Worst fears about Windows 10 confirmed:...

tomw

http://www.zdnet.com/article/mandatory-windows-10-home-updates-the-good-the-bad-and-the-potentially-ugly/?tag=nl.e539&s_cid=e539&ttag=e539&ftag=TRE17cfd61

With Windows 10, Microsoft takes full control of what to install on your computer and when. No longer your choice - They can install toll bars, alter your configuration, limit your choices of software (as Apple does now), etc.

Time for me to get more familiar with Linux.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

It is only for Windows 10 Home Edition and it is not a bad
thing, it will keep your computer humming along just fine.
I have my Windows 7 machine set up for auto-updates and
it has never caused me problems.

tomw wrote:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/mandatory-windows-10-home-updates-the-good-the-bad-and-the-potentially-ugly/?tag=nl.e539&s_cid=e539&ttag=e539&ftag=TRE17cfd61

With Windows 10, Microsoft takes full control of what to install on your computer and when. No longer your choice - They can install toll bars, alter your configuration, limit your choices of software (as Apple does now), etc.

Time for me to get more familiar with Linux.

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

I'm fine with auto updates as well. As long as they don't force the Bing Bar on me.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Within 24 hours of this release someone will have the registry setting to turn this 'feature' off.

tomw

hlmichel wrote:

I'm fine with auto updates as well. As long as they don't force the Bing Bar on me.

That's a good example of what they have done in the past. Also, they continually push Windows Genuine Advantage and Malicious software removal tool, both of which seem principally be designed to send information from my computer to Microsoft. Skype is another thing they have pushed unwanted. It may have value, but I will decide that.

And some upgrades have made other software I use stop working.

tomw

nakkh wrote:

Within 24 hours of this release someone will have the registry setting to turn this 'feature' off.

As I understand the new user agreement, that would disqualify you from receiving the updates that you want.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Tom, what is on your computer that you think Microsoft wants, with all the millions of computers out there they
don't have the manpower to watch over every computer
out there. A lot of people use Skype, for face to face communications. There is nothing that Microsoft is doing
that is going to hurt you or your computer.

tomw wrote:

That's a good example of what they have done in the past. Also, they continually push Windows Genuine Advantage and Malicious software removal tool, both of which seem principally be designed to send information from my computer to Microsoft. Skype is another thing they have pushed unwanted. It may have value, but I will decide that.

And some upgrades have made other software I use stop working.

tomw

ebbote wrote:

Tom, what is on your computer that you think Microsoft wants, with all the millions of computers out there they
don't have the manpower to watch over every computer
out there. A lot of people use Skype, for face to face communications. There is nothing that Microsoft is doing
that is going to hurt you or your computer.

I don't have anything against Skype. My objection is to having Skype or anything else installed on my computer without my explicit consent.

Another example is Adobe. I updated Flash because I was forced to, and I found an unwanted McAfee product got installed also.

Microsoft and Adobe both want to force us to a subscription model, the way the phone companies used to rent phones to people and not let them buy their own. That isn't what I want. If I buy something, it's mine and I should be able to use it as long as it suits my purpose. Eventually, the phone company was prohibited from those tactics. I hope the same someday will be true for software.

And as for information, too many companies have a business model of gathering information on you, collating it with information from other sources and selling it. They aren't doing that for your benefit. You would be amazed if you ever figured out how much they know about you.

If you stalked someone all day making notes, you might be arrested. Not if you track him online.

Microsoft is taking one more step in the wrong direction.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Yes. That's the tradeoff in the short term. In 6 months someone will write a utility to fix that as well however.

tomw wrote:

As I understand the new user agreement, that would disqualify you from receiving the updates that you want.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

They're trying to solve the problem of the spyware riddled PC. People don't update their systems nor do they keep their AV up to date. The biggest offenders are the Windows home PC users.

tomw wrote:

I don't have anything against Skype. My objection... (show quote)

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

if that is your concern keep away from Google and Facebook. Their spying is way more intrusive then the NSA, who at least were hunting terrorist cells. There is no privacy anymore if you use any gadget that broadcasts. Even your car sends info about how you drive. the only way to get off the grid is to go homestead in the wilderness of Alaska. no phone no sattilite tv no drivers license no credit cards no paying taxes etc.

tomw

sinatraman wrote:

if that is your concern keep away from Google and Facebook. Their spying is way more intrusive then the NSA, who at least were hunting terrorist cells. There is no privacy anymore if you use any gadget that broadcasts. Even your car sends info about how you drive. the only way to get off the grid is to go homestead in the wilderness of Alaska. no phone no sattilite tv no drivers license no credit cards no paying taxes etc.

I do.

Google's "third rail" so-called "privacy" policy applies if you use any Google service other than pure search. If you accept it once for any service it applies across the board to all services. It pretty much allows them to collect anything they want about you, including scanning your email, and use it any way they want to use it. Kind of, trust us, we will only use our powers for good.

And Facebook wants more information than I trust them with just to open an account. Looking at current growth numbers, I think people are beginning to catch on to it. Remember Second Life?

SteveR Loc: Michigan

tomw wrote:

I don't have anything against Skype. My objection... (show quote)

You weren't paying attention when you upgraded flash. You have to uncheck McAfee when you do the flash download. Don't check the automatic flash download or I guess you'll get McAfee at the same time.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Always remember, Don't put anything on the internet that you wouldn't want to explain in court or see on the 5 o'clock news. Common sense will keep you safe.

tomw wrote:

I do. br br Google's "third rail" so-... (show quote)

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

sinatraman wrote:

if that is your concern keep away from Google and Facebook. Their spying is way more intrusive then the NSA, who at least were hunting terrorist cells. There is no privacy anymore if you use any gadget that broadcasts. Even your car sends info about how you drive. the only way to get off the grid is to go homestead in the wilderness of Alaska. no phone no sattilite tv no drivers license no credit cards no paying taxes etc.

I think it will be a bit crowded in Alaska. Maybe if I stay home i'll be all alone, everybody else will bein Alaska.