7 ms·

While I haven't had this issue with Gmail, I recently got a new computer and the first two weeks for full of moments like this. It's shocking to me how much we'

While I haven't had this issue with Gmail, I recently got a new computer and the first two weeks for full of moments like this. It's shocking to me how much we've let popups go rampant on everything. Perhaps the worst offender is Windows update, as it won't even let you use your own computer without clicking through 10 screens refusing all sorts of products they are trying to push on you.

coldpie 4mo ago
I know everyone's tired of hearing this, but this doesn't happen on Linux. I know I know, it's different and a little janky here and there and maybe you have to find a replacement for one or two pieces of software. But like, you don't actually have to put up with this. There is a better way.
- Our_Benefactors 4mo ago
  [flagged]
  - ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
    Given that Windows still doesn't even support multiple monitors in any meaningful way, I'm not sure what you're complaining about.
    - mvdtnz 4mo ago
      I'm no Windows defender but this is nonsense. Windows has BY FAR the best multi monitor support of any of the major OS's, including any variant of Linux.
      - Dylan16807 4mo ago
        You're probably right but it's really sad that an OS that shuffles everything you have open when it hits power save and turns off the screens would qualify as the best.
      - ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
        How do you get it to work then? Because at the moment whenever I open my Windows laptop plugged into a docking station the screens just come up in a random order. Sometimes all three are mirrored, sometimes by chance they're the right way round, sometimes the "main" screen is one one of the external monitors and then you're absolutely knackered if you don't manage to convince it to go onto the laptop's panel before you unplug because there's no way to get it back. It's all just so half-assed. In Linux multiple monitors have worked perfectly for about 20 years.
      - account42 4mo ago
        Are we talking about the same Windows that moves all your windows around when you temporary disconnect a display, even when the computer is locked? Or is it the windows that sometimes ends up with windows positioned partially on a display that is no longer connected so that you can't move it because any control for that is offscreen.
  - szundi 4mo ago
    Trick is to use the newest distro release with previous cycle hardware
  - happymellon 4mo ago
    As someone who uses more than one monitor, my Mac has far more issues than my Linux boxes.
    - dreamcompiler 4mo ago
      Same here. What frustrates me is that Apple pretty much invented seamless multiple monitor integration back in the early 90s, but the Apple of today has either forgotten how to do it or they just don't care.
    - smohare 4mo ago
      Huh, I’ve never once had a problem with multiple monitors and macs over the last 15 years. But at most I’m running two monitors.
      - ryandrake 4mo ago
        I have a iMac with two external monitors, and during boot it does this crazy dance where one monitor goes on, then off, then two monitors go on, and so on for a few rounds until shit settles and all three are on.
  - larrik 4mo ago
    On the other hand, if you swap "Linux" and "Windows" in your complaint, you get my experience. Windows is a hassle to get working for advanced use cases, and then every quarter they nuke my settings via windows update. I just can't do it. I managed to go about 6 months last year on Windows for the first time since ~2010, but nope. Not worth it.
    - everforward 4mo ago
      This mirrors my experience. Windows gives you nice sliders for things, which they will happily break on a whim. Linux forces you to memorize a Lovecraftian string of characters to do something, but it will generally stick for a long time. I use both, with differing ideologies. My Linux is heavily customized with keybinds and semi-niche software that enables my workflows because I know it will stick. On my Windows machines, I've accepted that Microsoft owns that machine and I have to adapt my workflow to fit their sensibilities.
  - deleted 4mo ago
    [deleted]
  - jklinger410 4mo ago
    Skill issue
    - Our_Benefactors 4mo ago
      I prefer my OS to not require “skill” (there’s no skill left in the age of AI anyways, just wasted time)
- kraquepype 4mo ago
  I recently built 2 mini PCs for my kids to play games on, and went with Bazzite. It was really surprising how put together it all is. The steam integration is seamless and it can play a ton of stuff even on an older NUC w/out a GPU. It was the first time I can say that installing a linux OS was easier and friendlier than Windows.
  - wholinator2 4mo ago
    It's only getting easier and friendlier comparatively. Recently i bought a new computer and installing an external drive and putting kde linux on it was easier than fighting my way through the windows telemetry gauntlet, the setting, and all the bloat. Modern windows disgusts me continuously in new ways
    - sotix 4mo ago
      How are you finding KDE Linux's performance? I'm really excited for its progress!
      - slipknotfan 4mo ago
        I prefer arch btw
        unsungNovelty 4mo ago
        Here you can see Arch users in their natural environment (In David Attenborough's voice)
        tasuki 4mo ago
        No one asked about that. The question was about KDE Linux.
  - ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
    > It was the first time I can say that installing a linux OS was easier and friendlier than Windows. It's been that way for about 20 years. Where have you been?
- bossyTeacher 4mo ago
  It's hilarious seeing people complain about Microsoft when a free alternative exists. Humans are really curious creatures.
  - elictronic 4mo ago
    Up until very recently gaming is the only thing keeping my l and millions of others main pc from being Linux or Mac. I dual booted in the past but was annoyed. With all the work steam has put in I’m personally about 6 months out from just dumping Microsoft on all my personal products. It’s impressive they have dropped the ball so hard that it’s causing a complete rethink for so many users like myself. Bullet >> golden goose.
    - bossyTeacher 4mo ago
      I also stuck with them for a long time because of Windows until Proton became good enough for most games.
    - chuckadams 4mo ago
      I caught myself just recently saying that I only keep my Linux box around to play games. Steam is more painless on Linux now than on Windows.
      - slipknotfan 4mo ago
        because you have enough ram for steam because you don't have copilot?
    - lionkor 4mo ago
      "Recently" is around 5 or 6 years ago.
      - account42 4mo ago
        Over a decade even if you put in a minimal amount of effort.
- supertroop 4mo ago
  Doesn’t happen on mac either, right?
  - antonkochubey 4mo ago
    It still does a tiny bit (iCloud Drive is quite pushy) but to uncomparably smaller extent vs Windows
  - sethops1 4mo ago
    Ehh Apple has been self promoting their own services directly in the OS for a while now, including popups via notifications.
  - justaregulanerd 4mo ago
    Coming from 10 years of Linux to macOS, Apple deserves praise for this point too. I don't use Apple Intelligence, Safari, or Siri on my Mac, and I'm extremely happy to report that Apple does not nag me to use these features at all. THANK YOU APPLE. Windows would open Edge for random reasons instead of my preferred browser to nudge me to use it, Cortana was a constant reminder in W10 because it was part of Windows Search, and of course, we all know how they push Copilot. Apple isn't perfect (iCloud is fine on macOS, but iOS is quite misleading and often defaults to on even if you really don't want it), but overall my Mac respects my wishes as a user and it makes me look forward to using my computer as a tool.
    - ryandrake 4mo ago
      To be fair, Apple does do a one-time sales pitch during OS setup, but if you say NO, it remembers you mean NO. macOS does have its own user-hostile issues, but they are more in the form of making things like running downloaded software and modifying your system irritatingly difficult, and not Windows's pathetic and desperate attempts to cajole you into using their features.
  - jasonfarnon 4mo ago
    I can't get my ipad to shut up about iCloud storage. At least with windows I know how to turn that stuff off (worse case registry fix). I have no idea how to hack Apple's stuff.
- andrekandre 4mo ago
  using linux feels like macos back in the mid-2000s and windows (in a good way) in the early 2000s, like its some kind "operating system" for you to do things instead of being advertised to... its such a breath of fresh air
- PennRobotics 4mo ago
  I wish I could fully agree. Canonical is a bit pushy: "Ubuntu Pro / ESM subscription will make your machine safer! and it is convenient mega free!! ((for non-business uses))" Workplace very strictly requires Ubuntu LTS for toolchain & compatibility reasons, otherwise I'd run Debian or Fedora or Tumbleweed with Ubuntu containers/VMs where needed. Nonetheless, Linux popups and promotions (even from enterprise distros) are not nearly as bad as the Windows 11 experience.
bee_rider 4mo ago
It’s less surprising with Windows. Google really was competent in the 2005-2020 era (probably further on the left, that’s just as far as I remember). I don’t think Microsoft has seriously disappointed anybody paying attention since 2012 or so.
- deleted 4mo ago
  [deleted]
PyWoody 4mo ago
Does Microsoft understand consent? [ ] Yes [ ] Ask again later
- 1e1a 4mo ago
  Apple does this as well with MacOS update notifications Upgrade to MacOS Tahoe? [ ] Yes [ ] Remind me later
  - flobosg 4mo ago
    > switch to the Sequoia public beta channel! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47198977#47202707 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47198977#47202707
    - shye 4mo ago
      Not a real solution if you’re averse to using pre-release software like macOS 26. Recent betas also seem to break some small things, not sure if due to change in code itself or a faulty migration.
      - flobosg 4mo ago
        Not sure if I understand your reply. Currently, the Sequoia beta channel is only getting security patches.
        shye 4mo ago
        It receives, as its name implies, pre-release builds: it is currently on 15.7.8, while the latest macOS 15.7 release is 15.7.7.
  - chrishill89 4mo ago
    Setting up a Mac user account. What accessibility settings do you need? - [four options/catgories] - Remind me Later (or something) And I guess the Later option is technically accurate.

coldpie 4mo ago

I know everyone's tired of hearing this, but this doesn't happen on Linux. I know I know, it's different and a little janky here and there and maybe you have to find a replacement for one or two pieces of software. But like, you don't actually have to put up with this. There is a better way.

