] [check for "updates"] every 2 hours
ongabonga
Typing customization. Your phone keyboard does that too, so does macOS, and everything else that "trains" word predictions.
cousteau
Mine USED to. Then it was bought by Microsoft, and now the keyboard app has gone to shit.
ongabonga
Swiftkey has been trashed sadly
cousteau
But hey, at least it now alerts you when you enable/disable autocorrect, with a useless banner that covers the keyboard >:(
ongabonga
It pains me, it used to be fantastic
weylyn1
Except that on Android (and probably iOS too), you can go into app settings and disable the keyboard's Internet access. It can record all the data it wants, but it won't be able to send it.
rogerjun0497
Sure...
weylyn1
If you block an app's internet access, it can't access the Internet. Try it. Keyboards can collect all the data they want, but won't he able to send it. Alternatively, you can set up a VM on your desktop, install the keyboard and find what it wants to reach using Wireshark, then set up a custom VPN that will block access to those addresses, and route your entire networking through it.
MissySassy
No, not customizations. This is far more sinister
DarkZalgo
Exactly this. It's not much different than saying Microsoft word logs every keystroke on the document you're typing up.
gesel
No, it is fundamentally different:
The logged data is sent to Microsoft rather than staying on your device.
The captured data includes all applications, not just Microsoft ones, including any privacy centric that might be specifically used to avoid sharing sensitive information.
The data includes all presumptively ephemeral data like web searches, even in private mode and corrections.
It can include passwords.
It should be prosecuted. Everyone affected should be awarded damages.
DarkZalgo
My dude, if every screenshot was logged and sent to Microsoft they would literally bankrupt from the fines.
gesel
I'm commenting on the keylogger, which is transmitted to Microsoft. Screen streaming as images would be a big bandwidth hit for sure, but that's not how you'd do it, you'd capture the instruction stream going to the graphics card and stream the contents not the rendered results. If remote images/vid are being displayed you send the URL, if local downsample and send or run a local CNN, send feature list and only push images of detected interest such as crimes or commercial interest.
imgurmage
It is different when they're taking screen shots of your tax/bank information, or your passwords for people who still keep that info in a spread sheet, or any other sensitive information that you might have on your computer.
DarkZalgo
I mean that's kinda blatantly and very explicitly illegal, my dude. Like if Microsoft screenshotted and saved tax information without explicit permission from more than 5% of Americans, they would literally go bankrupt from the fines.
Hammertulski
Yeah, as a former PCI Compliance tester I’d love to know how they’re wiping PII but leaving similar data alone, or if they are arguing that the local/cloud storage constitutes a secure hold. Either way, I would opt the fuck out.
theadamabrams
Logging keystrokes is very different from taking screenshots. For one thing, the screenshots could also include documents other people send you.
shorey66
And images
ongabonga
On Windows make it a habit to run two tools regularly: shutup10+ and wpd.app. That much being said, at least on this OS we can do this and the tools are not being banned, we can disable many things, which is nice.
AyatollahBahloni
.
InFineNilAdmirari
.
satanslittleposter
Thanks for that rec, I've been a bit more lax with my security in recent years than I should have been but I'm going to get on top of it again.
shorey66
Both can only be run on the enterprise version. Must home users have the home version which doesn't let you do much
ongabonga
You can disable services and change the registry on any Windows including home.
AlmostClever
Also the S-Mode bullshit.
MissySassy
What is that?
AlmostClever
Limited user experience in Windows 11 and to a lesser extent, Win 10, you can only install apps from the MS store, user account is required to install apps and engage in full functionality of the OS, etc. Can be disabled by turning off secure boot in BIOS but now you're at risk plus stuff is going to start requiring secure boot enabled soon, like Valorant. Just an ugly situation all-around.
Slugsie
You see it very much depends on exactly how this is implemented. If it's to feed an AI assistant type thing (with VERY strict privacy controls) then I'm OK with it. I'd love to be able to ask my assistant 'What was that Youtube video I watched a while back about the thing where the guy did the thing and it was funny?"
kruug
That's exactly the reason for it. The data is encrypted locally and never sent off-device.
DressCasual1z
Is this an out of season april fool's joke?
JCBalance
*sad Blizzard noises*
vegivamp
Microsoft pulling bullshit often sounds like a bad joke but rarely is.
