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No escape from AI now - Microsoft is shoving Copilot into every Excel cell (www.techradar.com)
submitted 5 days ago by Sunshine@piefed.ca to c/technology@piefed.social
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[-] Rhaxapopouetl@ttrpg.network 25 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Friendly reminder that open sources alternatives to excel exists. You will find a list here: https://alternativeto.net/software/microsoft-excel/?license=opensource

Usually, search for any software you like in your search bar, followed by alternativeto, and once on the alternativeto.net website, check the filters to add 'open source' Handy!

[-] pedz@lemmy.ca 16 points 5 days ago

I hate the future. I worked in IT for the last 25 years and never liked Microsoft but now, it's becoming intolerable. We knew about the coming subscription model for decades, but that "AI" obsession is quite the cherry on top.

[-] ramble81@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago

I wouldn’t call myself pro-Microsoft but have built a career around them and probably gave them more passes than I should have, but between their lack of QC of patches, functionally eliminating the EA and trying to show CoPilot down everyone’s throat, it’s becoming too much to handle even at a business level.

That’s going to be their biggest mistake. Home users were always their testing ground and they didn’t care about them, but messing with business users is their bread and butter.

[-] pedz@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago

I don't know exactly when they started doing this for businesses but I remember admins about a decade ago, whining about a version of Windows Server having the same type of tiled interface that Windows 8 had. Or a Server edition with games preinstalled.

At some point, my employer needed more admins (Windows, of course) and knew I preferred Linux. They were very big on Microsoft, but you know, Microsoft loves Linux now. So they tried to entice me into managing Linux servers... on Azure.

Me: It's a trap!

Throughout the years I've had multiple opportunities to have admin work on Windows but ugh, I don't know how people can do this. Just doing level 1 tech support was enough to make me want to puke every time someone says there's an issue with their OneDrive disappearing files.

[-] ramble81@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago

Honestly that’s part of the problem. You never got past level 1. Minus the UI debacle with 2012 (non-R2) admining Windows servers is actually pretty good. Use of GPOs and increased maturity of PowerShell have made it easy to work with a large scale of servers while still providing granular configuration needs.

I’ll manage a server all day long. Those issues you talked about are over 13 years old at this point and long gone. Now desktop support on the other hand? No thanks.

[-] pedz@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I know I'm a loser for refusing to work more with Microsoft. All my coworkers showed me so by becoming admins and making much much more money than I in just a short period of time. And I stayed the loser at level 1 for 15 years. But I have two issues. 1. I'm neurodivergent and passing certifications is nearly impossible. I dropped out of school and had to do social integration schemes with the education system. I have the knowledge but cannot get the certs. 2. I have very strong ethics. I will not even use a Windows computer to pass the Linux certification exams, as I find it very insulting. I've also been offered to admin IBM i servers, as I have experience with operations. But I also refused because IBM is also a dirty money gouging business.

Also, PowerShell is just Microsoft's way to try catching up with systems that actually never tried to remove their CLI. I started using Windows with version 1. Or actually, 3.1 because 1.0 was shit and I preferred DOS. So I knew how to use a computer with a keyboard, then Microsoft started to push everyone into clicking through multiple levels of menus instead of typing commands. It was the future! And then it introduced PowerShell with a whole new syntax because apparently typing commands is now the future again.

A few months ago I finally quit my level 1 tech job after 15 years as a loser refusing to do admin work and get more money. And I wonder if I shouldn't just go clean toilets and wipe floors instead of trying to find work in a Microsoft and AI world. I guess I'll just stay a poor loser.

[-] ramble81@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

I mean, you do you… I was just talking about the ease of administration on the server side.

[-] MangoPenguin 14 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I like Libreoffice, it works pretty well.

Or the other option for better familiarity is stay on an older version of Excel.

this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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