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Windows 12 is still in development, giving us time to make some demands.
For inspiration, let’s look at Linux, the underdog of desktop computing.
Here are 7 surprisingly advanced, quality-of-life features that Linux offers, and Windows 12 should definitely steal them.
Dave McKay / How-To Geek
So the first thing Windows 12 should steal from Linux is a nonintrusive user experience.
A new Start Menu design!
And with Windows 12, lets just allow people to choose or customize their own Start Menu.
Dave McKay / How-To Geek
Windows 10s Start Menu had critiques, but I actually liked it.
The Windows 11 Start Menu has more admirers, but Im not a huge fan.
Take Kubuntu running KDE Plasma.
Widgets on the Desktop
Windows 7 had widgets and it was wonderful.
The problem is that Windows 11 widgets aretucked away inside a separate paneland not embedded directly on the desktop.
This can make your desktop cleaner and more productive.
Now, credit where credits due, Microsoft has made significant strides in this department.
With features likeSnap AssistandPowerToys Fancy Zones, it’s possible for you to manually tile all your open windows.
So lets make this perfect with Windows 12 with support for automatic window tiling or auto-tiling.
Of course, it will be an optional feature that you might enable/disable.
Linux has had this feature for ages.
Heres how auto-tiling looks on Pop_OS!
Options to Customize the Taskbar
Windows 10 offered a decent amount of customization options for the Taskbar.
Also, the right-click menu is overly simplified to just two optionsTaskbar Setting or the Task Manager.
Hopefully, with Windows 12, we’ll see Microsoft make the Taskbar more flexible.
For reference, this is the level of freedom we get with the Linux taskbar (a.k.a.
panel) as demonstrated withGaruda Linux.
The ability to move the taskbar again would be a great start.
Microsoft introduced them to Windows 10 and improved their overall experience withWindows 11.
Also, the option to launch apps to different desktops from the Task View would be a game-changer.
Look at Ubuntus Activities Overview (equivalent to Windows 11s Task View) to see what Im talking about.
At the top, theres a row of mini windows for all open virtual desktops (Workspaces).
it’s possible for you to click to switch between them.
The center shows your current desktop with all open apps.
Unfortunately, Windows doesnt provide a meaningful way to segregate these different use cases.
But you could do it if Windows 12 comes with a feature like KDE Activities.
Heres a quick look athow KDE Activities work:
KDE Activities are like virtual desktops on steroids.
This allows me to effortlessly switch between different workflow states without being distracted by notifications or alluring app icons.
With this feature, Windows 12 would definitely become a productivity powerhouse.
This is just a short list of Linux features that we believe Microsoft should learn from and implement.
There are plenty of other features to take inspiration from that would be great to see.
