So you can't install any other OS because it modifies your uefi? Well, why would you install a different windows if you're already running windows? Yep, this is obviously to stop people from switching to linux (I'm sure they saw the amount of people switching to linux growing way faster since ever and also more people using windows 10 than 11 even less than half a year before EOL + all the people saying they'll switch to linux as soon as windows 10 support ends and they got scared that their monopoly might be in danger)
This is on a supposedly leaked windows 365 build, so it's not something that's happening right now with windows 10 nor 11... until it is. I mean, google has locked down chromebooks and android devices to prevent them from running anything that isn't chromeOS or android respectively since forever (yes, you can install ubuntu touch or postmarketOS on some chrome/android devices, but not on most, and not just because lack of drivers; some have locked bootloaders that you can't unlock), so I think Microsoft will just copy whatever "security" excuse google used there. I mean... if the reason was to prevent you from accidentally running a malicious copy of windows from a 3rd party... isn't that what Secure Boot is for? The reason is not security, the reason is monopoly.
Do remember that NVRAM isn't that hard to reset (on normal PCs anyway), but I agree that this is scummy. That said:
Windows 365 being a "cloud Windows" implies that it may be a thin client OS, one that performs almost all of its computing on Microsoft's servers, rather than locally. If so, they have a vested interest in ensuring only stuff they're sure is secure by their standards can access it.
Microsoft is obsessed with generative AI, and hardware capable of performing AI with decent models locally is expensive. It's not hard for me to run an LLM on a high end PC with a 4090 or 5090 and have it generate text at a speed comparable to my not-particularly-fast typing speed. Thin clients are a natural fit in an AI first mindset where everything goes to the data center. Despite this, Microsoft has also defined an entirely separate standard for AI ready PCs with NPUs for local AI processing. This likely, to me, indicates a split in Windows intent, with this Windows 365 situation being closer to an embedded device than a traditional PC.
Can't install stuff in my NVRAM if I never install Windows on it.
I still don't like it, and I'm glad you made me aware of it so I can watch for future developments, but in the short term I'm not too worried. In the long term I don't trust big tech as far as I can throw it (ever tried throwing a concept? worse than a wiffleball), but Linux is used heavily in software development still. I don't see an actual lockout as viable on anything but a special class of devices.
This is why I'm a believer in my tech skills to remove Microsoft off the drive. Most newbies, don't know how to properly format a drive, and remove all Windows partitions on a brand new computer, before booting into the OS.
That is exactly what I did with my 2021 computer. Yes, I scraped the Microsoft parasite off the Window-shield. I was so proud to install POP OS & Zorin OS. Linux, the OS that puts the power in your hands, so you can have the choice, not a greedy corporation, who don't believe you have the right to privacy.
Another option users have, is to buy computers with Linux already installed on them, making life so much easier for the average computer user. I'm a believer in Star Labs, I love their mission, great technical support, great computers.
Kind of funny what is happening at the moment: The return of Windows 7
Imagine those people would have changed to any Linux distro ...
(preferably Zorin, of course)
A new and more modern OS beating an old one is par for the course, but what's surprising is Windows 7's sudden rise in popularity. Released in 2009, Windows 7's market share remained flat for most of this year until August. Its usage share grew from 2.02% in July to 3.59% in August.
This rise isn't a one-off event. Windows 7 posted growth in market share for two consecutive months. As per StatCounter's latest data, Windows 7 now claims 5.2% market share, up from 3.59% last month. That's over a 100% increase in market share if you compare the July data with the latest one.
The 5.2% usage share is still a small number compared to Windows 11 and 10, but we can't ignore its growth, especially since many Windows 10 users are refusing to upgrade to Microsoft's latest version of Windows. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that users are downgrading their PCs from Windows 10 to Windows 7.
I also agree with the statement as well! Windows 7, was the last OS from Microsoft, that actually was an operating system. Windows XP was also an amazing OS, its just a shame it can't be used on modern computer's, due to lack of feature support for modern hardware.
Windows 8, was Microsoft's attempt, to branch off into the tablet market, oh what a colossal failure that was! Might as well have been the 2nd coming of Windows ME. (My Enemy)
Windows 10 & 11, are actual data mining tools, diguised as operating system's. Their data mining is so bad, high secure government facilities have to use Linux. Also, you'd be interested to know, the ISS also uses Linux!
I guess one could say that Apple is a safer ecosystem then Microsoft is. Having said that however, I still wouldn't want to be locked into Apples ecosystem either. Linux is the only free choice. Open source FOSS baby!
On older machines, if they're not concerned about security, Win 7 is pretty great. I actually had to try to install it on newer hardware at work yesterday, and it was a NIGHTMARE of Secure Boot, UEFI, and USB 3.x issues. If someone gets it going, driver support "fun" surely awaits. I can't say I blame anyone with an old computer for doing this in lieu of moving to Windows 11, especially if it would require a hardware upgrade, but it's not a very viable option for anyone with relatively recent hardware.
Given that that Win 7 figure is about as big as Linux desktop use (and that Linux is currently at the highest it's ever been), this is kind of a stark reminder that people will choose the devil they know over the one they don't.
...and yes, it's been all downhill since 7. 8 tried to be touch first, which no one anywhere asked for, and 10 on has been a non-product that want to monetize the user instead of the software.
Yeah recently out of curiosity I installed windows 8.1 in a VM since I had an old ISO. I couldn't get updates to work at all and none of the modern browsers are compatible anymore.
A VM might've made it POSSIBLE for me to install Win 7, but the circumstances at work specifically required it be installed on metal, and the hardware we had, even when set to legacy, used USB 3.0, which Win 7 balked at, and though the installer would launch, it failed to read the very device from which it had launched, and complained that it needed me to find its DVD or CD-ROM drivers in order to continue. Complete mess.
I remember what great fun I had installing Windows 7 64-bit on my Asus PRIME-X470-PRO. My wireless Cherry keyboard and mouse were not recognised. Solution? This motherboard has a ps/2 port so the entire install was achieved using a rock solid Cherry ps/2 keyboard. Another way might be to install to a new drive on an old machine, but power off before a restart (not always possible with "your machine may reboot several times during installation"). You could do this on earlier versions of Windows which is what I had to do when replacing a Windows 95 failing drive with a new one so that the correct drivers got installed. On my youngest's PC, Windows 7 64-bit Pro ran better as a VM in Virtual Box on Feren OS than on the bare metal primary drive. If people have the necessary licence key I offer to create one for clients, provided they have a minimum of 8 Gb RAM with 4 Gb allocated for Windows. (https://www.blue-penguin-computing.co.uk/)
Lastly, just a reminder, Linux is the kernel, and like Windows kernel, it holds the drivers for hardware. The OS is GNU and Linux makes it possible to run. It would be nice if hardware providers acknowledged this as without Stallman's input you would not have a Zorin OS.
Personally rock solid for me would be (GNU/) Linux Laptops or Clevo as they use MSI boards. Unfortunately for me, not being part of the EU limits my choice as EU based manufacturers don't ship to the UK.
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