I blame YouTube more than the channel, at least their content is well labeled such that you can tell which content you’d like to see at a glance.

They way I see it is this. I look at my computer as a tool and ask is it working for me right now? What software do I need for it to work? Is that software Windows only, if so can I move to an alternative software that cross platform?

Your computer is a tool that lets you do things. If some software, even the OS is holding you back take a look at what is holding you, and see if its worth the negative of staying to keep that software.

For me that answer was Yes Windows is holding me back, but for years I was shackled by Professional Software, games and Legacy apps which kept me to the platform.

Steam with proton fixed the games issue

Swapping myself to different cross platform software helped with my Professional software.

Legacy was managed with a cheap $20 thrift store laptop with Windows xp installed.

Imam now free to move away from windows, I chose Linux since I idealize a “do it all” pc, but Mac OS is also a viable alternative.

Not from what I can tell. While upgrading will not detrimental from what I’ve heard (since you can upgrade a local account), there’s a lot which I personally don’t like about with Windows 11 which will make me want to not upgrade. If you have no intention of moving away from the Windows, it may be best to upgrade while MS is offering it.

Otherwise, if you are willing to take the plunge Linux is the better option if you are looking for an OS which has no ads, no adware bloat, and a UI to your liking. Mint or Zorin are a Good Windows like starting point if you are looking to get started.

But I’m also dumb

I didn’t try those yet. I presume it wouldn’t be helpful since I need noise isolation and blocking. Not sure if they do that

I have noise cancelling Sony earbuds for a while now. At this point I’ve just gotten use to how people talk, and guessing at what they said and I missed.

Pretty much. The inability to filter voices from other noises. Not fun when you are on a bus and the engine is the only thing you can make out

The new iphones now have USB c so it’s not as bad as it use to be, since USB c dongles can be cross device compatible. But yeah it suuucks.

iPhone, iPad, and most Samsungs don’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Agreed, though sadly this doesn’t apply to me. Hearing issues doesn’t always mean hearing loss. I have Auditory Processing Disorder or Auditory Dyslexia means my hearing is good, but I don’t always understand what people are saying.

Speaker phone makes it easier for me to understand what the other person is saying. But again its a dick move to use it in public.

Yup, texting is my go to for most of the time. However I want to catch up, I usually arrange a call.

Wow I almost feel singled out by this. But I presume that this is supposed to be in public. Which by every account is a dick move.

However I do this in private, I.e. in my car or at home. And the reason I do it is because I can’t hear a call without using the speaker phone. Hearing issues aren’t fun.

However the easier solution is headphones, but calls over Bluetooth can make things worse, from battery life to sound quality.

Wired headphones are the preferable solution to this but we all know what happened to those.

TL:DR I do this because of my hearing issues. In public this is a dick move, but headphones aren’t the solution they use to be.

There is also a piplup one I saw at EB Games recently

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/ddba16b8-d217-43f7-ad1a-94cfb96259ec.jpeg