Thursday, January 29

Daily News Stuff 29 January 2026

Microsloop Edition

Top Story

• Windows 11 now has a billion users, all of whom hate it. (Thurrott)

I wouldn’t advise clicking on that link without adblock enabled. (Or even better, just using Brave.) The comments weren’t loading, so I tried turning off adblock, and it launched multiple videos all playing at once and choked my browser to the point that I couldn’t even close the tab.

And it turns out they’re testing a new comment system and it’s not working properly.

Anyway:

As part of today’s quarterly earnings conference call, Microsoft revealed that there are now over one billion Windows 11 users. That’s a big milestone by any measure, but here’s what I find interesting: It took Windows 11 less time to reach one billion users than it did for Windows 10.

By three months, and they had to murder Windows 10 to do it.

Today, the narrative is that everyone hates Windows 11. I complain about the enshittification, which is real. But that started with Windows 10 (or, really Windows . And I don’t "hate” Windows 11, nor do I see hatred out in the world.

I don’t think you’ve looked, Paul.

• Microsoft forced me to switch to Linux. (Himthe)

So there I was, finally grasping the reality of what you’re up against, as a Windows user:

• Random bugs that break basic functionality
• Updates that install without permission and brick my system
• Copilot and OneDrive ads appearing in every corner of the OS
• Copilot buttons everywhere, coming for every application
• Can’t even make a local account without hacking the setup with Rufus (they even removed the terminal workaround)
• Zero actionable fixes or even an aknowledgment of their fuckups

Sounds about right, yes.

People often say Linux is "too much work.".

And I agree. They’re completely justified to complain. There’s the documentation page diving, the forums, the reddit threads. And, most importantly, you have to basically rewire your brain and stop expecting it to behave like Windows used to.

But I looked at the list above and realized: Windows is now *also *too much work. And the difference with Windows is that you’re going to do all that work while actively fighting your computer only for it to be undone when the next surprise update comes and ruins everything.

There is also Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Edition LTSC.

Or Windows 7, which doesn’t get updates so it doesn’t break.

Tech News

• AMD’s 9850X3D is here. (Tom’s Hardware)

It’s only slightly faster than the 9800X3D and uses a lot more power, but it’s still a lot faster and uses a lot less power than the best Intel chips, so... Whatever.

If you want a system that runs cool the 7800X3D is a little slower but amazingly power-efficient.

• An illustrated guide to hippo castration. (Science)

Oh, good. I was wondering where I put that.

• There is no mold at the Uffizi. (Scientific American)

And when we say there is none, I mean there is some.

• France is planning to follow Australia in banning social media for children under 15. (The Guardian)

In Australia the number of visitors to such sites hasn’t declined one iota despite five million accounts being banned.

Odd, that. You’d almost think that kids are smarter than politicians.

• Beyond Meat’s protein soda might be its last chance and best hope. (The Verge) (archive site)

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Give me Windows 95 or give me death!

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