5 ms·

They could tell us they're telling us everything and just be lying. Why does it have to be hidden at all? And why not let people turn it all off? Then everyone

They could tell us they're telling us everything and just be lying. Why does it have to be hidden at all? And why not let people turn it all off? Then everyone would stop talking about it.

ocdtrekkie 10y ago
This is what I don't get. For as many reasons as they have to justify telemetry, it can't be worth the damage to their image of refusing to allow a disable setting. Especially since the vast majority of users will not disable it anyways.
- tunap 10y ago
  Oh, I don't really know, but I gather they are gambling that the data & ad sales will eclipse any potential losses in marketshare. Their hubris, and duopoly position, leads me to presume they are going to profit in the short-term, at least. Hell, everybody's getting rich doing it! http://adage.com/article/datadriven-marketing/24-billion-data-business-telcos-discuss/301058/ http://adage.com/article/datadriven-marketing/24-billion-dat...
- pdkl95 10y ago
  I doubt they care about their image. Microsoft has traditionally acted in a very monopolistic - sometimes almost solipsistic - manner. In recent years they've broadened their approach a bit, but NIH syndrome is going to be a key part of their culture for a long time. They may not have even considered that "telemetry" might hurt their image (or profits). Even on HN we regularly see people complaining that they cannot switch to a different OS. Technical solutions sometimes help but MS probably assumes that most people will submit to the lockin. Image doesn't matter when most people are tied to the platform. When games are enough to tie people to Windows, MS can do whatever they want.
  - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
    I disagree. I don't think you need to like Microsoft to notice they are investing heavily in initiatives designed to repair their historical reputation.
    - pseudalopex 10y ago
      They've done a lot recently to improve their reputation with developers. They don't seem too concerned about losing desktop users.
      - jasonkostempski 10y ago
        I'm a perfect example of this being the case. I'm a .NET developer by trade and I have very few complaints about it, but I only run Windows as a VM at home because I don't want it anywhere near my personal life.

They could tell us they're telling us everything and just be lying. Why does it have to be hidden at all? And why not let people turn it all off? Then everyone would stop talking about it.

ocdtrekkie 10y ago

This is what I don't get. For as many reasons as they have to justify telemetry, it can't be worth the damage to their image of refusing to allow a disable setting. Especially since the vast majority of users will not disable it anyways.

tunap 10y ago
Oh, I don't really know, but I gather they are gambling that the data & ad sales will eclipse any potential losses in marketshare. Their hubris, and duopoly position, leads me to presume they are going to profit in the short-term, at least. Hell, everybody's getting rich doing it! http://adage.com/article/datadriven-marketing/24-billion-data-business-telcos-discuss/301058/ http://adage.com/article/datadriven-marketing/24-billion-dat...
pdkl95 10y ago
I doubt they care about their image. Microsoft has traditionally acted in a very monopolistic - sometimes almost solipsistic - manner. In recent years they've broadened their approach a bit, but NIH syndrome is going to be a key part of their culture for a long time. They may not have even considered that "telemetry" might hurt their image (or profits). Even on HN we regularly see people complaining that they cannot switch to a different OS. Technical solutions sometimes help but MS probably assumes that most people will submit to the lockin. Image doesn't matter when most people are tied to the platform. When games are enough to tie people to Windows, MS can do whatever they want.
- ocdtrekkie 10y ago
  I disagree. I don't think you need to like Microsoft to notice they are investing heavily in initiatives designed to repair their historical reputation.
  - pseudalopex 10y ago
    They've done a lot recently to improve their reputation with developers. They don't seem too concerned about losing desktop users.
    - jasonkostempski 10y ago
      I'm a perfect example of this being the case. I'm a .NET developer by trade and I have very few complaints about it, but I only run Windows as a VM at home because I don't want it anywhere near my personal life.