AlmostClever
I run o&o's ShutUp10 every few weeks, seems to be doing a good job.
MissySassy
The fact you have to run it is the problem. It should be opt in, not opt out and re-opt out every couple of weeks.
AlmostClever
I agree, but I'll play devil's advocate and say it's their OS and they can set whatever policy they want, you're free to use something else. Which is BS but I guarantee that's what a Microsoft rep would say under the influence of a truth serum. And none of this would happen if we had any decent consumer-protection advocates in the US.
YellowSparrow
Serious question. Can a business turn this off if handling highly confidential information? Like medical records, testimony? What about bank sites, so my UN & PW are recorded?
kruug
Yes. But this also only affects a single model of devices that have a specific processor. This is FUD and blown out of proportion as usual.
Dogman1227
No it's not. This is the first stage...this feature will inevitably penetrate all users of windows as they get the initial users in. Intel and AMD have chips that will do what they ask within the year or so.
kruug
MissySassy
Do you honestly think that it's not in their business interest to capture everything about you?
YellowSparrow
I'm sure it's in their interest to capture everything about ME - but for hundreds of thousands of people in the US, systems access systems that contain legally protected information. In other words, I consent to having my location tracked on my phone - but it's highly problematic to use my phone to acquire information about a third party who did not consent. If I'm processing DV records related to a child custody dispute, AI data collection is a compliance violation.
darthbiscuit
Look. I just finished a digital painting of Pinkie Pie Railing Tom Hiddelston called, “The Conception of Sleipnir” for a commission and I don’t want MS knowing that information.
Dogman1227
Um...
May I see it?
darthbiscuit
No! :)
HeresYourSauce
Anyone know of good alternatives? I switched to linux mint a month or two back and it does everything, except games, really well. I would like to be able to play games though.
sanyr
I’ve had pretty good success with Debian this week. For FF14 you just get the installer flatpak and it handles all the messy stuff itself. Performance is just as good as in Windows. I tried a couple random Steam games and all I had to do was right click on them and tell them to use the Proton compatibility layer and boom that was it. Check what you want to play on ProtonDB for playability status, you might be surprised.
FastieThefastestboy
Cachy might be worth a shot.
Phloxtunnaioortann
What you may be looking for is Nobara: https://nobaraproject.org/download-nobara/
Phloxtunnaioortann
Sorry I accidentally pasted the download link: here's the main link https://nobaraproject.org/ - it's a fork of Fedora and specifically made for gaming. It had a cool background story as well, imo at least.
CJwhoIsKindToAllKinds
Ubuntu Linux is pretty much the most user friendly distro right now I believe. And I'm hearing that people have used steam on it. I haven't tried it yet though
fakebecauseidontwantpeopletoknow
Try GeForce Now. It's awesome. Game from any potato.
Greymalum
None of these style of services have stood the test of time, yet. I had hopes for Stadia, and that was a negative ghostrider.
CookinWithGas
Pop OS has a dedicated ISO for Nvidia GPUs. It's been flawless for me so far
METROlD
I thought mint was supposed to be great for steam games. Personally I would start with ubuntu. Here is a reddit thread. Im going to switch myself in a couple weeks. Im just tired of it all, and Im smart enough with nix that I have no excuse other than just not wanting to back everything up and make a new build. Most of my games are AAA titles so they supposedly work well. https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/18kvzjr/what_are_the_most_used_distros_for_games/
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
bazzite linux is preconfigured to run games, using steam's distro configurations and several other things combined
weylyn1
SteamOS? https://store.steampowered.com/steamos
sanyr
This link goes to the previous version of SteamOS, which is intended for those "Steam machines" that Valve pushed about a decade ago. Steam Deck has SteamOS 3 on it, which is both up to date for modern hardware and is also not available for general use yet.
AboutAverageHeightDutchGuy
If you have the bandwidth/speed and can spare the costs, I can recommend ShadowTech. You get a virtual windows computer and stream all the games. Been using it for a while now on my Mac. Runs perfectly, assuming the internet connection doesn't have any lag issues.
bladderinfection
Dual hard drives since about 2005. Windows has Steam and games. Linux for everything else.