Our_Benefactors 4mo ago
[flagged]
- ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
  Given that Windows still doesn't even support multiple monitors in any meaningful way, I'm not sure what you're complaining about.
  - mvdtnz 4mo ago
    I'm no Windows defender but this is nonsense. Windows has BY FAR the best multi monitor support of any of the major OS's, including any variant of Linux.
    - Dylan16807 4mo ago
      You're probably right but it's really sad that an OS that shuffles everything you have open when it hits power save and turns off the screens would qualify as the best.
    - ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
      How do you get it to work then? Because at the moment whenever I open my Windows laptop plugged into a docking station the screens just come up in a random order. Sometimes all three are mirrored, sometimes by chance they're the right way round, sometimes the "main" screen is one one of the external monitors and then you're absolutely knackered if you don't manage to convince it to go onto the laptop's panel before you unplug because there's no way to get it back. It's all just so half-assed. In Linux multiple monitors have worked perfectly for about 20 years.
    - account42 4mo ago
      Are we talking about the same Windows that moves all your windows around when you temporary disconnect a display, even when the computer is locked? Or is it the windows that sometimes ends up with windows positioned partially on a display that is no longer connected so that you can't move it because any control for that is offscreen.
- szundi 4mo ago
  Trick is to use the newest distro release with previous cycle hardware
- happymellon 4mo ago
  As someone who uses more than one monitor, my Mac has far more issues than my Linux boxes.
  - dreamcompiler 4mo ago
    Same here. What frustrates me is that Apple pretty much invented seamless multiple monitor integration back in the early 90s, but the Apple of today has either forgotten how to do it or they just don't care.
  - smohare 4mo ago
    Huh, I’ve never once had a problem with multiple monitors and macs over the last 15 years. But at most I’m running two monitors.
    - ryandrake 4mo ago
      I have a iMac with two external monitors, and during boot it does this crazy dance where one monitor goes on, then off, then two monitors go on, and so on for a few rounds until shit settles and all three are on.
- larrik 4mo ago
  On the other hand, if you swap "Linux" and "Windows" in your complaint, you get my experience. Windows is a hassle to get working for advanced use cases, and then every quarter they nuke my settings via windows update. I just can't do it. I managed to go about 6 months last year on Windows for the first time since ~2010, but nope. Not worth it.
  - everforward 4mo ago
    This mirrors my experience. Windows gives you nice sliders for things, which they will happily break on a whim. Linux forces you to memorize a Lovecraftian string of characters to do something, but it will generally stick for a long time. I use both, with differing ideologies. My Linux is heavily customized with keybinds and semi-niche software that enables my workflows because I know it will stick. On my Windows machines, I've accepted that Microsoft owns that machine and I have to adapt my workflow to fit their sensibilities.
- deleted 4mo ago
  [deleted]
- jklinger410 4mo ago
  Skill issue
  - Our_Benefactors 4mo ago
    I prefer my OS to not require “skill” (there’s no skill left in the age of AI anyways, just wasted time)
kraquepype 4mo ago
I recently built 2 mini PCs for my kids to play games on, and went with Bazzite. It was really surprising how put together it all is. The steam integration is seamless and it can play a ton of stuff even on an older NUC w/out a GPU. It was the first time I can say that installing a linux OS was easier and friendlier than Windows.
- wholinator2 4mo ago
  It's only getting easier and friendlier comparatively. Recently i bought a new computer and installing an external drive and putting kde linux on it was easier than fighting my way through the windows telemetry gauntlet, the setting, and all the bloat. Modern windows disgusts me continuously in new ways
  - sotix 4mo ago
    How are you finding KDE Linux's performance? I'm really excited for its progress!
    - slipknotfan 4mo ago
      I prefer arch btw
      - unsungNovelty 4mo ago
        Here you can see Arch users in their natural environment (In David Attenborough's voice)
      - tasuki 4mo ago
        No one asked about that. The question was about KDE Linux.
- ErroneousBosh 4mo ago
  > It was the first time I can say that installing a linux OS was easier and friendlier than Windows. It's been that way for about 20 years. Where have you been?
bossyTeacher 4mo ago
It's hilarious seeing people complain about Microsoft when a free alternative exists. Humans are really curious creatures.
- elictronic 4mo ago
  Up until very recently gaming is the only thing keeping my l and millions of others main pc from being Linux or Mac. I dual booted in the past but was annoyed. With all the work steam has put in I’m personally about 6 months out from just dumping Microsoft on all my personal products. It’s impressive they have dropped the ball so hard that it’s causing a complete rethink for so many users like myself. Bullet >> golden goose.
  - bossyTeacher 4mo ago
    I also stuck with them for a long time because of Windows until Proton became good enough for most games.
  - chuckadams 4mo ago
    I caught myself just recently saying that I only keep my Linux box around to play games. Steam is more painless on Linux now than on Windows.
    - slipknotfan 4mo ago
      because you have enough ram for steam because you don't have copilot?
  - lionkor 4mo ago
    "Recently" is around 5 or 6 years ago.
    - account42 4mo ago
      Over a decade even if you put in a minimal amount of effort.
supertroop 4mo ago
Doesn’t happen on mac either, right?
- antonkochubey 4mo ago
  It still does a tiny bit (iCloud Drive is quite pushy) but to uncomparably smaller extent vs Windows
- sethops1 4mo ago
  Ehh Apple has been self promoting their own services directly in the OS for a while now, including popups via notifications.
- justaregulanerd 4mo ago
  Coming from 10 years of Linux to macOS, Apple deserves praise for this point too. I don't use Apple Intelligence, Safari, or Siri on my Mac, and I'm extremely happy to report that Apple does not nag me to use these features at all. THANK YOU APPLE. Windows would open Edge for random reasons instead of my preferred browser to nudge me to use it, Cortana was a constant reminder in W10 because it was part of Windows Search, and of course, we all know how they push Copilot. Apple isn't perfect (iCloud is fine on macOS, but iOS is quite misleading and often defaults to on even if you really don't want it), but overall my Mac respects my wishes as a user and it makes me look forward to using my computer as a tool.
  - ryandrake 4mo ago
    To be fair, Apple does do a one-time sales pitch during OS setup, but if you say NO, it remembers you mean NO. macOS does have its own user-hostile issues, but they are more in the form of making things like running downloaded software and modifying your system irritatingly difficult, and not Windows's pathetic and desperate attempts to cajole you into using their features.
- jasonfarnon 4mo ago
  I can't get my ipad to shut up about iCloud storage. At least with windows I know how to turn that stuff off (worse case registry fix). I have no idea how to hack Apple's stuff.
andrekandre 4mo ago
using linux feels like macos back in the mid-2000s and windows (in a good way) in the early 2000s, like its some kind "operating system" for you to do things instead of being advertised to... its such a breath of fresh air
PennRobotics 4mo ago
I wish I could fully agree. Canonical is a bit pushy: "Ubuntu Pro / ESM subscription will make your machine safer! and it is convenient mega free!! ((for non-business uses))" Workplace very strictly requires Ubuntu LTS for toolchain & compatibility reasons, otherwise I'd run Debian or Fedora or Tumbleweed with Ubuntu containers/VMs where needed. Nonetheless, Linux popups and promotions (even from enterprise distros) are not nearly as bad as the Windows 11 experience.

