The Rising Cost of Windows Computing

It seems like Windows computing is becoming more and more expensive. Software vendors are pushing monthly or annual subscription models, which are burdensome. I miss the days when I had my old Windows XP system, packed with amazing software that was mine to keep. On my current Windows 10 PC, I've barely installed anything aside from MS Office 365 / PDF Reader / Winamp, keeping things barebones. It's frustrating because I miss being a power user, having a wide variety of software right at my fingertips, to try and explore. You could buy an older version of a software on CD. There was an option.

Movie editing software is now priced like a luxury, and while I do still have an older version on my Windows XP machine, it feels outdated. Even animation software is prohibitively expensive these days. Why should I spend a fortune on a new PC if the software to run on it costs so much?

I've always been a fan of traditional desktop software, but what's the point when it seems like everything is moving to the cloud? Most of the software is browser-based now, and you don't even own your data—it's all stored on someone else's servers. It feels like we're losing control of our own systems.

As for Windows 11, I just don't see what's so great about it. Microsoft seems determined to make Windows 10 obsolete, but in my view, there's been very little real innovation. Windows 8 tried to push the Microsoft Store, but that was hardly a success. Most apps on it barely manage to get 3 stars out of 5. I'm hesitant to make the jump to Windows 11, only to find that something I rely on no longer works. Windows 11, can't run Android apps. It does n't have widgets like Android. I had the UI on modern PC, I prefer older UI, which had a "3D" buttons.

I do enjoy using ChatGPT, but even that's cloud-based, but it is exciting.

The truth is, I don't need to spend $1,500 on a high-end PC just to use a browser. The whole system feels broken, with high costs for hardware and software that's hard to own or control.

I am a PC fanboy, but there has been innovation in the OS. Microsoft keep buying up rivals and it has killed off innovation. Android is more exciting platform. I am considering Chromebook Plus, but it n't where I want to go.

Quote from: heffeque on February 14, 2025, 01:31:01Other than games [...], there's no normal-user scenario where an 8-year-old PC is considered too slow to run modern applications.

Uh, with "normal-user" you can win every argument. However, there are quite a few prosumer applications, such as AI (not the NPU fake AI stuff, but real AI on dGPUs), that profit from fast modern hardware.

World is in an economic meltdown, the moron Chump has started global trade war, inflation is rising again, nothing was released that enticed people to upgrade, already what they have will be fine for another generation at least. Hardly surprising. Perfect storm of factors IMO.

For the average consumer using their home personal computer for personal stuff - do they really NEED/REQUIRE a bit more performance?

For all but the most demanding professional work, is a PC refresh cost effective?

Last but not least, as the time & ability to make smaller transistors slows down making the generational differences of devices more related to 'tweaks' and power savings enhancements the performance graph is going to flatten out.

While Microsoft and other Vendors try to strap on resource hungry "AI" in attempts to jump start a need for more powerful devices, consumers can see for themselves the almost countless Billions tossed at HUGE "AI" server farms which to date have produced NO viable/marketable product.

Typed on a perfectly functional 2013 2C4T/8GB RAM/128GB Storage. :)

Maybe people are staying with their current PCs longer because they're good enough for their use-case.
Other than games (and Windows 11 TPM cr*p), there's no normal-user scenario where an 8-year-old PC is considered too slow to run modern applications. That didn't used to be the case.

The good thing is that we are at a point where the biggest advancements are still happening on low powered devices (laptops, tablets, etc.)
Today, extracting all the juice possible while using the minimum power possible + better quality batteries still give people reasons to upgrade. I still remember the time when clunky slow laptops could only run on battery for a couple hours when brand new, and just a year or two later the battery lasted 15 minutes at most.

Another reason could be that more people from developing countries have access to PCs, which is awesome news.