Hrafna55
Yep. Also I only use Windows for AAA stuff. Any indie game normally works fine in Steam within Linux.
cousteau
Linux has Steam games too, few of them run natively but most run fairly well thanks to SteamPlay.
zanaria
Would be nice if there was a way to not have to restart your pc just to switch...
bladderinfection
Admittedly, my desktop PC is nothing but a GTA Online gaming PC. I have since acquired a laptop that I use for everyday computer stuff.
lelindepage
Two laptops?
FaecalJacksonPollock
On some hardware configurations, you can run Windows in a VM with GPU passthrough. Takes a bit of effort to set up, though.
AVOToastt
Haven’t done this for a minute but used to use wine
mindstorm8191
Last I heard wine was very good, and could run almost every Windows app out there. Granted, that was like 10 or so years ago now, so... who knows. Still worth a shot, I think
Corrodias
One can use Steam and Proton. I don't know what distros they're compatible with. https://www.howtogeek.com/738967/how-to-use-steams-proton-to-play-windows-games-on-linux
HeresYourSauce
I do, and it helps. There are several games I play that simply don't work without it, but some just don't anyway.
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
So I don't game but I have used linux exclusively for about 20 years now and there are too many config options for someone like you to just jump into linux mint and get shit running and unfortunately a lot of companies like microsoft pay big money to gaming vendors to make it a nightmare to run on linux.
You can get certain games like helldivers that won't run normally, to run on linux but it's a hell of a lot of config. bazzite does it for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8EuQB_pf3Y
lysarion
Literally any distro will have a `steam` package in the repo. It is more likely than @HeresYourSauce got an old NVidia GPU with really bad support.
Basically anything below 2000 series got bad support with really spotty 3d acceleration, 2000 starts being okay, 3000+ is fine.
If you build a computer with the idea of running linux for gaming, you **want** an AMD gpu, Valve and AMD have made sure it works great because of the SteamDeck.
HeresYourSauce
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile. It does seem to have bad linux support, but it's not some ancient brick either. I think the powers that be saw "mobile" and thought phone, and not gaming laptop.
lysarion
Also if you're on Ubuntu or something Ubuntu-based, stay away from the steam snap, it's bundled by Canonical, and it got so much problems that Valve refuses any issues coming from that.
They'll tell you to use either the official deb that comes from the Steam sownload page, or if that is not an option the steam flatpak (also unofficial, but not packaged by idiots) will work for basically everything but VR from what I do remember.
sanyr
+1 for avoiding Snap. I fought with Docker on a server for a couple days at work before I realized it was the ‘snap’ version that gets installed if you select the Docker role during Ubuntu server setup. Ripped it out and replaced it with Docker from apt and lo and behold, everything works.
velicitia
"How do we take a decent distro and fuck it up this year" -- Canonical
Aesonique
SteamOS is a Linux distro specifically for gaming, but my Surface with Ubuntu is compatible (though underpowered) with most AAA games and a tonne more. Anything "Steam Deck" compatible should run on most distros.
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
use bazzite, it uses steam deck configs and several others combined. "steamos" via steam is still their old debian jesse release from like 10 years ago. IDK why they called their steam deck version the same thing it isn't even related.
Aesonique
Thanks for the tip.
AgamemnonsMemes
While it IS bad, its not as bad or as immediate as people think. It ONLY works on ARM based snapdragon CPUs, basically you can't even BUY those for a PC, only manufacturers can get those and so they are only in select laptops and stuff like that (surface pro, etc). At least for now, you can just avoid those.
IFoldlyGo
One fun idea is that Windows can use this as part of a case against other spyware companies. Step 1: Microsoft basically puts a comment in the EULA about being able to sell your data to third parties. Step 2: someone else put spyware on your computer. Step 3: Microsoft sues the spyware installer and manufacturer as they are competing with Microsoft's sales to third parties. Yay monopoly?
Sageypie
Yeah, but this is definitely a "testing the waters" type of situation. They're looking to see what they can get away with in regards to their AI here.
AgamemnonsMemes
People should absolutely not buy things with this on it to send a message.
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
those have ai accelerators. windows has been known for sending tons of data to microsoft in past too, including webcam footage/audio
soon all chips will have ai accelerators in them and this will be enabled by default
AgamemnonsMemes
Sure, and worrying about windows spying on you is legit, but pointing at this and going "oh no look what they are doing!" is just scarmongering
vegivamp
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
How many times does Microsoft have to kick you in the nuts before you learn to not give them the benefit of the doubt?
