Tech Tips
Notes from the field on what's actually going on with the tech you use every day, starting with Windows 11's rockier moments.
Windows 11's Rough Patches
Setting up Windows 11 Home without an internet connection and a Microsoft account has gotten harder with every release, even for a PC that's never going to leave your desk.
Windows quietly began taking periodic screenshots of your activity for AI search. It touched off enough backlash that Microsoft has walked parts of it back. Worth knowing it exists either way.
App "suggestions," lock screen promos, and Copilot nudges show up in more places than most people expect from an OS they already paid for.
TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a fairly recent CPU are required to upgrade, leaving plenty of otherwise capable machines stuck on Windows 10 as support winds down.
Not thrilled with any of that?
Windows is still the right call for plenty of people and plenty of software. But if you're tired of fighting your own operating system, there's a lighter-weight option that runs great on the hardware you already own.
Explore Linux Mint →