Honest question: when I am trying to install some obscure bullshit that only has windows and Mac versions, can I install a Windows version and it still runs?
this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
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If I understand your question right, you could install Windows on a virtual machine and run your software there yes.
As long as it doesn't actively try to prevent itself from being run in one, or doesn't require GPU acceleration, it should work just fine.
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Big tech will do what is best for extracting money customers and investors.
If you really care what your operating system is made of, use Linux.
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dear big tech companies, please continue doing it, i want more people to use linux.
gonna be real silly in 2.5 years when they shut down the ai backend and leave a gaping hole in the OS architecture
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my two cents - install an older version of Windows 10. I use 20H2. You can find clean ISO files on the Internet Archive. Disable automatic updates, and use services like Blackbird (getblackbird.net) to de-bloat your instance.
Disable automatic updates
Unless your offline don't do that. Even on windows that's the worst advice one can give.
Just quit using windows. Problem solved.
okay Switch to Linux if you can and are willing to undergo constant troubleshooting. I chose not to, and this is how I managed that.
I see it the other way around. Linux just works, windows is the constant trouble shooting. Look at what you are talking about doing right now.
I have to work with Windows environments, I work with their desktop, servers, and cloud environment. I do it all from a Linux machine because it is reliable and the most predictable. Also the most sensible desktop to work from but that is another conversation.
end of life Windows is your solution to avoid computer troubles??
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Maybe stop using them instead of asking them to do something they are not going to do.
Or continue, cause I ain't using those operating systems. All I need now is a proper linux phone.
That's exactly where I'm at too. And my requirements aren't all that high, I just need:
- all day battery life
- reliable SMS and MMS
- decent quality speakers and mic
I don't even need app compatibility, just a decent browser, and those already exist in current phone projects. If you give me the above, I'll switch and may even find time to help port desktop apps to the phone, or even develop some myself.
Out of curiousity, what does that get you that Pixel+GrapheneOS wouldnt?
A ton, for example:
- can run arbitrary Linux stuff - want LibreOffice? The UX sucks on mobile, but you do you. Want a Minecraft Srever? Why not?? I want to run
podmancontainers, because why not? - can probably just plug into a monitor and use as a desktop (like a Steam Deck)
- can use as a development environment - install a compiler and you can code on the go
The most practical is that I can get security updates as long as I want, since most security updates aren't platform specific. With GrapheneOS, I get whatever Google and the GrapheneOS care to support. Pixel devices do go EOL, generic Linux still keeps on trucking.
That said, I currently do use GrapheneOS on my phone, but that's because Linux phones aren't daily driveable yet for me. I'm making it a point to avoid most of the Android ecosystem so I can eventually have a lower barrier to switching to a Linux phone, once one has decent support.
comes out with completely brand new set of requirements when pressed
omg are you my product manager
😔
Those aren't requirements, they're nice side-effects of being Linux based. GrapheneOS meets my requirements, and Linux phones do not, hence why I use GrapheneOS instead of Linux phones. If both met my requirements, I'd switch to a Linux phone due to all the other nice features.
My requirements are pretty simple:
- calls are a good experience - good enough audio, wakes up phone properly, etc
- battery lasts all day, assuming relatively modest screen time
- SMS/MMS works consistently - that's what pretty much everyone in my family uses
- a solid web browser, since that's where 95% of my usage on my phone is
- some form of TOTP option
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE (5G is very much appreciated though); physical headphone port is appreciated, but not required
- replacable/repairable hardware - at least the battery and screen, but the more off-the-shelf components, the better
- the possibility of getting Android apps to work - doesn't need to support everything, I just want to give it a shot
The last one is pretty squishy, and I'm actually okay having a dedicated separate phone if I need a specific app. Basically, I need it to be at least as good as a dumb phone, while having a smart phone interface. I'll help w/ development on everything else I need.
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I actually wouldn't mind AI in everything, if there was a simple one switch so I could easily turn it off if I don't want to use it. The problem is only in forcing it into peoples faces.
I guess they poured to much money into AI for it to fail, and now they must force people to use it to in order to justify the investments.
If it was a good product, people would ask for more themselves.
I just wish I could have my own personal AI that I could plug into everything, so I don’t need to subscribe to a bunch of separate things that are otherwise stupid for subscribing to. Something I have complete agency over and can run offline.
I hope to someday have a Coupon AI. It creates throwaway accounts and tracks the pricing of stuff that I actually like. In my case, 2-liter diet soda. Those things can cost $1-4 dollars depending on circumstances. Buying 36 bottles for more than $2 would be a ripoff.
A KFC feast used to be cheaper back when I got coupons. Now I have to sign up if I want to afford delicious birds and biscuits. I want to be free from being harvested and spammed. I just want to spend my money in a way that doesn't ruin me. 😥
Can't wait for windows recall to leverage AI to automatically report you to police because of things you've done on your computer or some other dystopian shit.
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Just got the instructions I'm to learn about how to put AI into my programs at work. So thrilled.
During a meeting not too long ago someone was like "we're looking into using AI to generate these reports."
So they have a dude who gets requests to generate reports. It's not the same reports, but rather custom reports from scattered bits of data throughout a huge database. Ergo you can't really create a program to extract these reports on demand, a person actually has to sit and piece these together.
Now they want to use LLMs to alleviate him, as this isn't technically his role.
They scoffed at me when I asked about how important it is that these reports are accurate, but I mean, it's a valid concern. Best case you get sometimes-hallucinated reports, worst case you get something that wreaks havoc on the database because it just spits out garbage SQL.
I'm very glad that my role doesn't involve that BS.
Dear users , start using BSDs.
BSDs do rock.
That said, Linux distros have a lot better compatibility than the BSDs, so use that first before you start blaming your problems on *nix. BSDs are very reasonable OSes though.