8.1 was the last decent version of Windows.
Yeah, I think 7 was the last good version. 8.1 was "sorry for 8.0" but the damage was done and the path forward (wonkily sideways and backwards) was set.
What's this end your are taking about? People day that about every new version of Windows at least since the 95 release and it doesn't seem to be happening.
> I'm not saying the old style is better for everyone, just me
I'm on the same page. But also, I wouldn't necessarily have a problem with getting used to the new interface, except it doesn't show all the things the old interface had, some of which I use(d) frequently enough to be annoyed about their absence, meaning that I'd have to go back to the old interface, in turn meaning that I can't yet forget the old to make brain-space for the new. I find this infuriating, possibly because it highlights my brain's personal tech-debt; some kind of "curse of knowing".
Windows 7 was the last user friendly OS Microsoft has released, in my opinion. Windows 10 was a desperate attempt to take the 8 framework and stuff it into the desktop, but I don't think it's all as well-integrated as Windows 7 was.
It's a shame. The Windows 10/11 kernel is a marvel of technology. I just wish I could run the Windows 7 UI on top of it (and disable all the obnoxious tracking).
The decline definitely began at 8 and has accelerated recently.
Zoinks!
There are also lock screen ads by default called "windows spotlight"
This is the kind of user disrespecting stuff that I switched to Fedora for. I paid for your damn operating system. Stop jerking me around
Serious question. How do I enable ads on my windows 10 install? I reinstalled a while ago and don't feel like I've done anything special and windows has not shown me any ads that I am aware of.
My lockscreen is a randomized background, which I quite like, and a prompt for my user & password. Nothing else.
My start menu was shrunk in width to get rid of all of those tiles and just shows a list of software I have installed, and can be searched by typing in it. No ads, unless you count the "recently added" section listing software I installed recently.
Same reason you have that on iOS -- to easily reset it if the ad network gets too creepy.
It's not widely in use, and refers to the ad network available in some UWP/Store apps, e.g.: some of the ad-supported Microsoft casual games.