Magmarock: Linux loves the internet and networking. What it doesn’t like, is being offline and running closed source software.
I wonder, why are you thinking that?
My Linux netbook (Samsung N308) never complained about lack of internet connection despite it being offline 99.9% of the time (I use it for presentations on-the-go).
Also, none of my PCs ever warned me about perils of using closed-source software. Skype? Zoom? No problem! GOG games (all of which are closed-source) -- any day of the week! nVidia drivers? Sure thing!
Magmarock: It’s almost the opposite for Windows.
Interesting! So, a mandatory Microsoft account for Windows 11 installation has been removed, yes? Or mandatory updates?
Magmarock: Remember Windows XP?
Yes. Fondly. It went downhill from there on, and pretty fast.
Magmarock: Remember how it would slow down after a while.
As far as my students' notebooks are concerned (all running Windows 8-10), nothing has changed. :) Death of a Windows installation is a matter of death of
its registry caused by multiple edits (mainly by installing/uninstalling software). It has been so, it is so, and it will be so. Forever. It is a design flaw (or "feature").
Magmarock: Have you ever used a Windows machine offline for an extended period of time. When kept offline Windows works about as well as Linux online. This is why my main gaming rig is an offline Windows machine. It stays fast and reliable.
Yes I had. It is fast if it is "fresh". Software installations/usage trashes Windows, so if it was up to me to manage a Windows install, I'd rather install all the software in one bulk under admin account, make a snapshot and then forget this account exists and start using only "limited user" account from there on. And after it gets trashed, just delete it and create a new one.
Obviously, this trick is insanely hard to pull off for any "average Windows user" (half of whom are using admin accounts daily), so a Windows install invariably gets trashed over time. It is a question of "when", not "if".
Magmarock: Over time Windows has gotten worse while Linux has gotten better, but I still wouldn’t want to use it as a gaming platform.
That's your call. No one forces you.
Magmarock: At this point if Windows gets to a point where I am no longer willing to use it I’d probably just go back to consoles, and use Linux for internet.
No, you won't. And you know that. Consoles can not be used for productivity or content creation. They are only for "consuming". For anything constructive you have to use a proper PC. Consoles/Tablets/Smartphones just won't cut it.