Notepad++.
That is all.
I don't want to get into a text editor war - because these are all good options - but it's definitely also worth giving the "Kate" editor from KDE a go, it's available as a native Windows app from the MS store and everything:
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NWMW7BB59HW
I personally find it considerably nicer to use than Notepad++, and it means I don't have to give up 25 years of muscle memory for keyboard shortcuts when I have to switch to a windows machine.
Also some crazy how, it uses less RAM than Notepad‽ (With no files open, 61 vs 71MB) Not sure what Microsoft are up to, but it's definitely something strange.
To each their own for sure, but the takeaway here is that there are definitely better notepads than Notepad by now, especially since having AI baked into your plain text editor isn't something that anyone ever asked for.
At this rate you may a well use a slab of some granite and a chisel, or maybe even vim.
This is literally not an example of enshittification and the article is intentionally misleading.
First of all, all of the original Notepad functions are unchanged and still free.
Literally nothing got shittier.
Which is why describing Notepad as getting a paywall is quite frankly flat out disingenuous.
They are adding new, cloud running, AI features to Notepad that are locked behind a paywall. You can not like that for whatever reason, but that's not an example of enshittification. That's an example of them charging for new functionality.
Having ads and bloat does make it shittier. It's like tetris: more tetrinos, lootboxes and MTX don't make tetris better. It makes it worse.
It's particular ironic how previously the big uproar was about adding these features in the first place. First it was "nobody wants this! Keep AI out of Notepad!" And now it's "how dare you prevent me from using AI in Notepad!"
It's two sides of the same enshittification coin.
Dammit! I love notebook. Truly I didn't know it was Microsoft.
This is Notepad
Thanks for the correction. I meant Notepad. Probably autocorrect and failure to proofread. Blast! I hate it when I do that. Makes it harder take it out on others for doing it. LOL
How do I get started on Linux?
Just download Linux Mint and don't look back. I knew I was done with Windows completely so I quit cold turkey. It forced me to learn how to use Linux instead of running back to a Windows partition. The only reason to dual boot in my opinion is if you need the popular CAD software, or the popular Digital Audio Workstation software, or software like photoshop. If you just browse and game, then you should be fine.
I believe Linux Mint is the oldest beginner distro so it has a wealth of forum posts if you ever have a problem. It also has a bunch of GUI progams included for getting stuff done without terminal, but make no mistake you will have to use the terminal to do stuff on occasion, it all depends how you use you're computer and how much you want to customize. Don't be afraid of terminal though, just start with basic YouTube tutorials.
The last piece of advice I feel I should give is when switching to Linux you'll have to get used to installing software in mutiple ways. Linux Mint is great because you have access to all the major ways software is direstributed on Linux. I use the apt package manager, sometimes by adding new software repos to it, AppImages, Flatpack, and .deb packages. I usually just use whatever method is recommended on a softwares website. For Appimages definitely use the AppImageLauncher manager software.
Last thing. I see a fair number of bad opinions of Cinnamon, the Desktop Environment that ships with Linux Mint, but I've never understood why. It's very familiar to a Windows user, has a simle UI, and has any feature I've needed.
That's my two cents from a relatively recent Windows refugee. I know distro wars can get heated, so remember this is just one opinion on what a good entry point is for the world of Linux.
If you need a good DAW that works natively in Linux then I can recommend Bitwig. Myself am still stuck on windows since I do use software and codecs that can't. Codec limitations in DaVinci resolve, and I'm still not feeling like leaving LR+PS since it's so integral to my workflow for photography gigs, once I'm fully transitioned to cinematography it might be an option.
I should really get around to making a dual-boot Mint though so I can at least start poking around in there, no excuse there besides procrastination.
Linux baby
That just raises the next question of which text editor to use
Just use your DE's default default. Like Kate in KDE.
NotepadQQ if you like Notepad++
I was expecting an eMacs vs vi flame war but somehow you’ve managed to piss off both camps by using a GUI. Well done.
I use linux but I just checked on my windows 11 vm, the paywall is for AI copilot stuff not the core functionality of the app at all.
Are you actually joking
I switched to Linux recently, you can too. It's easy and works well now. No more of this bullshit from Microsoft.
Which version? And for those of us yet to switch, are there any handy guides that you'd recommend?
I tried Bazzite first, and it was easy but I decided I didn't want an immutable system so I switched to Garuda. Both are very gaming focused and easy to get running.
The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements and sponsored content, in order to increase profits. (Cory Doctorow, 2022, extracted from Wikitionary) source
We discuss how predatory big tech platforms live and die by luring people in and then decaying for profit.
We also discuss how naturally open technologies like the Fediverse can be susceptible to corporate takeovers, rugpulls and subsequent enshittification.