Currently on Linux - might switch; need some insight about the current state of Windows 11 ...

Omnimaxus · Aug 14, 2026

Hi to everyone. I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm contemplating leaving Linux for the time being. Linux is great, yes, but ... yeah. I mean, it's gaining popularity (good), but at the same time, I do sometimes miss the convenience that Windows offers. Especially given how things "just work" on Windows. Same for the massive games library (no need for Crossover or Proton). Ditto for the enormous application offerings. I miss how applications can be installed. Just double-click on an .exe or .MSI and presto; you have a program ready to use. No Snaps or Flatpaks. I don't mind .DEB files, but you need an internet connection a lot of the time to properly install programs so their dependencies can be downloaded and installed. Again, Linux is great. Yes. Don't get me wrong.

But it's things like Wayland and X11 that can be annoying or seen as irritating to deal with. Wayland is simply not ready for primetime, period. X11 is fine, but it's dying. My question is, how is Windows 11 nowadays? Especially with recent reporting (by Windows Central, for example) that Microsoft has listened to users and made changes to improve the Windows experience (e.g., better control over the OS, better system performance, and less bloat along with the option to remove stuff like Copilot)? That's the part I'm curious about. I have a Windows 11 Pro license, too, so using Group Policy Editor is nice, too. Bottomline: Is Windows 11 (in its current state as of today) more tolerable; more user-oriented? Please advise; thanks very much. (Hope this is the right subforum to post in, by the way.)

glasskuter · Aug 14, 2026

Depends on who answers as to the reaction you will get. Some folks get bitter when MS changes things or when they have to learn something new
I have had no big issues with it since 2021. But then, with the help of the tutorials here, I have managed to tweak the things I did not like rather than gripe about every little thing I didn't like. IMO it has gotten better as it has been developed. So it's an upvote from me.

FreeBooter · Aug 14, 2026

Windows 11 still same with some features enabled but bloatware still there how about you try Zorin OS.

Ghot · Aug 14, 2026

Omnimaxus said:
that Microsoft has listened to users and made changes to improve the Windows experience

That's only true for Corporate desires.
Remember you can always dual-boot, Win 11 and Linux.

Fortunately REVO Uninstaller (free) can remove anything you don't want, AND "Scan" for leftovers.

Download Revo Uninstaller Free - Remove unwanted programs easily

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces

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For example...

Here's some other things that you may find useful, when making your decision. Especially the Leader Board link.

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

FreeBooter · Aug 14, 2026

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to use Winhance to remove unnecessary Windows 11 components, streamline system behavior, improve performance, and tailor the Windows experience to your needs.

XxXxX · Aug 14, 2026

Omnimaxus said:
Hi to everyone. I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm contemplating leaving Linux for the time being. Linux is great, yes, but ... yeah. I mean, it's gaining popularity (good), but at the same time, I do sometimes miss the convenience that Windows offers. Especially given how things "just work" on Windows. Same for the massive games library (no need for Crossover or Proton). Ditto for the enormous application offerings. I miss how applications can be installed. Just double-click on an .exe or .MSI and presto; you have a program ready to use. No Snaps or Flatpaks. I don't mind .DEB files, but you need an internet connection a lot of the time to properly install programs so their dependencies can be downloaded and installed. Again, Linux is great. Yes. Don't get me wrong.

But it's things like Wayland and X11 that can be annoying or seen as irritating to deal with. Wayland is simply not ready for primetime, period. X11 is fine, but it's dying. My question is, how is Windows 11 nowadays? Especially with recent reporting (by Windows Central, for example) that Microsoft has listened to users and made changes to improve the Windows experience (e.g., better control over the OS, better system performance, and less bloat along with the option to remove stuff like Copilot)? That's the part I'm curious about. I have a Windows 11 Pro license, too, so using Group Policy Editor is nice, too. Bottomline: Is Windows 11 (in its current state as of today) more tolerable; more user-oriented? Please advise; thanks very much. (Hope this is the right subforum to post in, by the way.)

i used Ubuntu for nearly 20 years and moved back to Windows about 3 years ago
i can honestly say i haven't had that many problems with Windows after i had removed everything i didn't want, which is about everything.

but Windows 11 itself is working just fine and i havent found another Linux distro to replace it.
just my thoughts
best of luck Steve ..

SlicEnDicE · Aug 14, 2026

Windows 11 is alright. Could be better though. Still a lot of bloat floating around, but generally quite usable. MS woke up a bit from all the backlash, so in the future I hope Windows 11 will be a bit leaner with less garbage roaming around in the background.

Sammy888 · Aug 14, 2026

From my experience, it takes a certain neurodivergent mindset to use and like Linux. And those users will typically despise Windows.

