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Microsoft is very consistent in aggressively promoting their own stuff at every turn. Ever noticed how the "what application you wanna use for this file type?"

Microsoft is very consistent in aggressively promoting their own stuff at every turn. Ever noticed how the "what application you wanna use for this file type?" dialog pop ups every time any application is installed that can handle that type? Ever noticed how this dialog always has Microsoft's option at the top of the list? Ever noticed this dialog pops up after some updates because the Microsoft option has been updated so it's a Totally New Experience that You Really Ought To Try Now? Ever noticed how every few months you'll get a giant screen filling modal pop-up on login telling you to create a Microsoft account Right Now or Else? Ever noticed how Windows 10 shows a full-screen "Leave everything to us" banner during installation? Ever noticed the FOMO ads on the lock screen ("Windows brings you closer to what you love in life", "Don't miss any European soccer!")? Ever noticed the cringy "Just one more thing" and "Let's get you set up" system modals? Ever noticed how you have to lie to the setup wizard in order to not have a Microsoft account ("I don't have internet")? The entire messaging of this OS is dystopian corpo garbage and then people are shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that it's a monopolistic shitpile kicking your civil rights in the nuts at every turn.

soco 5y ago
The file type dialog has the most recent fitting options. I get asked for NotepadPlusPlus most of the time, which is not a Microsoft application.
- rocqua 5y ago
  I opened a PDF yesterday and it showed me the prompt, even though my default had been set. In the prompt Edge was in its own special top element (below the current default but above the alternatives) with a name like "microsoft's recommendation". This occured just after a system update. It might even have said that edge was new and improved, but I am not sure on that.
aspaceman 5y ago
But but, "Microsoft isn't the same anymore!" VSCode is open! And good! The narrative has really pulled in Microsoft's favor and I think that's not too our advantage. Every conversation I have with them is about how they "used to be bad but are great for open source now".
- Bobylonian 5y ago
  Visual Studio has been top product from the beginning of M$. If it was not open, then it was heavily pirated for personal use.
Bobylonian 5y ago
No. I must be doing something differently. To be fair, Edge is not forced upon me, as I am using Firefox, but the only thing I do not like is that Windows 10 is updating itself whenever it wants. Ah, and I installed Windows 10, that does not use Microsoft account(you might had to disconnect internet cable for that), so it might be the main problem.
- thow-58d4e8b 5y ago
  Some Windows 10 updates add Edge into the taskbar if you move it out of it. Hilariously, if you install multiple Windows updates in a batch, you might end up with multiple Edge launchers in the taskbar. I think at least once, it changed the default browser back to Edge, too
  - a5aAqU 5y ago
    Windows 8 automatically installs Edge even if you have non-essential updates turned off. I'm pretty sure I noticed it because it appeared in the taskbar.
blindmute 5y ago
That sounds horrid but I haven't experienced any of that on W10 LTSC. Would recommend that if you have to use Windows for some reason.
marricks 5y ago
This is what drove me over the edge to another operating system, I gotta imagine others as well. Having ads at the OS level is just mind boggling, I get people can get used to anything but I really hoped there'd be a line where people just left in swarms.
- GreenWatermelon 5y ago
  This goes for me. When I graduate, my next machine is definitely going to be a linux machine. I will keep an unlicensed windows version on the side just for gaming. I'm sick of having my attention preyed upon everywhere I look in that OS. It makes me feel insulted.
  - FreeFull 5y ago
    You might not even need the Windows install at all for gaming. With all the work Valve has been putting into Proton, even games with funky anti-cheat should work on any Linux distro by the time the Steam Deck comes out.
    - make3 5y ago
      While there definitely are a lot of games available, a large fraction still are not. Having a Windows install is not a huge deal.
    - fartcannon 5y ago
      I haven't kept a Windows machine for gaming since 2015. It was hard then, but now it's a breeze if the game is on Steam. If it's not, Lutris will probably handle it for you. Most single player and a lot of multiplayer games work without a hitch. I am, for instance, playing Tetris Effect connected and Dark Souls 3 online right now.
AnimalMuppet 5y ago
I lied the wrong way. I gave them a totally bogus email address instead of saying that I don't have internet. Now they keep telling me that "there's a problem with your Microsoft account" that I need to fix...
Cosmin_C 5y ago
Luckily with the advent of Proton and actual anti-cheats being supported by Linux, the last thing keeping me on this utterly disgusting platform will be gone. I won't miss Windows one second. Now just to find the right distribution environment...
bayindirh 5y ago
> The entire messaging of this OS is dystopian corpo garbage and then people are shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that it's a monopolistic shitpile kicking your civil rights in the nuts at every turn. The funny thing is, they're doing it for more than decade, and people believe that one day they won't do it. On the contrary, it'll get more and more aggressive.
kazinator 5y ago
I've noticed that a recent Windows 10 update replaced Google Japanese Input with the Microsoft one.

