After mulling over it for close to 14 years, it seems Microsoft is finally ready to kill off the Windows Control Panel soon. An official confirmation has been posted on its website.
I mean, if there’s still gonna be command line commands for all the features then there’s no reason why a 3rd party couldn’t make a gui app for them and recreate the control panels app
Powershell at first seems to be weird and clunky, but after you get used to its syntax you can quickly look up and use its commands without much guessing.
The little time I have spent on powershell, I found it to be very slow. The input is also very verbose.
I’m sure someone will say it allows one to be specific but I can be equally specific in bash as well.
It’s like the Java Enterprise of scripting language.
It is verbose. It’s intended to be readable by untrained people, with a consistent verb-subject format for commands (e.g. Get-ChildItem, Set-Variable), though it turns out that concept doesn’t scale very well and the format gets increasingly broken when you get into the Azure PowerShell commands (New-AzLoadBalancerInboundNatRuleConfig).
The real power of PowerShell is that it can interact with .NET directly (because it is .NET), which allows you to quickly and easily build scripts for anything that uses .NET (like Windows). For instance, you can view or edit registry keys of other systems through a PowerShell remote session (using the .NET RegistryKey class), and set up a loop to edit a registry key across a list of machines remotely (I used to do this while managing on-prem AD groups in my last job, it’s much faster and easier than trying to change registry keys through remote desktop sessions, more reliable because it’s programmatic, and you can easily log the command output and catch any systems that failed to accept the change).
PowerShell might not be what Bash is for the average Linux user, but it’s a massive improvement for managing Windows systems at scale. Anyone who works in corporate IT should learn PowerShell.
For instance, you can view or edit registry keys of other systems through a PowerShell remote session (using the .NET RegistryKey class)
It’s like a built-in Ansible equivalent (the configuring and management part at least). I’ll agree that’s neat. If I managed a fleet of Windows machine, I would properly learn that.
But I don’t think it’s something for the average home user. And the Linux way of configuring remote machines is too easy.
Powershell has a completely different approach of working with commands than traditional Unix shells. You pretty much don’t know what you are talking about.
That’s fine, I also pretty much prefer standard Unix tools, due to how efficient they are, but you can’t just say made up stuff with no valid explanation, because Powershell has still nothing to do with bash.
I felt the /s was implied but clearly enough people actually believe that linux is only for people who master arcane command lines that it could be taken as a genuine belief.
Unfortunately, most Windows users are not tech savy and will never move to Linux, regardless of how user-friendly Linux becomes. It would take large-scale retailers switching their computers to have Linux pre-installed instead of Windows before any meaningful transition happens.
Not tech savy person here who’s interested in switching to Linux but afraid of fucking it up and the one guy I knew in real life who used Linux and would’ve helped me out died during covid so I’m on my own.
My old computer won’t support windows 11 and I’m not in a position to upgrade my hardware. I’ve been poking around trying learn about linux but I’m more of a hands on learner so basically I’m going to have to learn as I go which is quite scary for someone who’s never even seen a computer running it.
Got an extra USB stick and an old laptop kicking around you’re okay with wiping? Ideally 4GB RAM but 2GB would be okay. Start with Linux Mint and follow their installation guide - verifying the ISO image in Windows is probably the toughest part.
Or make absolutely certain you’re on the official Mint website, torrent it and don’t bother checking, I’m not your mother. “Who the f**k checks those anyway?” (Mint hasn’t been hacked since, but it’s part of why they’re pushing verifying, they know that their users have been targeted before. Also if something goes wrong with the download the install will fail and you’ll waste more time than if you just checked.)
If you don’t have a spare computer, a live USB can let you try Linux without making changes to your computer, but it’s going to be slow - a proper install is going to be a much nicer experience. If you’re okay without persistence (ie you can’t change anything or install additional programs for the next time you boot into it), just follow the Linux Mint website’s installation guide and stop before the actual install step. For persistence, try this method instead, but you really don’t want to use it long term, USB sticks aren’t designed for this.
