Installing OS, 10 years ago:
Windows: click a couple of buttons enter username and password
Linux: Terminal hacking, downloading shell scripts from github
Installing OS today:
Linux: click a couple of buttons, enter username and password
Windows: Terminal hacking, downloading shell scripts from github.
Link to video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qKRmYW1D0S0
They differ a lot. I don't understand why Microsoft does not want to improve on this situation. At minimum take all questions at once, or collect answers from existing installation. Maybe have some profiles of answers like wipe disk and privacy mode.
Microsoft's most important customers are businesses, who generally don't deal with this (they have corporate images). Home users also generally don't deal with this given they buy a computer that has already been configured.
Linux-based systems have always needed to be better because almost no one buys a computer with $DISTRO already installed and configured.
You are right, most don't need it. Yet they still have the wizard guide, and with several new GUI questions implemented. So they are maintaining the setup wizard - just does not want to improve it. I am sure Microsoft have the money to improve on it and make more users happy(read not leaving Windows).
Windows have come to a point where they don't need to improve much more. So they only focus on the stuff that might bring in extra money instead(ads and data harvesting). This will be their downfall if it does not align with what the users want. It will be interesting to see how the deal with ARM - problem to bring legacy programs. Yes, one day we will move to ARM on all new computers as they are just so much better. A good opportunity to rethink a lot and for Microsoft lose its big walls around Windows. Easier for competitors to come in.
Linux have also improved due to users always want a friendly GUI. And the users have more power to actually make a difference due to the nature of being open source. Automated installs here are still needed. A few sell OEM with Linux.
Just look at Apple, how big market share they have despite Microsoft have existed for so many years. 15% https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide The competition have started.
Windows is the side hustle, They sell server space now.
Right, so lets shutdown Windows as it does not bring in enough money.
I don't think that would be a good idea, to let it rot away. It is a business that brings in money after all, and it keeps the users using Microsoft office(Office 365) and all their products. They need to keep it alive.
They can half ass it, stuff it with ads, rake in the income and not lose enough users to worry. They have a monopoly and can just keep milking users.
It works for a while but they will lose market share over time. The home users are mostly not locked in to anything. It is just them that might use their pc at home for work(they should use their work laptop for that). Nowadays most things are webbased. Console/Steamdeck/Android/Chromebooks exists. Microsoft even made Visual Studio Code for any OS so coders can use any OS. The need for Windows is shrinking as people development alternative software for other platforms. It just take time.
The average user thinks their having a spell cast on them if they hear Linux. People are too afraid to learn how to use Windows let alone switch.
I think many is afraid. It is unknown OS. No one likes change. Many thinks IT is hard. especially elder people. However:
A kid does not have any problem with the above. This is why Steam Deck is selling. It is just fun to test something new with your friends and see what all the buttons do. Seen as cool. Any guess where this is going when they get adult?
The people able to figure out Linux will move over, but I don't think a typical Windows user that goes on Facebook and uses Excel is going to understand or care enough to leave. They are use to being abused.
That will put sticks in the development. A lot of people think like you say.
Keep dreaming. Only Apple has privacy mode they call Lockdown mode. Linux distros have real lockdown mode.
I meant - privacy mode just means answer no tracking on all the questions. Yes, they will still turn those back on when the next Windows update happen, but that is beside the point.