I was curious about Windows 12 so I did some googling.
This article is based on rumors but it still made me laugh. I think this is the funniest bit: "a free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 might be available."
What to Expect in Windows 12: Leaks, Rumors, and More | PCMag
Will Windows 12 Require a Subscription?
Eagle-eyed code watchers have noticed references to "subscription edition," "subscription type," and "subscription status" in the code for a Windows Insider build in the Canary channel (the earliest release channel). These references have led to speculation that Microsoft will require a subscription for the OS in the future—and perhaps PC prices will be lower as a result. Further speculation has it that a free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 might be available as well.
Another possibility is that these references to subscriptions might be just for business users, similar to the already available Windows 365 Cloud PC option.
A subscription requirement would surely result in outrage from longtime Windows users. That's what happened when Adobe Photoshop first moved to a subscription model, only for many users to eventually pay up, boosting Adobe's profits and enabling the company to develop impressive new features for the imaging software.
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Let’s be clear from the start: Microsoft hasn’t officially commented on whether it's developing Windows 12. But credible leaks, rumors, and other indicators strongly suggest we'll get a Windows 12 in 2024—much quicker than the move from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
I urge anyone here still using Windows to just give Linux a try ¹, I promise it's not as scary as you probably think it is, most distributions these days come with a very friendly and easy to understand installer (they will walk you through the entire setup process just like Windows would) and friendly interfaces to configure or install just about anything you could ever want without having to touch the scary terminal (Which you should still learn when you feel comfortable! It's a very powerful and awesome tool to have in your tool belt).
A couple Linux distributions I can recommend for beginners, in no particular order:
All it takes is a USB flash drive that you don't mind erasing the data off of, about an hour of your time, and the willingness to learn something new. I promise, it's worth it, come help us accelerate the slow decline of Windows.
1: Unless you require Windows for work, school, or something of that nature. Some things like Adobe's suite of products and those "secure browsers" that some schools utilize just won't work at all on Linux natively or through compatability layers.