Nomad List founder Pieter Levels criticizes Windows 11 for full-screen, multi-step Microsoft 365 upsell ads on a paid license

Okay so the solution is get LTSC version of Windows which is for enterprise and doesn't do any of this!

@levelsio Had to set up a dell the other day. Opened the Start Menu. Ads. Launched one of the built-in games. Ads.

I complain a lot about Liquid Glass but I'll take questionable designs over built-in ads any day.

yeah this is annoying especially if you don't use windows everyday

press win + i search for notifications & actions scroll to the bottom and expand 'additional settings'

Untick the pictured ones

If that doesnt work alter reg with: reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UserProfileEngagement" /v ScoobeSystemSettingEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Shouldn't be so complicated..

@levelsio @pavandavuluri

@levelsio Windows 7 was the last good OS they will ever make at this rate

@levelsio It’s called Windows for a reason: lots of windows getting in your way.

@levelsio Windows (and Microsoft by extension) remains stubbornly attached to outdated Web2 behaviors.

They seem to believe consumers will continue to tolerate intrusive pop-ups, making it feel as though they no longer care about the user experience.

@levelsio The LTSC release of Windows 10 is by far the most usable version, it keeps out of your way like an OS should. None of the stuff added in consumer versions does anything but annoy me

@levelsio Run their developer config setup script and get " a clean, lightweight, distraction-free developer workstation." https://github.com/microsoft/WindowsDeveloperConfig

@andmyjake @levelsio This should be unticked by default though, or at least asking how the user wants to see it in the first run

@rhao_eth Ah yes what a scam to have such a great solid aluminum MacBook Pro 16"

@levelsio Mac is much less annoying about it but they definitely do it:

iCloud, Apple TV, Apple Care, Apple Fitness

I can’t even turn my Mac Studio off because System Settings is blocked witj an iCloud upgrade pop up that isnt keyboard accessible….

@levelsio you didnt pay for macos because you get scammed on the hardware though

I hate it as well - I also use windows just for gaming, it is a dedicated PC - I don't do anything besides gaming there.

Every month there is some random popup that blocks everything - OneDrive or some Microsoft account stuff.

I am already thinking to install SteamOS there but too lazy to do anything :D Well, I also still run non-steam games once a year

@levelsio Yeah if you're going to use windows you need to alter it with stuff like The Ultimate Windows Utility by Chris Titus or complete custom versions of windows that strip out the bs like this. MacOS has its own problems though so I personally just use Linux.

@shadcn That's crazy 😂

@levelsio the fact it KEEPS asking is a massive failure too. after a user has said no 100+ times continuing to show then is either i) greed , trying to wear them down until they pay or ii) bad design

@shadcn @levelsio Wait until you install chrome. Edge has a meltdown and interjects an add into the Google results page to convince you to keep using Edge.

Peak desperation.

@shadcn @levelsio I refuse to help my kids with anything, usually school-related, if it requires Windows.

@levelsio (all) Linux doesn't do this also :)