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
naw, that is what they're doing lol. People should be scared and should have left windows 20 years ago.
juiceman
People don't want facts, they want to panic under the guise of being smart and aware
FiveHeadedSnakeGod
It's generally good policy to assume the worst about a huge corporation, especially in our modern capitalist dystopia.
BautaStein
There is guides on how to deactivate it permanently but this BS makes me genuinly mad. Direct X based games cant die soon enough so i can fully switch over to Linux
ongabonga
you literally turn off typing customization (search in start menu) and it's off
vegivamp
Have you tried PlayOnLinux? It's wine-based, but does a pretty good job for things that need DirectX and shit.
BautaStein
Not rainbow six sadly
alaest0r
"permanently" lest we forget W10 updates resetting opt-out privacy options every few months... Also dx is rarely a limiting factor any more. Most of the stuff that doesn't work on linux goes out of their way to not work on linux (anticheat, drm, intentional crashing...)
ongabonga
it doesn't. not one update has re-enable it ever. it re-enables other stuff that you can disable with shutup10
alaest0r
What is the "it" you're referring to? Because it has certainly reset people's privacy options before
ongabonga
have you read the post this references two levels up? or the original post even
alaest0r
So you're referring to the AI Recall feature. Yes, updates haven't "re-enabled it ever" but it's existed for what, like, a week? i don't even think it's available yet? which is why I was asking.
Ivain
Can I ask if you're just installing security updates or also feature updates? Because I've never had this problem, all the stuff I turned off is still turned off, there were only a few new 'settings' that I had not encountered before that I had to turn off manually.
Note, I AM on an un-activated version of Windows 10, so that might also make a difference.
alaest0r
Dunno, don't really care either. This has been a known issue since Win10 forcing updates was a controversy. https://www.techradar.com/how-to/everything-you-need-to-fix-after-updating-windows-10 Most people just don't notice, or automate tools to combat Microsoft's BS (spybot anti-beacon, O&O shutup10, scripts etc). Tho, not to be conspiratorial of course: its likely that this is just a convenient bug.
Ivain
Oh absolutely, the only remaining question is when they discovered it, before or after release of the OS.
On another note, I just received an 'update' announcing October 14 2025 to be the end date of W10 receiving support, so I guess I know what my deadline is now.
alaest0r
Yeahhh I'm surprised i stayed on windows this long. It was mostly for VR and a DRM'd game or two. I'll probably be switching back to linux by the end of the year. I was debating on doing gpu passthru or dualbooting again, but i think it's time to just say GG and give up on apps/games that demand native windows. Let the "year of the Linux desktop" memes begin.
zanaria
I seriously fucking wish that Linux would run all games. If it would then I would switch to it instantly... I'm sick of Microsoft and their bullshit... I hate Windows 10 and I want to switch to Windows 11 even less... They are forcing "features" onto users without their permission and then just saying "that's how it's done"
zerosava
Garuda Linux dragonized kde gaming edition:
https://garudalinux.org/downloads
mikeymikec
I've dual-booted for a few years now, I just use Windows for gaming and one or two rarely-used programs that ought to be run natively, and Linux Mint for productivity.
AgnosticPaladin
I've been using Linux exclusively at home for the last 15 years.
All the games run on it, except those purposefully made to not run on it, as in those using "anti-cheat" software. And i wouldn't give money to anyone using those kind of software and tactics.
Bonsaipanda
I can run the games that I need on Linux, my problem is that when I try to work on Linux and I need to make a team call - be it Slack / Zoom / Google fuckups / Discord - there's always a problem with either audio or video and wastes everyone's time. Better on laptops, worse on PC where I make music and have several audio interfaces connected at the same time.
TrueNorthernLights
I'm by no means computer savvy whatsoever, and know NOTHING about Linux, but I agree about Microsoft. I hate that stuff gets forced on you, that you have to almost "hack" your own computer to prevent "upgrades" or "updates".
