If the question is
how do I achieve X with Y, I struggle
and the answer is
achieve X by switching to Y
what’s the problem?
This forum is the perfect example of this mindset tbh: if a FOSS tool gets crappy because of being bought, proprietary or just slow, everybody will recommend an alternative.
It’s “oh it’s proprietary and awful, but maybe you could look into the stacktrace, the DNS logs and kinda block it phoning home and…and…”
VS
“switch to this other app that is FOSS and available on Github”.
I really don’t see why a different tool is not a viable solution in the case of Windows.
This question for example. Should I have recommended to reverse engineer and unsolder the initial Meural device while maybe be brought to court because of their IP and stuff?
Or just use something different?
Same for Windows/Linux.
Same for TeamSpeak for example: just makes more sense to use something different because the initial tool just doesn’t fit the job.
Same for Windows, it just does a poor job out of the job nowadays.
Microsoft cannot even manage to get their sh*t together and have basic features working well, like Start menu button, basic updates and so much more basic features.
Regressions are real and worse by the deal while having the AI nonsense shoved into your face.
Can get a bit political but people should just say “no” at some point and expect better, without settling with dirty hacks. Honestly, the amount of time you’ll spend researching, tinkering and battling against Microsoft is just time you could invest giving a try to Linux.
Also, even if you do find a trick it will just be temporary and Microsoft can pull the rug anytime.
Linux doesn’t own your system with a remote dead switch.
I understand that “use Linux” is not the solution to how “how to fix my Windows” but it is still a viable solution like any other tool.
I personally spent a lot of time fighting against Notion and their BS, sluggish UI, poor export nonsense formats, invasive AI. The solution to this is not to try to find fixes inside of Notion.
Solution is to switch to Obsidian. Works perfectly once past the learning curve/small difference.
Plot twist: the other tool is sometimes not just equivalently better, but has other new features that the other one never cared implementing. So it’s not an equivalent, it might be an upgrade.