Articles about AR 4789

With support for Windows 10 winding down, many users are weighing up their next move. Traditionally, upgrading to the newest version of Windows was a no-brainer, but Windows 11 has complicated that decision. Its strict hardware requirements, growing insistence on a Microsoft account, system bloat, unpredictable updates, and an expanding focus on AI have left many users looking for alternatives, or at least wondering what else is possible.

Enter Windows Classic Remastered (Windows CR for short), a retro-inspired OS that shows us a version of Windows from an alternate reality; one where simplicity, consistency, and user control rule, rather than complexity and bloat.

Continue reading →

One of the first things people notice about Windows 11 is its redesigned interface, most obviously, the taskbar and Start menu, which are now centered. It’s a major departure from the classic layout of Windows 10 and earlier, and for long-time users, the change can take some getting used to.

If you’re someone who prefers the familiar feel of earlier versions, particularly Windows 7, there’s now a stylish way to bring that experience back.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 is set to reach its end of life later this year, meaning Microsoft will stop providing free security updates and support for the popular operating system. While extended security updates will be available for a fee, most users will need to choose between upgrading to Windows 11 or waiting for the long-rumored Windows 12.

Despite its continuous widespread use, Windows 10’s retirement marks a significant shift, pushing users toward a newer, AI-enhanced Windows experience -- whether they’re ready for it or not.

Continue reading →

Ever since Microsoft pulled the plug on support for Windows 7 in January 2020, many users have felt like something was missing. Known for its clean interface, reliability, and minimal bloat, Windows 7 struck a balance that newer versions of Microsoft Windows have struggled to replicate.

While Windows 10 and 11 have introduced modern features and visual updates, not everyone welcomes the shift,  especially those who value simplicity and familiarity (and don't want AI features jammed in everywhere). For a lot of longtime Windows users, Windows 7 wasn’t just an operating system; it was the sweet spot in Microsoft’s design history, and its "end of life" marked the beginning of a long search for that classic experience in a modern shell.

Continue reading →

For most people, the first thing that jumps out about Windows 11 is the centered taskbar and Start menu. It’s one of the most obvious changes Microsoft made to the new OS to differentiate it from Windows 10.

A change like that can be difficult to adjust to at first -- if you’ve been using Windows for years you’ll be used to everything being on the left. Windows 25 puts everything back where it belongs, and you can install it now.

Continue reading →

Every so often, we hear rumors about Microsoft’s next operating system, widely expected to be called Windows 12. The tech giant has been keeping quiet about its future plans, preferring instead to continue to update Windows 11, adding more AI features, and deprecating functionality it thinks we no longer need.

Although plenty of people still prefer Windows 10 to its successor, Windows 11 will be the only game in town in a matter of months when the older OS comes to its end of life later this year. Windows 11 isn’t bad -- far from it -- but it could be better, as evidenced by Windows 11 2025 Edition.

Continue reading →

Every so often, we get hints about Windows 12 -- usually in the form of accidental slips from Microsoft partners, like Intel. So far, though, that future OS has yet to be confirmed. Instead, what we get are continuous updates for Windows 11, typically with new AI features hastily jammed in.

But it’s 2025, and a new year is when we look forward to fresh beginnings and groundbreaking innovations. It’s time for a new Microsoft operating system. Let me introduce you to Windows 25.

Continue reading →

Windows 11, despite being marketed as a modern operating system, often feels visually uninspired and inconsistent. The rounded corners and glass-like transparency effects attempt a minimalist look but come across as bland rather than innovative.

Microsoft stepped out of its comfort zone with a centered taskbar and Start Menu, but that’s about as bold as the tech giant was prepared to go. Key UI elements, like the Start Menu, feel oddly sterile, with a basic grid of icons and limited customization, making it look more like a placeholder design than a refined final product.

Continue reading →

Microsoft is preparing to end free support for Windows 10 next year, although users will have the option to pay for continued security updates if they choose. While it’s possible to keep using the popular operating system safely, most people will face two choices: upgrade to Windows 11 or wait for the eagerly anticipated next-generation OS, widely expected to be called Windows 12.

Although Microsoft has yet to officially reveal its plans for the future of Windows, we have an idea of what it could look like.

Continue reading →

Windows 11, despite its modern design and advanced features, has been criticized for its bloated nature. The operating system demands substantial hardware resources, leaving many users with sluggish performance -- even on newer machines -- and Microsoft is jamming AI features into almost every corner of the OS, including the likes of Notepad and Paint, which doesn't help.

Perhaps it’s time to get back to basics, trim the fat, and give users the lightweight operating system they crave without sacrificing any modern functionality? Perhaps it's time for Windows 12 Lite.

Continue reading →

As you likely know, Microsoft is preparing to end support for Windows 10 next year, and while you can continue to use that OS, provided you do so safely, the main options will be to upgrade to Windows 11 or wait for the anticipated release of its successor, likely to be Windows 12.

While Microsoft hasn't officially confirmed the next-generation operating system, there have been numerous hints and rumors about what it might be like.

Continue reading →

Microsoft is set to pull the plug on Windows 10 in the near future, leaving people with the choice of upgrading to the AI-heavy Windows 11, or continuing to use an unsupported operating system -- and all of the dangers that entails.

Microsoft will offer paid support for anyone who wishes to keep using Windows 10, and 0patch will keep Windows 10 secure for at least five more years after Microsoft abandons it, but what we really need is a more modern version of that OS.

Continue reading →

Microsoft is busy introducing AI functionality across Windows 11. That's great, but a lot of users would prefer to see an operating system that’s more user-friendly and lets you customize it as you see fit.

The tech giant has a history of not necessarily following expected naming conventions -- whatever happened to Windows 9? -- so this look at an OS that’s Windows 13, not Windows 12, perhaps shouldn’t seem too outlandish.

Continue reading →

Microsoft plans to phase out support for Windows 10 soon (unless you pay, of course), leaving users with the option to either upgrade to Windows 11 or wait for the anticipated successor, likely to be Windows 12.

Although Microsoft hasn't officially announced that next-gen operating system yet, it has dropped plenty of hints, and there’s a good chance it will come jam-packed with AI functionality, as that is clearly where the operating system -- and the company -- is headed.

Continue reading →

Microsoft is preparing to discontinue support for Windows 10 in the near future, giving users the option to either upgrade to Windows 11 or wait for the anticipated successor, Windows 12.

We’re not expecting to see the arrival of the next-gen operating system this year -- Microsoft is focused on adding more AI functionality to Windows 11 at the moment -- but we do have an idea of what Windows 12 could look like.

Continue reading →