Thorinori
You can run most games on Linux now, and frankly most of the ones you can't have reasons just like this to avoid playing them to begin with.
astralfields
Exactly. Many games that don't work on Linux are those with extremely invasive anti-cheat systems that embed themselves deeply into the OS, such as Vanguard. If you care about privacy enough that you kinda want to ditch Windows, you shouldn't be supporting companies that use these systems either.
Chais
For me at least it does. At least all games worth playing.
Velina
im just gonna run linux and have a vm of windows 7 for my games i think
zanaria
I considered that, but from what I see virtual machines wont run games too well because they don't have access to the hardware such as the gpu, so graphics intensive games wont run very well.
lysarion
Dunno when you've last tried, but basically any game will run fine through steam&proton, as long as it's not using a very unusual anti-cheat system. As mentioned in a few other comments, you should check https://www.protondb.com/ if your games are supported.
Also, most or your problems may be originated from an old nvidia gpu, support for them is on the crap side, because nvidia never cared for linux until recently. Almost anything before the 2000 series won't be really useful for gaming.
zanaria
First, I've never tried it, but before I try anything I check it out first and I have seen many people saying that Linux doesn't run all games. Second, I don't have an Nvidia graphics card, I have an AMD card.
itsameeeee
I plan on using virtual machine windows for stuff linux cant run, if even that fails then ill just be without
RoYoMi
On Mac OS use Crossover to emulate windows. It works great for all the games I play.
zanaria
I wont touch mac with a 20 foot pole....
RoYoMi
Ok. But crossover runs on more than just macos. https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover
zanaria
I'll have to look into that, but not going to spend $100 on it until I make sure it works... (I know the site says $74, I'm Canadian, we get screwed on the exchange rate. It's $102 currently even without Paypal adding on their extras... )
TheUnrealSlimShady
I switched to Linux Mint a few months ago. Not regretting it. I don't play competitive MMOs and so far every game I started (on steam) was playable as if I was on Windows.
Magnebro
Linux can run anything - game makers just don't build for it as often
zanaria
It's amazing how people know exactly what I mean, and yet still say that. I've seen at least 3 or 4 people say that same thing, and yet no matter how you word it, the games still don't run on Linux
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
it does run all games, the games purposefully make it so they won't run. You blame the wrong thing
zanaria
No matter how you word it, it does NOT change the outcome, which is the games not running on it. You knew exactly what I meant and still chose to say that...
HzZbVYAx77aoiuN9Zy
yea it's very different, and you're wrong again here too
Nikolai5
I switched to Linux 2 years ago, I'd say I can play over 90% of my games. That's good enough for me, is there a specific game that's holding you back?
smashpro1
For me, it was Game Pass, but this move has pushed me over the edge. I am installing Bazzite today.
Nikolai5
I just use Arch personally, but I've been using Linux for a long time. I tend not to go too far down the stream when it comes to distros, except Linux Mint is genuinely good (though a little too LTS for me). I'm sure Bazzite is fine, but be wary of fashionable distributions that youtubers will tell you is the greatest thing to ever exist one week, and then change their mind the next.
smashpro1
Yeah, my main gaming machine is an HTPC, so the closer I can get to a consolized experience, the better.
Nikolai5
Yeah, fair enough.
Nikolai5
Bear in mind though, I'm a nerd that loves Linux and UNIX, so I'm biased.
ZAPZAPMOTHAFUCKA
Cell phones have been doing it for 5 years now. I keep getting "updates" and my settings, background and apps keep getting changed.
3Davideo
Linux can run a helluva lot of games - I do so regularly. I would even go so far as to say Linux is now a superior gaming platform to even MacOS.
ongabonga
Snooj
So is my graphing calculator.
BayazTheBenevolent
Oh wow, even BETTER than Mac OS?
WarlockSniper
My dude, I consider MS_DOS to be a superior gaming platform than MacOS.
Raziel420
MacOS is only superior in total cost
Lifk
So is my dog.
Cornflakes91
my TI200 voyage is a superior gaming platform to macos with its preinstalled tetris
Zmasteri
I mean thats not a high bar
flyingnetherlander
lol, I knew this would be the next comment before I expanded it.
MaximusUltima
Yeah, the bar is literally just lying on the ground.
Dogman1227
Last I saw it was buried 10 feet deep.