bee_rider 4mo ago

It’s less surprising with Windows. Google really was competent in the 2005-2020 era (probably further on the left, that’s just as far as I remember). I don’t think Microsoft has seriously disappointed anybody paying attention since 2012 or so.

deleted 4mo ago
[deleted]

PyWoody 4mo ago

Does Microsoft understand consent? [ ] Yes [ ] Ask again later

1e1a 4mo ago
Apple does this as well with MacOS update notifications Upgrade to MacOS Tahoe? [ ] Yes [ ] Remind me later
- flobosg 4mo ago
  > switch to the Sequoia public beta channel! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47198977#47202707 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47198977#47202707
  - shye 4mo ago
    Not a real solution if you’re averse to using pre-release software like macOS 26. Recent betas also seem to break some small things, not sure if due to change in code itself or a faulty migration.
    - flobosg 4mo ago
      Not sure if I understand your reply. Currently, the Sequoia beta channel is only getting security patches.
      - shye 4mo ago
        It receives, as its name implies, pre-release builds: it is currently on 15.7.8, while the latest macOS 15.7 release is 15.7.7.
- chrishill89 4mo ago
  Setting up a Mac user account. What accessibility settings do you need? - [four options/catgories] - Remind me Later (or something) And I guess the Later option is technically accurate.