[HN Gopher] How to declutter, quiet down, and take the AI out of...
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       How to declutter, quiet down, and take the AI out of Windows 11
       25H2
        
       Author : mariuz
       Score  : 13 points
       Date   : 2025-11-08 21:36 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (arstechnica.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (arstechnica.com)
        
       | frameset wrote:
       | Whilst I appreciate you _can_ do this, and some people have
       | programs they need Windows for, I am sick of fighting my OS.
       | 
       | One thing I realised when I switched to desktop Linux was just
       | how quiet it was.
       | 
       | It just sits there until I want to do something. It doesn't try
       | and trick me into changing my default browser, or put adverts in
       | my program launcher, or harvest my data.
       | 
       | It just runs my programs when I ask it to.
        
         | ryandrake wrote:
         | I'm tired of fighting my software in general, not just my OS. I
         | only _wish_ it was as easy to  "declutter, quiet down, and take
         | the AI out of" my other software as it apparently is to do with
         | Windows. I'm tired of all the pushiness, nudging, pressuring,
         | and coercion. Software products should not be trying to change
         | my behavior.
        
           | exe34 wrote:
           | I feel like that also happens on Linux tbh. Gnome has very
           | specific ideas of how everything should be, and anything they
           | let you do through plugins today, they will take away
           | tomorrow.
           | 
           | Of course, you have the option of not using gnome. I myself
           | use xmonad and don't bother with desktop environments
           | anymore.
        
       | sharts wrote:
       | Probably better by now to just drop windows. Other ecosystems
       | seem fairly mature by now and running the one off windows
       | application when necessary seems to be getting easier all the
       | time.
        
         | moepstar wrote:
         | Indeed, leaving Windows behind for the odd application is easy.
         | 
         | With the depreciation of my late 2017 Intel iMac 5k incoming, i
         | however wonder how to ditch macOS for Linux and keep the one
         | odd Mac App I kinda depend on - ideas welcome!
         | 
         | If you're wondering, the App is MoneyMoney and keeps track of
         | all bank accounts automatically, sorts all spendings into
         | categories etc.
         | 
         | There simply seems to be no equivalent, and running Mac Apps on
         | Linux just doesn't seem to be a thing yet (at least in a half-
         | viable way I know of, and yes, I at least read about Darling).
         | 
         | Again, if anyone does have a pointer (running macOS
         | virtualized? What's the status there?) would be much
         | appreciated..
        
       | doublerabbit wrote:
       | I've used Revision [0] which tightly strips Microsoft rubbish out
       | of the OS on my mother's new build. Rather then relying on GitHub
       | PowerShell scripts
       | 
       | I was skeptical at first but after having a phone call with her
       | today and telling me it just works. That made me happy
       | 
       | [0] https://www.revi.cc/
        
       | awesomeusername wrote:
       | I've been Linux only for around 15 years personally, but I don't
       | push it on others.
       | 
       | A few weeks ago I told the company our few Windows machines are
       | going to be sunset-ted. No push back (other than a request to
       | have one for the odd thing - but will do that in a VM. Even the
       | devs who have always been on Windows are up for it.
       | 
       | At home my kids use computers for playing and making games.
       | Windows was the path of least resistance. I realized it'll make
       | essentially no difference to them to switch to Linux. And boy do
       | kids adapt quickly.
       | 
       | So thanks MS, sincerely. I've never both worked and lived
       | completely Windows free, but your encouragement to drop Windows
       | has made me realize how painless it is, and I should have done it
       | years ago.
       | 
       | Edit: One guy is on mac. And always will be. No issue there IMHO
        
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       (page generated 2025-11-08 23:00 UTC)