Non-AI laptop for Windows 11, better memory usage, no AI problems

I have been using the Dell 16 Plus DB16255 laptop for about 8 months now. This laptop has been sent back to Dell twice for repair that they did not repair anything and heat issues that I resolved myself. I paid $1200 for this Dell laptop and it has been the worst laptop I ever owned. When you include all the time spent trying to correct Windows 11 problems from Windows Updates and trying to make AI not run, I wasted lots of time on this laptop. The laptop has 32GB memroy, Windows 11 Pro consumes around 15GB to 19.4GB of memory now without running any programs/apps. When I disable all the AI services, the memory usage drops down to around 8GB to 9GB area. That does not last long because all the AI services enable again.

I have been looking at prices of laptops in the past several months, tracking several different models throughout this time. The prices go up and down at times, mostly up any more, and all these Copilot+ PC/laptops have not impressed me. With switching or migrating users from Windows 11 to either Mac OS or Linux, I have been listening to all these users reasons on why they were switching. Basically, all the same reasons that we al hear about.

I bought an Acer Aspire 3 laptop that I found on sale for $499. This has an non-AI processor in it: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U. The memory uses 16GB LPDDR5, non-upgradable or non-replaceable memory, is the only con on the laptop so far. This Acer laptop running Windows 11 Pro (upgraded from Home) without all the AI background processes seeems fast compared to my other laptop. Seems like Windows 11 run faster, more stable, and you can actually get things done. Seems like I stepped back in time again, some, but it is still Windows 11.

I found the memory consumption far better on the Acer laptop running Windows 11 Pro:


I plan on installing at Linux on this laptop as my previous Linux laptop died (up in smoke in a way). I have no use for AI/Copilot and eliminating AI feels like a relief.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to use the third-party script to remove the Windows 11 AI features.

I have high end HP Zbook workstations. None of that consumer laptop crap. Your mileage may vary.

FreeBooter said:

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to use the third-party script to remove the Windows 11 AI features.

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I have tried many debloat scripts to remove AI/Copilot crap that Microsoft just re-enables whenever there is an update. Modifying Windows 11 all the time seems to make it unstable and causes more problems. Microsoft is adding more security to the registry where you cannot modify settings.

AI is useful in certain contexts: informational queries and file searches.

NormanF said:

I have high end HP Zbook workstations. None of that consumer laptop crap. Your mileage may vary.

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Microsoft seems to be modifying the Proton Security Processor along with TPM 2.0 updates causing the memory increase and more AI services to run in the background. The AI Agents are linked to those features and I don't need AI Agent running in Windows 11 modifying files that don't need modifying.

I do not see the need to spend $1600+ on a laptop for myself with AI features/enabled where I do not use any AI features at all.

The Snapdragon X2 laptops are good laptops, but spending $3500 on a Snapdragon X2 laptop with 48GB memory just to handle AI/Copilot usage seems excessive to me. Not everyone can afford those laptops, nor really needs them. Retail stores are not wanting to you to buy those non-AI laptops, but they are still available for now.

I agree. I spent $500 on my dual core ultrabook and quad core workstation. Spending thousands was more than I budgeted,

The agentic future I don't mind but I decide when I need AI, not the other way around.

NormanF said:

I agree. I spent $500 on my dual core ultrabook and quad core workstation. Spending thousands was more than I budgeted,

The agentic future I don't mind but I decide when I need AI, not the other way around.

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This makes me wonder about the upcoming GoogleBook. On what I have read about the Aluminium OS and its capabilities, if this is all true so far, I would defnitely switch from Windows to GoogleBook. Marketing fluf and what actually the OS allows are two different things, look at Microsoft.

There are many threads to disable CoPilot in Tutorials, I don't know which one applies to you.


Also before considering a non-Microsoft OS, write a list what you do with your computer. Can you do the same without Windows? If not, stay clear of non-Microsoft OSes. If yes, then ask yourself if you are satisfied by limiting your computer to doing only that (such as Office work and browsing the internet). Probably no, you would like to be able to do more. The best possible compatibility with software and hardware and the easiest to use is Windows 10/11. Anything else is a substitute with a steep learning curve. Think twice before switching to another OS. I would like my expensive computer to be able to do everything and many more. I would not like to limit it anyway, so I would never install anything else, even if I was stuck to a very old Windows version, such as 7. My unsupported computer (2nd system specs) runs Windows 11 25H2 fine and will also run 26H2. I see no real reason to switch. Think carefully before you do something you will regret. Don't believe the nonsense Linux fans say. Linux is not going by magic to transform your PC. Yes, it will be a little faster, so what? It will also be much more limited and more difficult to use. No thanks!

spapakons said:

Think carefully before you do something you will regret. Don't believe the nonsense Linux fans say. Linux is not going by magic to transform your PC. Yes, it will be a little faster, so what? It will also be much more limited and more difficult to use. No thanks!

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History: I have been using and running Linux from 1995 to now. I started with Microsoft MS-DOS 1.0 and still supporting and using Microsoft OSes to date. I've used macOS in the early days and sporadically over the past 30 years. So switching to a different OS, in case my case, is really nothing. I used to run all three OSes for some time.

You are correct about the points you made about switching an OS. I've been switching Windows users to macOS and a few to Linux. Some find out it is not what they expected or find limitations that puts them back to Windows.

I dealt with many "Linux fans" (aka zealots/extremists/radicals) that think Linux is the ultimate OS to run. If you watch most of them, they eventually go back to using Windows. Microsoft has greatly damaged Windows usage and reputation over the years. Microsoft eliminated the "user experience" and now they are trying to get it back.

Overall, I prefer LInux over Windows, but my career for the past 42 years has been based on Microsoft OSes and everything else. Microsoft makes me money, Linux hasn't made me money, but Linux for me is the best to use.

Piece of advice: TRY the alternative OS using a Live USB or in a virtual machine to familiarize and check if this is what you want, BEFORE you switch. I give 90% chance to stay with Windows. Murphy's Law says 99% you will regret it after you discover the limitations and incompatibilities compared to Windows.

Another annoying BS I read about Linux is that you can customize it as you like it. BS!!! That is only true if you write your own code. Built-in tools or third-party tools are no match for Windows native or third-party tools to customize Windows. Also default Windows blue looks a lot nicer than Mac OS all gray or Ubuntu orange.

PS: If you prefer the colorful 3D icons and other features of earlier Windows versions, such as Windows 7, there are ways to restore them in Windows 11. See the Customization threads. In my PC I have Windows 8.1 system icons, Windows 7 start button and start menu, Windows 10 File Explorer without tabs, even Windows 7 gadgets and Windows Media Center.

spapakons said:

Another annoying BS I read about Linux is that you can customize it as you like it. BS!!! That is only true if you write your own code.

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Based on my experience where I have used Fedora Linux for decades, there is a lot of customization options for KDE/GNOME desktops. Windows has very limited customization. Possibly the Desktop Environment (DE) selected along with the distro may had restrictions, which is not what Linux is about.

Customize what? Interface (Gnome or KDE etc), colors, icons? All these and many more are done in Windows as well. What else? Add/remove features? This is done in Windows too. I bet anything else requires advanced user experience, most likely using the dreaded Terminal, not everyone can do it, so it is pointless to mention it. My thoughts exactly.

See this Google search result. Like I said, you have to be an advanced user or even programmer to truly customize Linux, so pointless to even mention it.