Linux user Tries Windows™

Summary

The creator, a long-time Arch Linux user, installs and evaluates Windows, tries to improve its default experience, and builds a minimalist desktop theme. The video is a personal comparison, not a neutral benchmark.

Installation and first impressions

• Windows installation is described as lengthy and more involved than installing the Linux distributions the creator has used. It includes multiple restarts, updates, setup prompts about telemetry and Microsoft services, and a Microsoft account requirement that the creator works around.
• The creator finds the initial interface sleek but bland and inconsistent. They particularly criticize the delayed right-click context menu, unwanted Copilot elements, and limited built-in customization.
• Windows requires installing and updating many apps individually from their websites, unlike the centralized package managers the creator prefers on Linux. They acknowledge that either approach can feel unfamiliar until you get used to it.

Windows fixes and customization guide

The creator demonstrates several ways to make Windows feel cleaner and more responsive:

1. Adjust a Registry setting to make context menus open faster. The video explains that the Registry stores system and application settings, and warns that incorrect changes can have unintended effects.
2. Run an open-source debloating script to remove preloaded apps and ads, reduce telemetry, disable unwanted AI features, and clean up parts of the interface. The creator recommends caution because the tool changes system settings, and updates may undo some changes.
3. Customize the browser and other apps. The creator finds Microsoft Edge cluttered by default but is able to configure it to their preference.

After these changes, the creator says Windows feels more usable, though still comparatively clunky and visually uninspired.

Desktop theming guide

The creator builds a transparent, minimalist Windows desktop using several tools:

• Wallpaper Engine for animated or more elaborate wallpapers. It is described as paid, proprietary software.
• StartAllBack to customize the taskbar and Start menu, including their appearance and icons. The creator uses it to create a more transparent, glass-like look. It is also proprietary and offers a free trial.
• Rainmeter for desktop widgets, including minimal system information such as CPU temperature.
• Windows Terminal, which the creator makes transparent through its settings.

The result is a cleaner desktop focused on the wallpaper, restrained widgets, and a less intrusive Start menu and taskbar. The creator notes that further customization, such as tiling window managers, is possible but outside the video’s scope.

Sponsored product review: LiberNovo Omni Pro chair

In a sponsored segment, the creator reviews the LiberNovo Omni Pro, comparing it favorably with their previous chair after using it while working and editing. Features discussed include:

• Adjustable “Bionic Flex Fit” back support with electric lumbar adjustment and a rechargeable USB-C battery.
• Adjustable seat height, armrests, backrest, and neck support, with a four-step setup guide.
• Five reclining modes, adjustable recline resistance, and an included leg rest.
• An “Omni stretch” mode intended to recline and stretch the back.
• Breathable fabric and electric seat ventilation.

Assembly took the creator about 50 minutes; tools and instructions were included. These are the creator’s impressions in a sponsored review. They say the chair is comfortable and a substantial upgrade for them.

Overall assessment

The creator concludes that Windows can be debloated and themed into an experience they find more acceptable, but that it still has greater overhead than Linux. They also say proprietary tools and closed-source system behavior reduce transparency.

In the creator’s view, Windows’ advantage is its broad native software availability and the fact that many applications do not require compatibility layers such as Wine. They mention dual-booting as an option for people who need Windows-only software, but say the experiment did not make them want to switch from Linux.

Main speakers and sources

• Main speaker: The video’s creator, speaking as themselves and through the “Evil Dinky” persona.
• Other source: LiberNovo, whose Omni Pro chair is featured in a sponsored segment and reviewed by the creator.