this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2024
1430 points (96.2% liked)

Technology

59611 readers
3235 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 content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  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, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 100 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Wow, Microsoft are always so innovative! I never thought that the Win11 taskbar could get any shittier, but somehow they managed it. It's great to see those thousands of engineers being put to good use.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (7 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I did one better. I installed Linux

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Not open source. Use:

  • Open Shell
    • brings a normal Start Menu back as well as an optional taskbar in Explorer
  • Explorer Patcher
    • revives Explorer's "commented-out code", bringing back functionality from previous Windows versions: optionally translucent taskbar without blur, seconds display in calendar popup, optionally the weather widget and many many more
  • CTT winutil
    • installs/updates various free programs for you with one click, one-stop-shop for all kinds of recommended debloat/freedom settings
  • MSEdge Redirect
    • self-explanatory: all Bing queries from within the OS apps go to your preferred search engine & default browser instead
[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

classic shell does the same thing for free I'll pass

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Purchase licence key

No, thanks.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

This is the way

[–] [email protected] -5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

There are free OS alternatives out there (which I suspect you already use but just want to poop on other's parade).

I assume that if someone's already using Windows, a paid OS, they are willing to pay $2 to make it usable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I prefer if persistent, high-permission code running on my machine is FOSS, and support the devs if I see it's useful

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I prefer it too, but if something works well and saves me time and effort for $2, I don't make a big deal out of it. I also need to accomplish things other than monkeying around with my computer.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

idk who pays for windows these days but go you

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Almost everyone pays for Windows. Notice how computers that let you not include it in the order get cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

not everyone buys prebuilts but I haven't had any actual windows license since like windows 7 I just use a random key off a PC work is throwing out oh just don't register the shit

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

... Coffee costs more than this license.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 9 months ago

its very reasonable

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Thanks. My win11 install is coming up. Looks like I may need this. Bookmarked

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

There are more ways to make Windows suck less, even open source ones: https://feddit.de/comment/7447632 Of course, pick whatever is best for you, but FOSS is ultimately safer (and free!).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

It has had such a massive positive effect on my life relative to the price.