Windows 11½: the browser parody that mocks Windows 11's ads, subscriptions and Recall

definitelynotwindows.com is an interactive parody called Windows 11½ that opens a fake Windows desktop inside the browser. The page reached the front page of Hacker News on 28 September after being posted by user jjbinx007, collecting 446 points and about 140 comments.

The project describes itself as an independent, unofficial parody created for humour, satire and commentary, and states that it is not affiliated with or approved by Microsoft. Its landing screen carries the line "The operating system Microsoft definitely did not make."

What the parody targets

Trying to download another browser triggers an Edge window arguing that it uses the same technology as Chrome, "except we're already here and harder to remove", with buttons for "Use Microsoft Edge" and "Continue to Chrome anyway". An Excel window shows a quarterly report in which revenue rose 8% "mostly because every product became a subscription"; the expense sheet lists Microsoft 365 at $99.99 a year, a OneDrive upgrade at $69.99, Copilot Pro at $240.00 and Windows Pro at $199.99 with the note "Still has ads".

The new Outlook says several features were removed "to make room for a cleaner experience and also ads", while OneDrive reports that files are "safely" stored in the cloud, including the ones users thought were only on their PC. The Recall window promises that privacy is a priority, with an asterisk noting that the priority level is "subject to product roadmap". A Windows Security panel flags ChromeSetup.exe as a threat and counts 19 background processes for Edge. Clippy returns as Clippy 365, presented as the "Official Windows 11½ Guide", and an "Activate Windows" watermark stays in the corner of the screen.

How Hacker News reacted

In the Hacker News thread, readers note that part of the joke is speed: several commenters point out that the parody's Start menu opens in under two seconds, which they say never happens on the real system. One user calls the ChromeSetup.exe scan the best gag on the site and says it mirrors their daily experience of pop-ups. Another suggests the "Fix Everything" button should link to a Linux installer, and some compare the page to the older Microsoft parody Windows RG from 2001.

Parody and trademarks

The site devotes a separate note to trademarks: Microsoft, Windows, Microsoft 365, Edge, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams and Xbox belong to their respective owners and are referenced only to identify the subjects of parody and commentary. The page also stresses that it is not a real Microsoft product, service, update or subscription offer, and advises visitors not to give Clippy a password or credit card details. Its visitor counter uses an anonymous random identifier.