3 ms·

You have the priorities wrong imho: There is one checkbox to switch off the ad vs. Google's data mining where Google aggregates a full profile about you a

You have the priorities wrong imho: There is one checkbox to switch off the ad vs. Google's data mining where Google aggregates a full profile about you and some billion other people. And (except china-like) there is no simple 'checkbox' to switch off. THIS, I call 'a whole other league'! -- Of course I don't like the intrusion by MS either, but if people don't pay for the product (and updates!), this is what happens. Worse with Google/Facebook and now also with MS.

vetinari 10y ago
Apples and oranges. Google's product came as free, with the conditions upfront. When you signed up, you knew exactly what you are getting. It is also worth noting, that Google's paid product is not datamined. That comes with some slight surprises, for example, Google Now is useless. (So your off switch is right there, at $5/mo/user). Microsoft product was paid upfront. You might have used it for years, or decades even, and only then it changed to paid and privacy invading. Bait & switch like. So Google provided you with an additional option, that you could or could not take, you were informed with terms and conditions. Microsoft got you used to their product and then switched terms and conditions, they took the option away from you. Not same in my book.
- chappi42 10y ago
  I agree somewhat. But Microsoft (or any company) cannot support a product for years without revenue. As an example I bought Win8 (unusable), free upgrade 8.1 (still terrible), free upgrades 10 (better, but still prefer mac/ubuntu). As people don't pay they have to change. Google also changed. IIRC in the beginning they didn't collect 'everything' and had borders. At some point they merged all services. You are right with $5/mo/user, but I was not talking about GoogleApps, I meant 'the net' called Google Analytics, DoubleClick, AdSense etc. which 'hunts' you down all over incl. Android. I don't much care personally if they track me, but I don't think they should be allowed to do this. And I think it's significantly worse than what MS did here. It's also much more hidden.

vetinari 10y ago

Apples and oranges. Google's product came as free, with the conditions upfront. When you signed up, you knew exactly what you are getting. It is also worth noting, that Google's paid product is not datamined. That comes with some slight surprises, for example, Google Now is useless. (So your off switch is right there, at $5/mo/user). Microsoft product was paid upfront. You might have used it for years, or decades even, and only then it changed to paid and privacy invading. Bait & switch like. So Google provided you with an additional option, that you could or could not take, you were informed with terms and conditions. Microsoft got you used to their product and then switched terms and conditions, they took the option away from you. Not same in my book.

chappi42 10y ago
I agree somewhat. But Microsoft (or any company) cannot support a product for years without revenue. As an example I bought Win8 (unusable), free upgrade 8.1 (still terrible), free upgrades 10 (better, but still prefer mac/ubuntu). As people don't pay they have to change. Google also changed. IIRC in the beginning they didn't collect 'everything' and had borders. At some point they merged all services. You are right with $5/mo/user, but I was not talking about GoogleApps, I meant 'the net' called Google Analytics, DoubleClick, AdSense etc. which 'hunts' you down all over incl. Android. I don't much care personally if they track me, but I don't think they should be allowed to do this. And I think it's significantly worse than what MS did here. It's also much more hidden.