Once you’ve tried it live and you think you like the desktop environment, but if you’re not sure you’re ready to fully commit, if your computer has an extra slot for an SSD you could buy a second one and dual boot, that’s what I did. (Dual booting on the same drive is doable but more of a headache, and even on a different drive Windows doesn’t always play nicely.)
Thank you much for this! I really appreciate that you took the time write all of that out
I do have an old laptop I can use for learning on, don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to try linux on that first, but I’ll definitely do that, follow your instructions and see how it goes.
I genuinely want to switch, just didn’t have the confidence to actually try. Thank you again for the great advice! I gotta go dig out that old laptop.
If you aren’t ready to fully commit to installing it on a hard drive, you could probably make a live USB stick of Linux. There are installers built to run on windows that will install Linux onto a USB drive, which you can boot from after turning off your PC. That way, you don’t need to worry about wiping or resetting an old computer just to see if you like it.
I’ve finally made one tiny step into the Linux pool: Replacing my little old Plex server & NAS (mini PC, Windows 10) with… an even tinier Raspberry Pi 5.
It’s been nice to finally have an excuse to start learning Linux: commands, bash scripts, ssh, samba shares, etc. I’ve always admired lean, portable FOSS, so it’s way overdue.
I honestly wouldn’t mind the new interface if it at least has all the options and functionality from the control panel, but it doesn’t - there’s so much functionality you can only access via control panel
Gone in favor of a less useful interface. Fantastic!
It is Windows…
Great, now I’ll have to
GoogleBing for a four-line command when before I could just dig through a few menus.I mean, if there’s still gonna be command line commands for all the features then there’s no reason why a 3rd party couldn’t make a gui app for them and recreate the control panels app
they should call it, get this, control panel
For the investor’s sake, I think it should be called the HyperPanel
Good point … unless MS manages to cripple that capability somehow.
Powershell at first seems to be weird and clunky, but after you get used to its syntax you can quickly look up and use its commands without much guessing.
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Nah, PowerShell is just a shitty bash wannabe
Actually PowerShelll is basically a wrapper for .NET classes… and it doesn’t really emulate Bash in any functional way.
The little time I have spent on powershell, I found it to be very slow. The input is also very verbose. I’m sure someone will say it allows one to be specific but I can be equally specific in bash as well. It’s like the Java Enterprise of scripting language.
It is verbose. It’s intended to be readable by untrained people, with a consistent verb-subject format for commands (e.g. Get-ChildItem, Set-Variable), though it turns out that concept doesn’t scale very well and the format gets increasingly broken when you get into the Azure PowerShell commands (New-AzLoadBalancerInboundNatRuleConfig).
The real power of PowerShell is that it can interact with .NET directly (because it is .NET), which allows you to quickly and easily build scripts for anything that uses .NET (like Windows). For instance, you can view or edit registry keys of other systems through a PowerShell remote session (using the .NET RegistryKey class), and set up a loop to edit a registry key across a list of machines remotely (I used to do this while managing on-prem AD groups in my last job, it’s much faster and easier than trying to change registry keys through remote desktop sessions, more reliable because it’s programmatic, and you can easily log the command output and catch any systems that failed to accept the change).
PowerShell might not be what Bash is for the average Linux user, but it’s a massive improvement for managing Windows systems at scale. Anyone who works in corporate IT should learn PowerShell.
It’s like a built-in Ansible equivalent (the configuring and management part at least). I’ll agree that’s neat. If I managed a fleet of Windows machine, I would properly learn that.
But I don’t think it’s something for the average home user. And the Linux way of configuring remote machines is too easy.
Ah, so it sucks even harder
Powershell has a completely different approach of working with commands than traditional Unix shells. You pretty much don’t know what you are talking about.
Look, if it’s not a file, I don’t want to have anything to do with it.
That’s fine, I also pretty much prefer standard Unix tools, due to how efficient they are, but you can’t just say made up stuff with no valid explanation, because Powershell has still nothing to do with bash.
