You Paid Me, a Long-Time Linux User, to Use Windows 11 Exclusively for a Month: Here’s How It Went

,

After using Windows 11 exclusively for a month as a longtime Linux user, Thom Holwerda found the experience riddled with usability issues such as poor hardware support during installation, inconsistent UI design across applications, complicated application management, and intrusive telemetry prompting. While Windows 11 offers some refinements like a modern Settings app and useful features such as a clipboard manager and emoji picker, persistent problems with sleep functionality, fan control, and forced online accounts overshadowed these positives. Ultimately, Holwerda concluded that Windows 11 lacked the user respect, consistency, and privacy that Linux provides, leading him to return to the Linux environment after the trial.

https://www.osnews.com/story/145459/you-paid-me-a-long-time-linux-user-to-use-windows-11-exclusively-for-a-month-heres-how-it-went/

OpenTools / OpenPrinter

OpenPrinter is a compact, robust, and fully repairable printer designed for longevity and reduced environmental impact, featuring refillable ink cartridges that lower printing costs and waste. It supports standard paper sheets and rolls with an integrated cutter, offers flexible installation options, and operates across major operating systems via an open-source print server. Available as a self-assembly kit or pre-assembled, it encourages customization through open-source components and aims to provide a sustainable, economical alternative to traditional printers.

https://www.opentools.studio/

The Browser Wars Aren’t About Search Anymore — Here Are the Best Alternatives to Chrome and Safari

,

The browser market in 2026 is shifting from search dominance to AI integration, with new browsers aiming to act as personal assistants that handle tasks within the browser. Alternatives to Chrome and Safari now include AI-powered options like Perplexity’s Comet, The Browser Company’s Dia, Opera’s Neon, and OpenAI’s Atlas, as well as privacy-focused browsers such as Brave and DuckDuckGo. Additionally, niche browsers like Opera Air and SigmaOS cater to productivity and mindfulness, reflecting a broader move toward more personalized and task-oriented web experiences.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/03/as-the-browser-wars-heat-up-here-are-the-hottest-alternatives-to-chrome-and-safari-in-2026/

Open Source Alternatives to Popular Software

, ,

OpenAlternative.co offers a comprehensive catalog of open source software alternatives to popular proprietary tools across various categories, such as project management, AI development, communication, and more. The platform highlights open source projects like Novu for multi-channel notifications, Postiz for social media scheduling, and Cap for screen recording, enabling users to replace commercial software with free, community-supported options. This resource promotes transparency, innovation, and self-hosting possibilities for individuals and organizations seeking to move away from proprietary software ecosystems.

https://openalternative.co/

Microsoft Says New Outlook Is Now Closer to Outlook Classic, Adds .PST Advanced Support and Other Features

, ,

Microsoft has updated New Outlook to bring it closer to the classic version by adding advanced support for .PST files, including improved import and search capabilities, though it still requires Outlook Classic to be installed for now. Additional features nearing release include improved calendar update controls and a fix for sent emails not appearing in delegated mailboxes. Microsoft plans to remove the dependency on Outlook Classic later this year and will end .PST feature development once bulk import capabilities are fully implemented.

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/01/microsoft-says-new-outlook-is-now-closer-to-outlook-classic-adds-pst-advanced-support-and-other-features/

The Last People Who Know How It Works

,

The author reflects on the deep familiarity early computer users had with their machines, gained by overcoming technical challenges to make software run, contrasting this with today’s highly accommodating AI-driven tools that require no such effort or understanding. While some lament a loss of hands-on competence, the author argues that what is truly fading is the intimate, hard-earned acquaintance with machines—a relationship built through difficulty and struggle. This shift means modern users will depend more on technology but know it far less than previous generations did.

https://unix.foo/posts/last-people-who-know-how-it-works/

Microsoft’s New Outlook Takes 10 Seconds to Do What Outlook Classic Does Instantly on Windows

, ,

Microsoft’s new Outlook app for Windows, built on the WebView2 web engine, takes about 10 seconds to open an email directly from a Windows 11 notification, while the older Outlook Classic app displays the email almost instantly. Despite improvements in launch times and feature updates, the new Outlook’s reliance on multiple browser-based processes results in higher memory and CPU usage and slower notification handling. Microsoft is working on native WinUI apps to address these performance issues, but for now, Outlook Classic remains faster for notification-driven workflows.