soco 5y ago

The file type dialog has the most recent fitting options. I get asked for NotepadPlusPlus most of the time, which is not a Microsoft application.

rocqua 5y ago
I opened a PDF yesterday and it showed me the prompt, even though my default had been set. In the prompt Edge was in its own special top element (below the current default but above the alternatives) with a name like "microsoft's recommendation". This occured just after a system update. It might even have said that edge was new and improved, but I am not sure on that.

aspaceman 5y ago

But but, "Microsoft isn't the same anymore!" VSCode is open! And good! The narrative has really pulled in Microsoft's favor and I think that's not too our advantage. Every conversation I have with them is about how they "used to be bad but are great for open source now".

Bobylonian 5y ago
Visual Studio has been top product from the beginning of M$. If it was not open, then it was heavily pirated for personal use.

Bobylonian 5y ago

No. I must be doing something differently. To be fair, Edge is not forced upon me, as I am using Firefox, but the only thing I do not like is that Windows 10 is updating itself whenever it wants. Ah, and I installed Windows 10, that does not use Microsoft account(you might had to disconnect internet cable for that), so it might be the main problem.

thow-58d4e8b 5y ago
Some Windows 10 updates add Edge into the taskbar if you move it out of it. Hilariously, if you install multiple Windows updates in a batch, you might end up with multiple Edge launchers in the taskbar. I think at least once, it changed the default browser back to Edge, too
- a5aAqU 5y ago
  Windows 8 automatically installs Edge even if you have non-essential updates turned off. I'm pretty sure I noticed it because it appeared in the taskbar.

blindmute 5y ago

That sounds horrid but I haven't experienced any of that on W10 LTSC. Would recommend that if you have to use Windows for some reason.

marricks 5y ago

This is what drove me over the edge to another operating system, I gotta imagine others as well. Having ads at the OS level is just mind boggling, I get people can get used to anything but I really hoped there'd be a line where people just left in swarms.

GreenWatermelon 5y ago
This goes for me. When I graduate, my next machine is definitely going to be a linux machine. I will keep an unlicensed windows version on the side just for gaming. I'm sick of having my attention preyed upon everywhere I look in that OS. It makes me feel insulted.
- FreeFull 5y ago
  You might not even need the Windows install at all for gaming. With all the work Valve has been putting into Proton, even games with funky anti-cheat should work on any Linux distro by the time the Steam Deck comes out.
  - make3 5y ago
    While there definitely are a lot of games available, a large fraction still are not. Having a Windows install is not a huge deal.
  - fartcannon 5y ago
    I haven't kept a Windows machine for gaming since 2015. It was hard then, but now it's a breeze if the game is on Steam. If it's not, Lutris will probably handle it for you. Most single player and a lot of multiplayer games work without a hitch. I am, for instance, playing Tetris Effect connected and Dark Souls 3 online right now.

AnimalMuppet 5y ago

I lied the wrong way. I gave them a totally bogus email address instead of saying that I don't have internet. Now they keep telling me that "there's a problem with your Microsoft account" that I need to fix...

Cosmin_C 5y ago

Luckily with the advent of Proton and actual anti-cheats being supported by Linux, the last thing keeping me on this utterly disgusting platform will be gone. I won't miss Windows one second. Now just to find the right distribution environment...

bayindirh 5y ago

> The entire messaging of this OS is dystopian corpo garbage and then people are shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that it's a monopolistic shitpile kicking your civil rights in the nuts at every turn. The funny thing is, they're doing it for more than decade, and people believe that one day they won't do it. On the contrary, it'll get more and more aggressive.

kazinator 5y ago

I've noticed that a recent Windows 10 update replaced Google Japanese Input with the Microsoft one.