Finally linux will have parity in useability with windows.
No, it’s already more usable. You’re not bound to a GUI or hidden, indiscoverable incantations.
I felt the /s was implied but clearly enough people actually believe that linux is only for people who master arcane command lines that it could be taken as a genuine belief.
There are PowerShell fanboys here. Anything is possible.
…and after a decade accuse Linux community for copying their great innovations.
Well then it’s guess which is the one to use now or which os those commands are naively installed and which need to be installed
No. Don’t worry, they moved the controls to the edge browser! Isn’t that great 😃? 👍👍👍.
This will bring so many people to Linux and will force so many others to start their own OSes.
Unfortunately, most Windows users are not tech savy and will never move to Linux, regardless of how user-friendly Linux becomes. It would take large-scale retailers switching their computers to have Linux pre-installed instead of Windows before any meaningful transition happens.
Not tech savy person here who’s interested in switching to Linux but afraid of fucking it up and the one guy I knew in real life who used Linux and would’ve helped me out died during covid so I’m on my own.
My old computer won’t support windows 11 and I’m not in a position to upgrade my hardware. I’ve been poking around trying learn about linux but I’m more of a hands on learner so basically I’m going to have to learn as I go which is quite scary for someone who’s never even seen a computer running it.
Got an extra USB stick and an old laptop kicking around you’re okay with wiping? Ideally 4GB RAM but 2GB would be okay. Start with Linux Mint and follow their installation guide - verifying the ISO image in Windows is probably the toughest part.
Or make absolutely certain you’re on the official Mint website, torrent it and don’t bother checking, I’m not your mother. “Who the f**k checks those anyway?” (Mint hasn’t been hacked since, but it’s part of why they’re pushing verifying, they know that their users have been targeted before. Also if something goes wrong with the download the install will fail and you’ll waste more time than if you just checked.)
If you don’t have a spare computer, a live USB can let you try Linux without making changes to your computer, but it’s going to be slow - a proper install is going to be a much nicer experience. If you’re okay without persistence (ie you can’t change anything or install additional programs for the next time you boot into it), just follow the Linux Mint website’s installation guide and stop before the actual install step. For persistence, try this method instead, but you really don’t want to use it long term, USB sticks aren’t designed for this.
Once you’ve tried it live and you think you like the desktop environment, but if you’re not sure you’re ready to fully commit, if your computer has an extra slot for an SSD you could buy a second one and dual boot, that’s what I did. (Dual booting on the same drive is doable but more of a headache, and even on a different drive Windows doesn’t always play nicely.)
Thank you much for this! I really appreciate that you took the time write all of that out
I do have an old laptop I can use for learning on, don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to try linux on that first, but I’ll definitely do that, follow your instructions and see how it goes.
I genuinely want to switch, just didn’t have the confidence to actually try. Thank you again for the great advice! I gotta go dig out that old laptop.
If you aren’t ready to fully commit to installing it on a hard drive, you could probably make a live USB stick of Linux. There are installers built to run on windows that will install Linux onto a USB drive, which you can boot from after turning off your PC. That way, you don’t need to worry about wiping or resetting an old computer just to see if you like it.
Thank you for the info! Thats a great way to get an introduction to linux so can I poke around and get used to it. Appreciate the advice!
Ask ChatGPT. 3.5 should know it. I know I could install FreeBSD because of it.
I’ve finally made one tiny step into the Linux pool: Replacing my little old Plex server & NAS (mini PC, Windows 10) with… an even tinier Raspberry Pi 5.
It’s been nice to finally have an excuse to start learning Linux: commands, bash scripts, ssh, samba shares, etc. I’ve always admired lean, portable FOSS, so it’s way overdue.
I honestly wouldn’t mind the new interface if it at least has all the options and functionality from the control panel, but it doesn’t - there’s so much functionality you can only access via control panel
And this is my gripe.
They can just make an AI called “Control” that will handle all the settings for everyone.