this post was submitted on 02 May 2026
179 points (97.4% liked)

Technology

84277 readers
3993 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Microsoft is working on a new project labeled Windows 'K2', intent on removing bloatware, reducing AI, and optimizing Windows 11 for gaming, with three focuses of 'performance, craft, and reliability'.

the issue is not about performance, is about enshitification. I mean, do we need TPM? do we need Microslop account to login our pc/laptop? do they really need to shove Copilot into Windows?

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] iconic_admin@lemmy.world 3 points 33 minutes ago

They should try not sucking. Not spying on their users. Maybe let me tell the OS what I want it to do and not have to do whatever it feels like in any given scenario.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 hour ago

Microsoft is reportedly looking at Valve's SteamOS as the benchmark for gaming

Yeah, that's Linux

Valve's SteamOS continues to show significant advantages over Windows 11 for gamers, with better memory utilization and improved in-game performance, but Microsoft has a plan to combat that.

Let that sink in for a second. Linux with a not-an-emulation layer API runs Microsoft Windows games faster than Microsoft Windows, and so now Microsoft is scrambling to get windows at least as efficient again as Linux in running Windows products.

Anyone ever trusting Microsoft again is a dumbass fool

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 48 minutes ago

Hahahahahhahahahahahhahhahahahahahahahahahhahaahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahshshshha!

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 2 points 30 minutes ago

Who cares about win and steamos when you have Nobara, Bazsite, CachyOs, ec.

[–] renegadespork@lemmy.jelliefrontier.net 9 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

There’s nothing MS can do to make me trust them again. They can “love bomb” all they want, but a toxic ex is a toxic ex.

Publicly traded corporations will always exploit anything and anyone they can get away with to maximize their profits. They will only improve just enough to trap you again, then the exploitation begins again.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 1 points 6 minutes ago

a toxic ex is a toxic ex

This, for sure, but if she wants to dance I'll dance with her. 🤪

For serious, tho: people change. I don't expect mega corporations to ever change for the better. They'll do whatever they need to get money and you can guarantee they'll fuck you (the bad kind) as soon as you're invested.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 hour ago

And what will their ambitious plan be?

Marketing, bribery, coercion, cheating. Those are the only things Microsoft has ever excelled at (pun intended), as software development is something they have NEVER done well

[–] axh@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

The funny thing about AI is that it helps Linux transition in 3 ways:

  1. Copilot shoved everywhere is irritating

  2. Microslop abusing AI pushes one bug after another into windows

  3. AI makes transition to Linux much easier. I tried multiple times and failed, but now, it's like having my own geeky friend who can help me solve any issue, sure... the guy hallucinates sometimes, but if you use your brain, it still can be really helpful.

[–] mattreb@feddit.it 3 points 2 hours ago

are they actually loosing any sensible userbase across all windows versions though? from statcounter I fail to see that, what stats do you guy usually look up too?

[–] Tim_Bisley@piefed.social 11 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Why would anyone get their hopes up about a Microsoft product?

[–] zergtoshi@lemmy.world 1 points 32 minutes ago

Some of the hardware sold under their name is/was quite ok.
I'm not sure who designed and created that stuff, though.

[–] SunshineJogger@feddit.org 0 points 1 hour ago

MS... The only reason why I still ise it is because I don't have the time or nerves to get used to Linux in my current life.

Getting and understanding the workarounds I need to get working just to play my two favorite games that don't run on Linux is not something I will use my time on.

I need a plug and play windows clone on Linux that runds everything I know out of the box, sadly.

People here won't like that, but it's the reality gate that keeps many people aeay from switching.

Well, if MS ever tries to force me into ID verification or subscription windows or based on AI at its core I'll bite the bullet. But not before

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 25 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Knowing Microsoft, the new project is an update to DirectX which has features impossible for Proton to translate without violating anti-circumvention laws or an always on DRM baked into core features.

[–] bbsm3678@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Section 1201(f) of the DMCA allows for interoperability; I’m sure Valve’s lawyers will figure it out

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

They could also do the Nintendo thing and plaster their trademarked name all over critical functions or interfaces and then sue anyone who tries to re-write their software, since you still have to handle calls to the MicrosoftTMOfficialDirectX13Windows_draw() function. Using a registered trademark without permission violates a different set of laws.

[–] bbsm3678@lemmy.world 1 points 49 minutes ago

This would be fair use. Has already been decided https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_LLC_v._Oracle_America,_Inc.

Arguably the trademark issue has not been exactly resolved but I think this case will be very persuasive.

[–] owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 hours ago

My only hope with this is that MS doesn't have a complete hold on the gaming market anymore. Valve has to hold some serious sway at this point, and MS doing that might backfire on them.

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 24 points 6 hours ago (5 children)

I abandoned Windows for Linux rather than update to Windows 11. I will be interested to see what Microsoft does, but at this point I seriously doubt they're going to be able to give me a good enough reason to return to Windows as my primary OS. At this point I only need it for a few applications that don't have a Linux equivalent and don't run on Wine.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 7 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

I know it's not possible for everyone, but I just cut ties with any application that wouldn't work on Linux and found alternatives.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 5 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

For those that can't, it's worth it to go 99% Linux and set up a dual-boot. Also I made a video recently that details some security measures you can take on Windows to help you stay private if anyone's interested.

[–] Pofski@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

I hate that I need to keep one computer in my household on windows to be able to run my business. I've got 4 programs that I need to connect to my machines or I can't do anything.

[–] Tetsuo@jlai.lu 9 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

Have you tried to Winboat the apps missing ?

