End of Windows as we know it

[Chris_Bryant]

I'm really glad I don't use Windows any more- I see Linux picking up more users.

ComputerWorld wrote:
Microsoft is getting ready to replace Windows 10 with the Microsoft Managed Desktop. This will be a “desktop-as-a-service” (DaaS) offering. Instead of owning Windows, you’ll “rent” it by the month.

Article

[mr__ed]

The cloud is where a lot of folks have their backup info stored. I wonder, if a commercial jet flies through the cloud, does that info get disrupted somehow?

[joebedford]

ReadyToGo wrote:
Doesn't anyone understand what the word "Desktop" means?

Yup. It's the big black box on my desk that stores EVERYTHING and provides all my processing power. Well, except for the physical offsite backup which is, well, offsite.

What's a cloud?

[Jim]

pryoclastic wrote:

Jim@HiTek wrote:
The best part of Linux is that everything is free! Open Office (better than MSOffice)..

My preferred server OS is FreeBSD so I am not a "Microsoft or the highway" fan by any stretch of the imagination .. but ..

I am a heavy Excel user and there were several computational workflows in Excel that could not be found in Open Office Calc. Period. No work arounds. So I had to switch back to Excel.

*shrug*

Like what? I'll see if I can find a work around for ya. Wouldn't want anyone using Excel if they can avoid it...

One thing I found is that if you create a SS in Open Office, then save it in one of the Excel formats, like XLS, then you have access to other formulas and features specific to Excel but perhaps not to OO.

[az99]

Win 10 is a service, not an operating system. The writing was on the wall when it came out and they started with monthly fees for office.

No matter how small the fee, I will not pay Microsoft monthly to use their "service".

[MDKMDK]

BurbMan wrote:

ReadyToGo wrote:
Doesn't anyone understand what the word "Desktop" means?

We were talking about the "thin client" environment back in 1999....no software installed on the desktop, it all runs on the server. Worked great on an office LAN, but remote performance was terrible back then because most cloud connections were dial up. We now have ubiquitous cloud access, bandwidth, and technology to make this a reality. Why own software when all you want is the ability to type a letter?

Big 3 car manufacturers re heading that way too with cars....lots of people have no desire to own a car, they just want to be able to get somewhere when they need to.

Not everyone is always connected to "the software repository" server when they want/need to do something, so standalone capabilities may be crucial/important to some/many. This scenario might be more commonly realized by those of us on this forum.
Why own an RV when all you want to do is get somewhere? 🙂

[fj12ryder]

pulsar wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I'm sure Apple won't be far behind if they see this business model working.

...

Since MacOS and iOS are free, ... :h

Tom

All good things must come to an end. They charge a premium for their product, no reason they won't go for OS charges too.

[pulsar]

fj12ryder wrote:
I'm sure Apple won't be far behind if they see this business model working.

...

Since MacOS and iOS are free, ... :h

Tom

[BurbMan]

ReadyToGo wrote:
Doesn't anyone understand what the word "Desktop" means?

We were talking about the "thin client" environment back in 1999....no software installed on the desktop, it all runs on the server. Worked great on an office LAN, but remote performance was terrible back then because most cloud connections were dial up. We now have ubiquitous cloud access, bandwidth, and technology to make this a reality. Why own software when all you want is the ability to type a letter?

Big 3 car manufacturers re heading that way too with cars....lots of people have no desire to own a car, they just want to be able to get somewhere when they need to.

[pryoclastic]

Jim@HiTek wrote:
The best part of Linux is that everything is free! Open Office (better than MSOffice)..

My preferred server OS is FreeBSD so I am not a "Microsoft or the highway" fan by any stretch of the imagination .. but ..

I am a heavy Excel user and there were several computational workflows in Excel that could not be found in Open Office Calc. Period. No work arounds. So I had to switch back to Excel.

*shrug*

[mr__ed]

I've been a Windows user since XP. I'm currently using Windows 10. I may be in the minority, but I've rarely had issues with any Windows OS. I am satisfied thus far with W10 and hope it keeps going for a while. When the time comes to change I'll be forced to go to something else. I have no use for other Windows products, but have found free alternatives which work just fine for me.

[mr__ed]

I've been a Windows user since XP. I'm currently using Windows 10. I may be in the minority, but I've rarely had issues with any Windows OS. I am satisfied thus far with W10 and hope it keeps going for a while. When the time comes to change I'll be forced to go to something else. I have no use for other Windows products, but have found free alternatives which work just fine for me.

[Jim]

I can't think of a thing in the Windows world I can't find a FREE twin for in the Linux world. After dumping that annoying piece of junk called Win10 in favor of Ubuntu, it's much more enjoyable using the virus free Ubuntu OS.

The best part of Linux is that everything is free! Open Office (better than MSOffice), VLC (video and audio), Gimp (similar to Photoshop), Open Office Draw to create/edit PDF files, etc., makes it much more economical and just as productive as any, ANY Windows Desktop for the typical home and most office users. And if you want your desktop to 'look' like Windows 8 and before, Cinnamon works for that. Won't be long until there's a free 'Tiles' style desktop available as well.

Haven't had any trouble with stuff online being incompatible with Ubuntu for years now. And I do my taxes online with TaxAct. The days where I'd get error messages about my OS not being compatible seem to be over.

Goodbye Windows. I knew you well, but don't miss you.

[SidecarFlip]

TenOC wrote:
Windows 7 still works

So does XP, which is what most industrial users use because it supports bar code printers and dot matrix printers well and that is what most industrial users print their bills of lading on and bar codes for inventory control. I have an XP Professional desktop that runs fine.

[coolmom42]

MNGeeks61 wrote:

Chris Bryant wrote:
I'm really glad I don't use Windows any more- I see Linux picking up more users.

ComputerWorld wrote:
Microsoft is getting ready to replace Windows 10 with the Microsoft Managed Desktop. This will be a “desktop-as-a-service” (DaaS) offering. Instead of owning Windows, you’ll “rent” it by the month.

Article

I am very curious how this would play out in an organization, say, with about 290,000 employees... would the corporation just stay with Windows 10 in the vain hope things would get better?

Large corporations use a version called "Enterprise" which has a whole different set of licensing rules than "regular" Win10. To some extent it is already "rented" depending on the specific version they have.

I suspect that there will be options like there are now, with MS Office. You can buy stand-alone versions, either full-blown, or just part of the suite (such as Student) and pay a big whack to update them when you must, or you can "rent" Office 365, with full cloud storage and routine updates.

Many Windows users don't have a method that would let them make routine periodic payments, such as a credit or debit card.... but OTOH Microsoft, doesn't make a lot of money off of those users, either, and may not care much about losing them to Google, which is where they will go.

For what it's worth, I own 2 Windows PCs with automatic updates turned on. I've never had any issues with the updates working correctly. It's also true that the VAST majority of viruses and hacks happen on systems that are NOT updated, and missing vital security updates. I DO want the security updates. Microsoft will force those with a subscription service.

Adobe software has moved to subscription services on all of its software such as Photoshop and Lightroom. Considering the price of the version upgrades, it's actually cheaper than buying it outright. Upgrades are necessary with photo editing software, because that's how new camera models and lens models get included. Without the updates, you won't have full usage with files from your new camera.