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Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has replaced the Hide Desktop icon with Copilot.
(programming.dev)
Switch to Linux!
From Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/1as1yjk/microsoft_in_their_infinite_wisdom_has_replaced/
Linux. You'll be glad you did.
Free. Easy to install. Never gets viruses. Never crashes. Rock solid.
Runs good on old machines. Runs like lightning on new machines.
I've installed it for 3 old ladies (3 separate installs). They like its simplicity and low-bullshit.
I personally use Debian with a Mate desktop.
I mean, I agree. But sometimes you're kinda forced by damn app compatibility. Although, if you have the choice I'd say make the jump. If you've no experience there's a learning curve but it's worth it.
Worth it how? I feel like every post that claims about how much better Linux is after handling a bunch of tweaks and hacks and workarounds to get into baseline functional doesn't really get into what actually makes it better. After all of that heavy lifting, you're already at a disadvantage and I still hear nothing of the benefits. I start to wonder if the "better" is justification for all the effort that goes into tricking it to work rather than being meaningfully superior.
The good news is, it's easy to try and see for yourself ;)
Head over to an easy distro (like Linux Mint or Ubuntu for example) and create a live USB. Boot your computer on that USB, try the live environment.
You'll see if your hardware works as expected. If it does, you're golden, you can proceed to install and have zero problem down the road.
If it doesn't, and you don't feel like troubleshooting to make it work, you can just remove the USB stick, reboot your computer and continue using Windows.
Mileage varies a lot while using Linux. It's really great these days, but there are always some edge cases. I use Linux on my gaming desktop, and it crashes often because part of my pleasure is trying out stuff, breaking my install and do it all over again.
I also use Linux on my work laptop, and it has not crashed once in 4 years.
I wanted to install Linux on my SO's laptop because they liked the idea. I tried the live environment, never managed to get the wifi card to work, gave up, and they still use windows. When the laptop dies, the replacement will probably be a refurbished thinkpad where everything usually works out of the box.
All in all, it's always been worth it to me: my laptop is faster and more stable than those of my colleagues, I don't have to deal with Microsoft's bullshit, I don't come late to meetings because my computer was updating...
My gaming desktop is my fun machine, I've learned a lot on it and when I just want to game I roll back to a stable snapshot.
Also, don't underestimate the representation issues. I think that people who have trouble with a Linux install have the reflex to ask online on Lemmy, Reddit or forums, while people who have trouble with their Windows install just live with it or bring it back to the shop.