I've been using Windows 11 for over two years and am planning to switch back.
I've been using Windows 11 for over two years and am planning to switch back.
Looks like you're considering switching to Linux soon. Proton seems solid, and you're planning to make the move next year. You're also thinking about how Microsoft might continue harming Windows through ads and privacy issues.
It seems reasonable to assume a similar pattern with Windows 10 to 11. Many of the laptops I work on from that era still have driver support, especially since recent releases often include updates. Issues tend to appear with newer hardware like ATi Radeon cards, but core components such as storage controllers and chipsets usually function across versions. The difference between Vista and 10/11 is noticeable, yet drivers from reputable manufacturers generally adapt well.
“95% of the time” numerous drivers function across many generations of an operating system, yet not uniformly. I own a USB Microsoft webcam with Windows 7 drivers, but it fails completely on Windows 10. Additionally, this workstation is quite old—the Z840 runs Haswell-based Xeon, which isn’t supported in Windows 11 either. I wouldn’t anticipate compatibility in Windows 11, as the HP support documentation is outdated and doesn’t reference Windows 10.
It's nice when people are open to swapping Windows problems for Linux concerns and getting involved. Proton performs well, don't you think?
Oh I'm aware it isn't new by most people's definitions. Still seems really odd that the kernel is almost the same between 10 and 11, while there is quite a gap from Vista - 7 - 8.1 - 10, yet I've only had driver problems going from Vista to 10 (save for one particularly scummy manufacturer)
It's reasonable to feel that way. The OS and hardware aren't meeting the expectations set by the promises, and the gap between what we expect and what actually happens is bigger than in earlier Windows releases.
For apps not dependent on Windows 11, it's best to switch to Windows 10 or consider Linux as a more suitable option.