I also switched earlier this year to cachyos. I'm definitely not going back. The simple fact that I need to boot the Windows old partition to update it makes me anxious.

I feel so much more in control of my operating system it feels really nice.

[–] 474D@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

This looks cool, I assume it's not meant for super resource intensive programs though?

[–] finalarbiter@piefed.social 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Winboat looks really interesting. How does it compare to just using WinApps? It seems like it's basically just doing the heavy lifting for setting programs up, yeah?

[–] djdarren@piefed.social 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

It's very similar. I found WinApps to be quite flaky, where WinBoat feels much more solid. However, a nice feature of WinApps is the ability to set the Windows apps as the default file type, and you can open files from the right click > Open With, which you can't do with WinBoat. Not that I've found, anyway.

[–] finalarbiter@piefed.social 1 points 38 minutes ago* (last edited 8 minutes ago)

Nice, the default file types isn't a deal breaker for me. I'll have to give it a shot! I've been testing debian on my laptop before changing my desktop over. Hadn't found a good solution for a handful of my windows-only programs yet but this seems like it might do the trick.

[–] CountVon@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 hours ago

Seconding Winboat, works great for the one piece of software I have that is stuck on Windows. At this point I am 100% not going back, I even wiped my Windows disk. That drive is for trying out other distros now.

[–] sunbeam60@feddit.uk 4 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

Eh, TPM is pretty convenient for full-disk encryption tbh

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

linuxes can do that too. sure, you have to set it up by hand for now, but the necessary tools are available

[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 2 points 4 hours ago

Ubuntu just added that feature. Not my distro of choice, but it’s coming up.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] ieatpwns@lemmy.world 43 points 7 hours ago

Reducing ai but not removing it ain’t it

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 89 points 8 hours ago (3 children)

This is such a huge W for linux. It legitimizes linux as a real competitor in so many eyes.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 34 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

That's because it is a legitimate competitor. It's the freedom OS, and only way for the world to escape Americas big tech fascism.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 12 points 6 hours ago

Yeah I know I've been using it for gaming for years. But when I say linux is good people might brush it off because oh you would say that as a linux user. But im highlighting that Microsoft saying this legitimizes Linux in a completely different way. It legitimizes it for all the people that see Windows as the best OS the people outside the linux bubble.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 24 points 7 hours ago

Microsoft right now

[–] Miller@lemmy.world 40 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Microsoft adds the bloat themselves, and ever increasing telemetry reporting back, promises to update W10 for the lifetime of the device, reneges on it with W11 quoting security as its rationale but leaving 400 million users without security updates. Does all this at a time Linux is becoming very friendly and android phones have a desktop mode so they can be plugged into a keyboard and monitor and bypass the need for Windows. Microsoft has a bit of a think about the market value of its idiot direction and decides to remove a lot of the crap slowing the OS and give people back a little privacy, touts it as a new way of thinking about personal computing.

[–] rozodru@piefed.world 16 points 8 hours ago (4 children)

I'd say i'm cautiously optimistic but honestly i'm just not optimistic. They want to 'remove bloat, reel back AI, etc' and I'm just going to ask "how?"

how can they possibly improve their OS when the past year updates to 11 have been the worst in the companies history. the past few months alone have been an absolute cluster fuck and that's saying A LOT considering this the same company that gave us ME and Vista.

Before rebuilding the OS they need to take a seriously look internally and rebuild teams, management, etc because its' clear as day the company that they have currently cannot produce the potential OS they seem to want to produce.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I'll never voluntarily use a Windows PC ever again. Wayyy too late

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 5 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

They should have done this 5 years ago.

I’m never going back.

[–] itrealgood@mander.xyz 2 points 4 hours ago

They had games for windows and got rid of it because they thought that pc gamers would move to the xbox. Some may have. However, it also contributed to the success of steam. And look where we are now lol

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 28 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

Yeah, MS lost a lot of trust with stupid things and getting that back - good luck with that. ~~I'm gone~~ I switched to Linux ~~since~~ a year (been on Windows since 3.0) or so ago and won't ever go back even though I still need to run Visual Studio in a virtual guest.

[–] U7826391786239@piefed.zip 5 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

same. been using MS shit since the 90s, but built a new PC in early 2025 specifically to put linux and only linux on it. never looking back. there is absolutely no reason for me to ever install windows again.

people thought i was dumb for taking out a loan to build a PC--turns out that was the right move, 8% on a loan for early 2025 prices is better than whatever tf people are having to pay for components now

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

2025 the year of Linux desktop 🤗

[–] U7826391786239@piefed.zip 1 points 2 hours ago

thanks microsoft!

[–] magnue@lemmy.world 6 points 6 hours ago

It's possible they're kind of admitting defeat with PC enthusiasts and will just settle for the average user and the business user. If they're smart they would make windows home free to use and then charge a fair lump for K2 (and make it extremely good - yknow - things software companies should be doing). That way it's a PR win and they can exploit both business models.

I strongly expect Microsoft to completely bottle it as usual though. They have some deep corporate rot imo.

[–] RejZoR@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 hours ago

Recycle Bin is still fucking broken after literal YEARS of me complaining over the fact it doesn't delete files older than 30 days from it. I have files that date months back in time. How about you start at fucking that Microsoft, eh?

Also fuck off the Recommended section from Start menu. The greatest idiocy of all times, wasting same amount of Start menu real estate whether it's enabled or not. It just wastes same space telling me to tuen it on when it's disabled. What the fuck?

load more comments
view more: next ›