I want to talk to you about Windows 11 - WAN Show Jun 25, 2021

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centered on Microsoft’s Windows 11 reveal, with hosts weighing real improvements like UI redesign, touch support, gaming features, and Android app sideloading against frustration at the event’s fluff and restrictive choices. They also covered the GoldenEye Far Cry 5 remake takedown, John McAfee’s death, crypto-market fallout, and ended with a long Steam Summer Sale shopping discussion.

Main Topics: Windows 11 reveal: design, features, and frustrations (Priority: 5/5): The hosts dissected Microsoft’s announcement, praising the frosted-glass UI, snap layouts, touch improvements, widgets, gaming integration, and Android app support, while criticizing the event for wasting time on marketing and omitting important details like system requirements and availability. User choice vs. Microsoft control in Windows (Priority: 5/5): A major thread was concern that Windows 11 reduces user freedom, especially by locking the taskbar to the bottom, removing timeline/live tiles/tablet mode, and tightening search/account behaviors. They argued software should let users choose their own workflow. Windows 11 requirements, TPM, and compatibility concerns (Priority: 4/5): The discussion dug into TPM 2.0/1.2, secure boot, and why older or legacy-boot systems may face upgrade pain. They noted the possibility of forced installs and the risk of hardware changes breaking installs or creating admin headaches. Copyright takedown of GoldenEye recreations in Far Cry 5 (Priority: 4/5): They discussed a fan-made recreation of GoldenEye levels in Far Cry 5 being pulled after a copyright claim, likely involving MGM and possibly soundtrack issues. The hosts debated fair use, preservation, and the broader downside of aggressive enforcement. John McAfee’s death and crypto fallout (Priority: 3/5): The episode covered McAfee being found dead in a Spanish jail shortly after extradition approval, alongside speculation, his own ominous tweets, and broader crypto-market impacts from China’s mining crackdown and falling Bitcoin prices. Steam Summer Sale game recommendations and shopping spree (Priority: 3/5): The show ended with a playful, extended live shopping session where Linus asked chat for game recommendations and discussed titles like Far Cry 5, Titanfall 2, Outer Wilds/Worlds, Valheim, Hades, Dishonored, Doom Eternal, and others.

Key Arguments: Windows 11’s actual product changes matter more than Microsoft’s polished presentation; the event spent too much time on brand storytelling and too little on useful engineering details. Touch-focused improvements are reasonable in 2021 because many Windows laptops and 2-in-1s have touchscreens, and unlike Windows 8, Windows 11 does not seem to sacrifice desktop usability for touch. Users should have the freedom to position the taskbar and start menu where they want; locking them to the bottom is seen as an unnecessary limitation. Search in Windows remains unreliable because it prioritizes web results and often fails at basic local file/program lookup, and telemetry may mislead Microsoft into thinking the current behavior is successful. TPM and secure boot requirements may improve security but could create major compatibility and maintenance problems for DIY builders and enterprise admins, especially if hardware swaps or legacy boot modes are involved. The GoldenEye remake takedown is a reminder that copyright enforcement can be legally defensible yet still harmful to fans, preservation, and dormant franchises. Microsoft appears to be steering Windows toward an ecosystem platform centered on Store, Game Pass, Teams, widgets, and Android app support rather than a purely local desktop OS.

Data Points: Windows 10 end-of-life date: October 14, 2025 - Mentioned as part of the Windows 11 rollout context and Windows 10’s service life. Windows 10 service life: Just over 10 years - Compared to Windows 7’s lifespan in discussion of OS longevity. Window taskbar alignment: Center-aligned by default - Part of the Windows 11 redesign discussion. Windows 11 launch timing: New PCs late this year; Windows 10 update early 2022 - Based on Microsoft FAQ discussed in the transcript. Windows 11 system requirements: 2+ cores, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, DirectX 12 GPU, secure boot, TPM 2.0 - Hosts discussed Microsoft’s requirements and compatibility concerns. TPM nuance: TPM 1.2 may work for DIY systems - They noted the requirement was more nuanced than first reported. Windows Store revenue share: 100% for apps using third-party payment processors; 12% for games - Presented as a notable Windows Store policy change. Bitcoin price: About $32,000 USD - Discussed in relation to the crypto crash and China’s mining restrictions. Bitcoin high: About $65,000 USD - Used to frame the scale of the decline. Far Cry 5 sale price: $11.99 CAD - Used during the Steam Summer Sale shopping discussion. Acquisition price of Boston Dynamics: $1.1 billion - Discussed after Hyundai’s purchase of Boston Dynamics. McAfee tax charges: $4.2 million - Referenced as the amount allegedly owed related to cryptocurrency promotion income.

Pivotal Quotes: "they spent the vast majority of my precious time alive on this earth talking about stuff that doesn't matter and very little of the time talking about features that engineers actually worked on" — Anthony (as quoted by Linus): Critique of Microsoft’s Windows 11 event format and priorities. "the point was not that there is no other way to dial a number ... it would cost basically nothing for apple to implement it and there's also nothing wrong with t9 dialing" — Linus: Used as an analogy for arguing that user choice should be cheap and available in Windows too. "if i suicide myself i didn't i was whacked" — John McAfee (via quoted tweet): Referenced during the segment on McAfee’s death and the surrounding controversy.

Implications: Listeners are urged to separate Microsoft’s marketing from the practical realities of Windows 11: some features look promising, but compatibility, control, and ecosystem direction may matter more than the launch presentation. The copyright and crypto segments highlight ongoing tensions around ownership, enforcement, and platform power.