Hebbelille
Here's hoping Steam os becomes a thing. If I remember Gamers Nexus right they have 1% of the market on steam now thanks to steamdeck. Honestly, as long as I can play steam games and run a web browser / some apps I would be golden.
zanaria
Uhh you uhh did hear that Microsoft is considering buying Steam right?
Dogman1227
That has been already debunked. It was a clickbait post on Twitter trying to get attention. The company is worth far more than the 18 billion the post claimed was to be offered. And even then, the FTC would have a field day ripping Microsoft to shit if they tried
pandemicmodedad
I feel that would be considered a monopoly. You can't have 1 company own everything.
zanaria
Damn, someone better tell the companies that then... /s
Blakto3
That might not pass the FTC. M$ has a history of hostile, monopolistic efforts and has been stopped before. I think them purchasing the only other relevant distribution channel in this sphere of commerce will raise many red flags.
zanaria
We can only hope...
astralfields
GabeN would never sell the company, but especially not to Microsoft. He's a former MS employee and is known to have a bit of a personal vendetta against them. It's just one of several reasons Valve is working so hard on Proton, and why the Steam Deck runs Linux. (1/2)
Scaramucci
Unfortunately for us all, Gabe is not immortal. There will be a time when Valve will need new leadership.
astralfields
The other is that Windows is simply a bad OS and it's only getting worse because of ads and privacy reasons. Also, despite some theoretical advantages, the hybrid NT kernel is simply not as performant as the monolithic Linux kernel. There is next to nothing that NT/Windows inherently does better than Linux, but Linux does many things better than NT/Windows. Linux is the future and GabeN knows it. (2/2)
smashpro1
And why they first tried to make a Linux operating system 12 years ago. Proton wasn't A Thing at the time, so people were basically stuck with native ports, or doing a lot of work with Wine to make Windows games work.
skrimg59
dare i ask….what about a mac? sincere question- let it rip, tell me everything you hate about it. i am genuinely interested
LostCaterpillar
Microsoft may spy on everything you do in windows, and insert advertising into the operating system, and force updates even when you reject them but on the other hand Macs are uncool, so you can see why there's just no choice in the matter.
On the more serious side, Mac OS and Linux have *very* similar underpinnings and the same technology that lets you run many windows games on Linux also lets you run them on a Mac.
LostCaterpillar
The other complaint I see people commonly make are that you can't customize a Mac and price. The first point is... Largely untrue. There are forms of customization that are easier on Windows but there are also forms of customization that are easier in Mac OS. It depends what you're trying to accomplish.
As for the second, I'm not really interested in AAA titles but I can tell you a $600 Mac *will* run Baldurs Gate 3 just fine, and better than my partners gaming PC although it's a few years old.
shorey66
Overpriced, not very versatile due to lack of ports, lack of customisability (you will do things their way and you will like it). Not great for gaming. Right to repair.... And so on. Do like the build quality though.
HeresYourSauce
Mac is well known to be worse for gaming than about anything. It's comically overpriced, poorly designed. I've personally added them to my list of companies I will not ever buy from.
PballQhead
An x86 Mac is really no worse for gaming than a Linux box (well, if you're OK with the hardware); WINE-style wrappers work fine under OSX since it is a Unix after all
AgnosticPaladin
Other considerations aside, Linux is much better at running games than a Mac.
endem1c
lol this is showing my age, but when q3test came out IIRC it was for Mac/Linux first. I was playing on Linux and just assumed I was a huge nerd and everyone else on the servers was on Mac. Nope! Everyone I asked said they were running Linux.
zanaria
Other than Apple having already been caught spying on you just as much as Microsoft? They admitted that any device that had been paired with a phone could access the data on that phone, and all phones are tested before being shipped out, so at least one device in their warehouse could access everything on it. Add on to that the cost and the inability to repair it yourself.
LostCaterpillar
Do you have a source for what you're actually talking about?
zanaria
Not offhand, I cant find the articles about it because google search results are shit and just give results about how to pair devices...
genepoolboy
I did switch to W10 from W7 as it was supposed to be "the last windows version". Microsoft did not keep their end of the bargain, but I will. It is the last windows version for me. Once it cannot be used anymore, then it is Linux for me for gaming, and I guess somekind of fruit product for music making software. I've never used any of those though, but they're becoming the lesser evil... only horribly overpriced HW. (Or do they need online account?)
