2 ms·
My counterpoint: More than half the population doesn't use ad block when they browse the internet. The mind boggles. There is, clearly, an enormous gap betwe
by urthor 5y ago
My counterpoint:
More than half the population doesn't use ad block when they browse the internet.
The mind boggles.
There is, clearly, an enormous gap between the Hackernews perception of Windows, and actual non-ad block using end users.
Microsoft is intrinsically following a pathway I've seen before with Reddit,
Reddit has two completely different value propositions to power users and the great unwashed.
Reddit has two modes, "new" reddit which is available by default, and the "official" Reddit mobile app. And "old" Reddit, which is buried in the settings menu, powered by a third party browser extension on desktops, alongside third party paid for mobile apps that use a Reddit API.
Microsoft to me is following the exact same strategy. They are screwballing "the internet explorer users" with Windows, and meanwhile they are creating a parallel, WSL enabled value proposition for power users.
- gigel82 5y agoIt'd be nice if they went all the way with the second one. I need to manually wireshark and add to my blocklist after every major update. Just want a Windows 10/11 "Power User" SKU with completely disabled telemetry, "suggested content" and any "home phoning" not otherwise authorized (I still want Windows Updates, MS Account / OneDrive / Xbox Game Pass). Heck, I'd even pay a subscription for that.
- urthor 5y agoOh nobody is ever disabling telemetry by default, system wide. Telemetry is too damn useful for developers. Nobody gives a damn.
- rightbyte 5y agoIs it really? In general I feel spying is used to cut longtail feutures (most users are dependent on one of them) and justify changes without reason other than flawed interpretation of statistics.
- suby 5y agoMoreover, their software quality has gone downhill ever since their pervasive telemetry. I am not claiming that it is the cause of the decline, but it did not prevent it. It's curious that the version of windows which most people liked best was 7, the one without all the telemetry. I think it's also hard to overcome the feeling that everything you do on their software is being monitored and evaluated. Even if we accept the argument that telemetry improves software through allowing them to focus on more used features, the improvements need to offset the feeling that you're being spied on, and that's a tough ask.
- urthor 5y agoI agree. Telemetry is mostly used to figure out things which you don't need to do because nobody uses them in my experience. Still, it's a tool of big corporate to provide transparency to VPs, and VPs would love to cut costs in Windows since it's a captive market.