After 30 years with Linux, I switched it for Windows 11 – and found 9 serious problems

Linux vs Windows 11: Why This Weeklong Experiment Made Me Ditch Windows for Good

When I decided to spend a week using Windows 11 as my primary operating system, I approached it with an open mind. As a longtime Linux user, I wanted to experience firsthand what draws millions to Microsoft’s flagship OS. What I discovered instead was a frustrating, resource-hungry, and user-unfriendly experience that made me appreciate Linux more than ever.

The Local Account Nightmare

My first encounter with Windows 11’s pain points came immediately. Unlike Linux, where creating a new user account is as simple as typing sudo adduser username, Windows 11 made the process unnecessarily complicated. The system aggressively pushed me toward creating a Microsoft account, and when I resisted, I found myself jumping through hoops just to set up a basic local login. This wasn’t just inconvenient—it felt like the operating system was working against me from the very beginning.

Google Passkeys: A Compatibility Disaster

Next came the Google passkey fiasco. While I could seamlessly connect my Google account to a fresh Linux virtual machine within seconds, Windows 11 refused to cooperate. Even after enabling the “Hello” service as required, my Google passkey simply wouldn’t work. This wasn’t just a minor inconvenience—it was a fundamental failure of basic authentication functionality that left me locked out of essential services.

The Mailbird Malware Experience

When I needed an email client, I turned to the Microsoft App Store and installed Mailbird. What followed was nothing short of malware-like behavior. The application launched aggressive pop-ups demanding payment for the premium version, but these weren’t ordinary pop-ups—they completely locked me out of the system. I couldn’t access the task manager, couldn’t open a terminal, couldn’t do anything except watch my productivity grind to a halt. The only solution was a forced reboot and a frantic race to uninstall the application before it could relaunch itself automatically.

Natural Scrolling: When “Natural” Feels Unnatural

Windows 11’s natural scrolling option exemplifies how Microsoft sometimes gets usability completely wrong. After finding and disabling the feature in Settings, I expected the change to stick. Instead, Windows 11 repeatedly ignored my preference, forcing me to mentally adjust every time I used the trackpad. This constant battle between my muscle memory and the operating system’s stubborn defaults made every interaction feel like I was working in a parallel universe where everything was slightly wrong.

Ads in My Operating System?

Perhaps most shockingly, I discovered advertisements embedded directly into the Windows 11 interface. Ads appeared in the left panel and within the desktop menu itself. This isn’t just annoying—it’s a fundamental betrayal of what an operating system should be. I shouldn’t have to pay for software that then serves me ads. To escape this intrusion, I had to install the Seelen window manager, essentially abandoning the Windows interface entirely just to avoid seeing advertisements in my OS.

OneDrive Default: Cloud-First Without Consent

The first time I tried to save a document, Windows 11 immediately defaulted to OneDrive—despite the fact that I hadn’t even logged into the service. This cloud-first approach, implemented without my consent or even notification, represents everything wrong with modern software design. My files, my work, my data—suddenly being pushed to a cloud service I don’t use and don’t trust, all without asking.

Resource Hogging: Edge Processes Running Wild

During my Windows 11 experiment, I noticed my laptop running unusually hot with fans constantly spinning. Investigation revealed that msedgewebview2.exe was consuming massive amounts of resources—even though I exclusively used Opera for browsing and wasn’t actively using Edge at all. This background process was using more resources than my entire web browser with multiple tabs open. For what purpose? To serve ads? To track my activity? The opacity of Windows’ process management makes it impossible to know.

Security Settings: Confusing and Inconsistent

Windows Security presented another puzzle. I discovered that virus and threat protection, account protection, and app and browser control were supposedly disabled—yet when I checked other security pages, these same features were listed as “On.” This inconsistency isn’t just confusing; it’s dangerous. How can I trust my system’s security when the operating system itself can’t provide clear, consistent information about its protection status?

Power Management: Ignoring Basic Laptop Needs

Using Windows 11 on a laptop revealed another fundamental oversight: the operating system didn’t automatically adjust power settings for portable use. The screen wouldn’t dim, wouldn’t enter sleep mode, wouldn’t hibernate—behaviors that Linux handles automatically and intelligently. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a battery life killer that could leave users stranded with a dead laptop when they need it most.

The Constant Anxiety of Using Windows

Throughout my entire week with Windows 11, I never felt at ease. I was constantly worried about unexpected crashes, automatic updates rebooting my system mid-work, or some other surprise disrupting my workflow. This underlying anxiety made it impossible to be productive or enjoy using the computer. Every click felt like a potential trigger for some unwanted behavior.

Why Linux Wins Every Time

After seven days of frustration, I returned to Linux with a renewed appreciation for what makes it superior:

Control: Linux puts you in charge. Every setting, every behavior, every aspect of the system can be customized to work exactly how you want it to.

Transparency: Open-source means you can see what’s happening under the hood. No mysterious processes running in the background without explanation.

Efficiency: Linux distributions are lightweight and fast, even on older hardware. No resource-hogging background processes consuming your CPU and battery.

Security: Built-in security that works consistently, without confusing settings or contradictory status messages.

Freedom: No ads, no forced cloud services, no vendor lock-in. Your computer, your data, your choice.

The Verdict

My week with Windows 11 wasn’t just disappointing—it was revelatory. It confirmed everything I love about Linux while highlighting everything that’s wrong with modern proprietary operating systems. Windows 11 feels like it was designed to serve Microsoft’s interests first and the user’s interests second (or third, or fourth).

For anyone considering making the switch from Windows to Linux, my experience should serve as both a warning and an encouragement. The learning curve exists, but the payoff is enormous: an operating system that works for you, not against you; that respects your privacy and your choices; that lets you be productive without constant frustration.

Linux isn’t just an alternative to Windows—for many of us, it’s the only sensible choice for a modern computing experience.

Tags: Linux vs Windows, Windows 11 problems, ditch Windows for Linux, Linux advantages, Microsoft frustration, open source benefits, operating system comparison, Windows 11 review, Linux productivity, tech experiment

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