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/15/microsofts-new-outlook-takes-10-seconds-to-do-what-outlook-classic-does-instantly-on-windows/

Microsoft Brings Coreutils to Windows

, , , ,

At its Build conference, Microsoft announced a preview release of coreutils for Windows, a set of UNIX-style command-line utilities ported from the Rust-based uutils project that run natively on Windows. These tools aim to provide consistent command behavior across Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows to ease scripting and automation across platforms, though some POSIX-specific commands and Windows conflicts are excluded or limited. The utilities are installable via WinGet and support standard flags and pipelines familiar to developers working in UNIX-like environments.

https://www.osnews.com/story/145206/microsoft-brings-coreutils-to-windows/

It Will Never Be the Year of the Linux Desktop

The article argues that the long-anticipated “year of the Linux desktop” will never arrive because the future of desktop computing is increasingly defined by agent-driven interaction rather than human use alone. While macOS leads with a robust, default accessibility infrastructure that now enables AI agents to control the system effectively, Windows struggles with legacy app support despite having strong accessibility APIs, and Linux faces fragmentation and lack of centralized effort to unify similar capabilities. This shift toward agent compatibility favors platforms with cohesive ecosystems and dedicated resources, which Linux lacks, making it unlikely to dominate the desktop market.

https://unix.foo/posts/it-will-never-be-the-year-of-the-linux-desktop/

A Security Researcher Says Microsoft Secretly Built a Backdoor Into BitLocker, Releases an Exploit to Prove It

, ,

Security researcher “Nightmare-Eclipse” has released an exploit called YellowKey, revealing a vulnerability that allegedly allows bypassing Microsoft’s BitLocker full-volume encryption via USB and Windows Recovery Environment. The researcher claims this flaw may be an intentional backdoor built into BitLocker on Windows 11 and newer, as it involves components only found in official Microsoft recovery images, granting attackers unrestricted access to encrypted data without passwords. Third parties have confirmed the exploit’s functionality, while mitigations include using alternative encryption solutions like VeraCrypt.

https://www.techspot.com/news/112410-security-researcher-microsoft-secretly-built-backdoor-bitlocker-releases.html

Two Computers, One Monitor, Zero Fiddling

, ,

Alex Plescan describes setting up a dual-computer workstation using one MSI MPG 321URX monitor with built-in KVM functionality, allowing seamless switching between a Mac laptop and a Linux desktop without physically changing cables. By leveraging Display Data Channel (DDC) commands and software like m1ddc on macOS and ddcutil on Linux, he enables keyboard shortcuts to switch the monitor’s input source instantly, eliminating the need to touch the monitor or peripherals.

https://alexplescan.com/posts/2025/08/16/kvm/

AI Is Technology, Not a Product

, , ,

John Gruber argues that AI should be seen as a pervasive technology rather than a standalone product, much like wireless networking. He critiques the notion that Apple must launch a singular “killer AI product,” emphasizing that AI will instead be integrated across all devices and experiences, with the iPhone continuing to be central for user interaction rather than being replaced by smaller gadgets or always-on AI agents.

https://daringfireball.net/2026/05/ai_is_technology_not_a_product

Classic 7 — Your PC, Resimplified.

,

Classic 7 is a Windows 10 (IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021) modification designed to replicate the look and feel of Windows 7 exactly, including features like Aero Glass, support for .themepack files, gadgets, and Windows Media Center. While it restores many beloved Windows 7 elements, some features such as 3D window animations and Flip 3D are not included due to technical limitations. The project is a fan-made initiative and is available for download for users who want a classic Windows experience on newer systems.

https://classic7.lol/

Linux Is Getting a Security Wake-up Call – Why It Was Inevitable and I’m Not Worried

, ,

Linux is experiencing a rise in serious security vulnerabilities, such as Copy Fail and Dirty Frag, driven largely by its increased popularity and the use of AI by bad actors to quickly find exploitable flaws. Despite these challenges, the Linux development community remains highly responsive, rapidly issuing patches and developing mitigation strategies, and continues to uphold Linux’s reputation as a secure operating system.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-security-wake-up-call-copy-fail-dirty-frag-why-inevitable/

How Apple Solved the RAM Crisis Before It Even Arrived

,

Apple anticipated the global RAM shortage by designing its M-series chips with a unified memory architecture and system-on-chip (SoC) integration, enabling more efficient use of limited RAM through aggressive memory compression and fast memory swapping with SSDs. This approach allows devices like the $599 MacBook Neo to run smoothly with just 8GB of RAM, offering a competitive advantage as rising RAM costs force other manufacturers to increase prices or limit options.

https://www.macworld.com/article/3121948/how-apple-solved-the-ram-crisis-before-it-even-arrived.html

Scroll to Top