Technology

Microsoft would really help Linux out if they did this.

I'm looking forward to the Year of the Linux desktop ™️

Remember when Microsoft said that Windows 10 would be the last edition?

I don't believe for one bit that windows will move to a pure subscription based model. They are greedy, but not stupid.

What's more believable is that the base OS will be the same as usual, but if you want fancy AI assistants in your OS, you must subscribe, with the justification being that MS must pay for the servers running the models you're using.

Can anyone confirm that my understanding of the source article is correct?

The "Windows 12 may require a subscription" is coming from the fact that the word "Subscription" exists in a Windows config file somewhere?

That seems like a pretty big leap to me. Not that I don't think it's impossible that Microsoft would do this, but the evidence here seems thin to say the least.

Time to contribute heavily to Linux open source and make Linux desktops super useful to everyone.

Maybe this will finally convince the world to move to Linux Mint

I have used Windows for a decade now and keep using it because my workflows and the application support are there. But as someone that uses Linux on my server, has tried out Linux desktops, and uses WSL, I can confidently say that I am gone if they start charging me a subscription. It will be annoying as hell but just like leaving Reddit I am willing to give up some niceties to keep my money and my morals.

The rise of Linux is upon us

So does Linux, I subscribe to the Arch rss feed, which is the operating system I use btw.

So the year of the Linux desktop is finally happening

"We'll shut down your computer after this quick message from our sponsor!"

I knew sooner or later they'd push me to Linux, but that'd do it alright

With this subscription, the year of the Linux desktop will finally be here.

I know there's always someone evangelizing Linux when you mention Windows anything, but when Microsoft requires a subscription for Windows is the day I will actually move to Linux.

I can confirm if Windows ever required a subscription I'd be swapping to Linux so fast. So Fast.

This might finally provide the momentum to switch to Linux.

I would switch to Linux.... Gaming has gotten much better on it thanks to proton.

Would fit in with the fact that Microsoft has just patched the remote activation exploit that was used for years.

Good thing I've been learning to use linux for the past couple of years, if they double down on this I'll switch permanently, just got to find a distro I like because I haven't been able to find anything that just "works" without eventually having to open the terminal for one reason or another.

Sometimes moneygrubbing shareholders do us a favor by steering companies into implementing terrible policies. If Reddit wouldn't have been so greedy with it's treatment of third-party app developers most of use wouldn't be on Lemmy right now. If Microsoft forces Windows users to pay a subscription I think it sends more people away from closed-source garbage and into the arms of the open source community. I've enjoyed watching Reddit implode, hopefully I get to watch a similar show from our friends at Microsoft.

I actually rather like win 10. Win 11 I'm holding off on until they fix the taskbar.

If they go subscription, I go Ubuntu.

Uhhhhh....

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/no-of-course-windows-12-wont-require-a-subscription-to-use

I will happily just not use it. My desktop usage is already 99% Linux, and it has been for considerable amount of time too. The only thing holding me back is my Destiny 2 guild. The moment that is allowed through Proton, I will be removing the partition completely

Linux. Again. Install Linux

Ubuntu Linux Debian Linux Fedora Linux Pop!os linux Arch Linux for all i care

Install Linux, stop accepting this bullshit from Microsoft. ALL of their software sucks, they care more about marketing and pulling money out of your pocket than actually giving quality software.

Open source software blows everything Microsoft out of the water, stop accepting the bullshit

I'm already using Linux alot, and Windows 10 sometimes. I would drop Windows entirely if it were subscription model.

Maybe this isn’t for personal editions.

I’d suspect Microsoft would prefer to move personal editions to being mostly perpetual and OEM licenses, while a subscription service for business/enterprise makes more sense. Windows licensing for business is a nightmare and a per-install subscription model could be much simpler to manage while still offering good breaks under Enterprise Agreements and putting license and support under one annual sku.

ETA: Also, worth remembering that “Windows 365” is a thing and it’s very useful for DaaS. Term-based licensing makes tons of sense for DaaS/Cloud Desktop/VDI environments.

And actually, that could make a lot of sense in a future home/personal market with purpose built thin clients. Or perhaps even a set top box. Maybe, even, the Series S. A small monthly/annual fee to to make your Series S into a full-fledged desktop PC, sounds like a hell of a deal to me.

Not even confirmed but people here are already losing their mind.

I have ran GNU/Linux since the early 1990s. Practically since it first existed. Distributions like MuLinux, Yellowdog Linux, Slackware, Debian, etc. This generally has lead to multiple difficulties. Sometimes I had to dual boot to get around said difficulties. Around 2010, I got good enough with WINE, software work arounds and alternatives that I didn't need to dual boot anymore. I did like to play various games still back then, but around 2010 Valve's GNU/Linux support was improving (unless my memory deceives me)

This post has made me feel that for the first time, all that struggle was worth it, heh.

On a side note, there's some sort of dark irony with personal ownership dying under capitalism. I feel like the majority of us hate all these subscriptions models, but we keep playing along .vs. becoming cave hermits.

After seeing what the Steam Deck does with Windows emulation for games, my interset in having a windows gaming computer is barely hanging on.

This would 100% influence my next gaming computer to shy away from Windows 12

Looks like the push I'll need to finally move all my gaming over to a Linux box.