LostCaterpillar
If you want to purchase software thru their App Store you need a fruit account. Most professional software can be purchased directly from the developer though, so you can easily avoid a fruit account if you wish.
That said, there are allot of advantages to using a fruit account, especially if you also use a fruit phone and if you're concerned about privacy most data can be set to end-to-end encryption.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651
genepoolboy
I already own all the software I use, and the license allows me to use it on "both supported platforms", so no app store needed. For phone, I now have my first Android phone. Previous smart phones were Symbian or after that Linux. (Well, Android is linux too...) So I have no need for fruit platform there either. Thanks for the info though :)
vegivamp
I'm pretty sure steam no longer runs on windows 7.
Sascylle
Steam blocking windows 7 is what made me finally downgrade to windows 11—I had already tested and rejected windows 10, and foolishly hoped 11 wasn't a further downgrade. A month of that was enough to make me start running linux mint in vm, operating it in parallel in order to take my time to get used to it, learn how it works, and decide on software alternatives where needed. Feels like every week MS comes up with some new garbage, making me want to speed up the process.
zanaria
It's technically still running on my old pc which is on Win 7, I haven't tried to play games through it though, but the app itself is running...
vegivamp
Hm. My windows 8 install warned me that the next upgrade (this is when bg3 came out) would no longer run because they were upgrading to a chromium engine that wasn't supported under older windows. I was refreshing that pc after years of inactivity anyway, so I went for a "new install upgrade" of 10.
zanaria
Yeah, mine showed the warning at the top for months, and still does. But it's still running for some reason. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just scare tactics to force everyone to switch to Win 10
weylyn1
Same. If 100% of the games I own would run flawlessly on Linux, I would've ditched Windows way back in 2015.
GenStrike
It's good with games. Great, actually. Linux Mint ran everything I wanted it to... except for Photoshop. And I /need/ photoshop... Anybody who suggests "the gimp" as an alternative is an amateur.
cousteau
SteamPlay works fairly well IME. I also managed to play some Epic games through Heroic Launcher, but that's not the same.
MrMcCarrick
I resisted "upgrading" to ten for ages but was basically forced into it to use my software and games. Absolute bullocks, I think we're all sick to death of Microsoft's "help".
HistoricalContext
The only gripe I have with Linux is that I can't find a good mod manager that works on them. I'd dual boot just for modded Skyrim.
imgurmage
A lot of games can run on Linux already and there's more and more every year. The Steam Deck/Proton get more compatible games all the time.
Alavar
Microsoft is ready to bid to buyout steam
AgnosticPaladin
Is this something that's even at discussion level, or did you just pull it out of your arse, Floriduh Man style?
FlareYes
The issue now is that anti-cheat software haaaates Linux and compatibility layers. Otherwise I'd be all Linux all the time. Already got it on my non-gaming.
AgnosticPaladin
This is just one of the reasons i'll never spend my money on a game with "anti-cheat" crap.
Doobiedog
Which is funny because 60+% of the time, the servers that host those games are 100% Linux.
Eldis
The antisupport is a feature. The big corporations (especially Tencent) doesn't want Linux users on their games, they want basic users with not much knowledge on the platform so they can shove a kernel -level anticheat and basically turn your computer a part of their botnet at will.
DavidRoland
Kernel level anti cheat should be illegal
PerrinAybara564
Kernel level bots and scripts for game manipulation are why we have kernel level anti cheat.
DavidRoland
Then the devs should account for it instead of hiring a 3rd party who gets to dictate where they can release a product
imgurmage
https://www.protondb.com/
HeresYourSauce
That site is great as a place to start, but even if it says it works on there, there's no guarantee it will run or run well on your machine. (Even if you have the specs for it)
fightkostka6
It just says it works, you will probably need to jump through few hoops and even more if you have nvidia gpu, but it's Linux it's kind of part of the OS
ongabonga
your post in uneducated cringe. nothing against linux, using it myself, just you don't seem to have the slightest clue and fear mongering is dark dude. literally anything you don't want can be disabled on windows. not a bad deal considering what other oses or even phones do
Raziel420
The biggest holdup right now to that is copy protection and anti hack software. Nearly everything else has been fixed largely thanks to the efforts of Valve over the past few years, both in code and investment pressure.