I used Windows for many years before switching to macOS, and I still regularly use Windows on a laptop and in virtual machines. Switching between the two often makes me wish that my Mac had some of the native features of Windows.

Windows gets a lot of criticism, and plenty of people have switched to Linux because of the issues with the OS. While Microsoft doesn't have the best track record with Windows 11, thanks to all the bugs, the company has done a good job bringing in features that make me think twice about running to Linux entirely. This round of updates actually added many features I liked.

If you've ever used Win+Shift+S for quick screenshots, you'll know how handy it can be and how much time it can save. But there's another shortcut that's even more useful. On recent versions of Windows 11, Win+Shift+T extracts editable text directly from your screen, turning information trapped in images, PDFs, and presentation slides into text you can immediately reuse.

Your PC isn't going to switch itself off one day. But the version of Windows sitting on it right now? It has a shelf life. And it's shorter than you'd think. You've probably heard the headlines about Windows 10 riding off into the sunset. This is a bit different.

Are you fed up with Microsoft's invasive behavior? They're increasingly inserting themselves into your digital life, collecting your data and outright disrespecting your wishes. It would normally anger me, but there’s no Microsoft on my system, and I'll explain why.

Network issues can often be infuriating because everything seems to work as it's supposed to—except your internet connection. Then your internet connection starts working fine, but websites take forever to load. Then there are those frustrating intermittent connection issues that come and go seemingly at random.

Microsoft has been on a roll recently, bringing new Windows 11 features left and right. The latest one to reach general availability (meaning it's available to every Windows 11 user, not just Windows Insiders) is called point-in-time restore, and from what I've seen, it's essentially a modern take on System Restore, which has been around for more than a quarter of a century, first debuting with Windows ME back in 2000.

In practice, Windows Fast Startup is supposed to be helpful, but after disabling it, a lot of things actually got a little better for my computer. I wish I had turned it off sooner, and for some of you, there are a few reasons you might want to do the same thing.