OldMainframeGuy · Aug 14, 2026

Windows 11 was off to a rough start (like most previous Windows versions) but it's sort of settled down now. I run StartAllBack to make the UI more tolerable. It's bloated and some people have an aversion to that bloat; I just ignore it. It doesn't get in my way.

Rob

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 14, 2026

My experience with Windows 11 has been different. I've used it since release in 2021, till 2025 I had no serious issues with it. But for most of this year it has been nothing but trouble. I'm a retired IT Manager and meticulously setup and admin my Windows installs. I think now that Windows 11 is the worst of all the Windows OSes post the last DOS versions. In the interests of compatibility MS have kept a lot of the old innards of the OS far too long.

IMHO

pepanee · Aug 14, 2026

I am using Windows 10 with no problems at all. Windows 10's Extended Security Updates stops on October 12, 2027. So there's that option until more bugs in Windows 11 could be patched.

TraderGary · Aug 14, 2026

There certainly are lots of different experiences. There are many thousands of different configurations that Microsoft has to program for. I've been fortunate to have made choices that resulted in no significant problems in almost five years of using Windows 11. For me Windows 11 has been solid, reliable, and the best version yet.

Marie SWE · Aug 14, 2026

Sammy888 said:
From my experience, it takes a certain neurodivergent mindset to use and like Linux. And those users will typically despise Windows.

not really..... you just have to hate windows a tiny bit more then you hate Linux.

*LOL*

....(my signature bottom row in red)

Edit:
Something constructive for the thread.
I really like windows 7...i think 10(LTSC) and 11(LTSC) is okay.

(Don't ask me what i think about 10/11 home/pro thogh.)

.

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 14, 2026

Marie SWE said:
not really..... you just have to hate windows a tiny bit more then you hate Linux. *LOL* ....(my signature bottom row in red)

The only OS I ever had a crush on was Windows 2000. The other Windows I've used well they're just operating systems that were/are like misbehaving children.

Marie SWE · Aug 14, 2026

Marcus Vinicus said:
The only OS I ever had a crush on was Windows 2000. The other Windows I've used well they're just operating systems that were/are like misbehaving children.

oh... yeah... i loved and still loving win2000.. i still have that on one of my Retro computers... winXP was great too.. except it was a virus magnet. *LOL*

bobkn · Aug 14, 2026

OldMainframeGuy said:
Windows 11 was off to a rough start (like most previous Windows versions) but it's sort of settled down now. I run StartAllBack to make the UI more tolerable. It's bloated and some people have an aversion to that bloat; I just ignore it. It doesn't get in my way.

Rob

Not sure what you refer to.

For me, 11 should have been labelled 10.1.

The big change was making some hardware security features mandatory, which excluded quite a few PCs.

Quandary · Aug 14, 2026

Omnimaxus said:
I have a Windows 11 Pro license, too, so using Group Policy Editor is nice, too. Bottomline: Is Windows 11 (in its current state as of today) more tolerable; more user-oriented? Please advise; thanks very much. (Hope this is the right subforum to post in, by the way.)

Windows 11 is generally very stable but continues to make minor improvements and UI changes. But the real decision factor is what apps you need to run and they supported on the platform you use. As previously suggested you could setup your PC (space being available) to dual-boot. Then play around to find out if ALL the apps you need are available and work on Windows before making a commitment. Or just continue dual booting.

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 14, 2026

Marie SWE said:
oh... yeah... i loved and still loving win2000.. i still have that on one of my Retro computers... winXP was great too.. except it was a virus magnet. *LOL*

Including that virus named after a certain tennis player?

SlicEnDicE · Aug 15, 2026

Oh, Windows 2000. I liked it because it was very stable. BUT, it was really slow and left a lot of performance on the table on multi CPU sytems and high end GPUs. At that time Linux was (not even lying) at least twice if not three times as efficient on a dual CPU system.

I don't know what MS did to the scheduler and the GPU department in the final version, but during beta tests Windows 2000 was as fast, if not faster as any Linux. Win ME kept that performance, but only for a single CPU and with insanely degraded stability. It was a complete mess.

OldMainframeGuy · Aug 15, 2026

bobkn said:
Not sure what you refer to.

For me, 11 should have been labelled 10.1.

The big change was making some hardware security features mandatory, which excluded quite a few PCs.

Not disagreeing with you. Security changes aside, to me, a lot of what Microsoft changed in Windows 11 was along the lines of "This is a new release of Windows so we have to make it look different and change stuff." Removing functionality from the taskbar, messing up the Start menu, making context menus less convenient to use - what was the point of any of that? It didn't make Windows 11 better, it just made it different so consumers would think they were getting something "new".

Currently on Linux - might switch; need some insight about the current state of Windows 11 ...

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