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Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

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Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#221

Post by pietroalbini »

cm2187 wrote: post #211
csdreamer7 wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You really do not need to learn the command line to use Desktop Linux these days. At least for what most people do. Browsing, office, gaming (with Steam). I would highly encourage you to learn the command line as it is considered a valuable skill on this site. You do not need to learn every obscure program. I often forget how to use quite a few Linux comamnds and just refer to Google or man.

Yeah but a few examples of common things that I can do with a UI with windows but had to edit text files and figure out the syntax in linux: - Setting up a scheduled job - Manipulate the firewall (I don't include third party packages as "UI") - Configuring a website - Changing permissions on a .py file to execute it I also had huge problems a few years ago when the only Linux servers I could rent from OVH had no UI,…

On servers, an UI is just a waste of resources, and doesn't allow you to configure the server automatically (with tools such as ansible).

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#222

Post by mobiplayer »

cyberpunk wrote: post #109
Klathmon wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I don't blame you for reacting how you did from the headlines. They are all worded like MS is putting banner ads for "hot singles in your area" in your OS... And this story has been covered by every single major tech news site the same way... It's odd.

Maybe the problem is in that that we wouldn't be that suprised if they did, eh? It's coming, eventually.

Can I borrow your crystal ball?

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#223

Post by bradgessler »

grawlinson wrote: post #2

Here's a better idea - show Microsoft that you don't accept this type of behaviour by switching products/services. I'm aware that Windows 10 is a "free" OS, but trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs.

Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a... A while back. Not sure where that stands today.

Firefox was paid by Google in the past and I believe Yahoo these days.

macOS had a connection with Bing in Spotlight.

The current incarnation is just a dog with different fleas.

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#224

Post by sz4kerto »

rakoo wrote: post #210
overcast wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's just be realistic here, the general public is not ever going to switch a Linux desktop. I've been hearing about it for 25 years, how this year is going to be the year of Linux on the desktop. Not ever happening. Mac MAYBE, but Linux, never. And for the handful of us nerds that do switch, Microsoft doesn't care. The Enterprise is where they make their money, and they are DEFINITELY NOT switching away from Window…

Chromebooks are having quite a success already ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromebook#Sales_and_marketing ). I've seen many people say they were happy to use a Chromebook for their current use instead of trying to fix/upggrade their old Windows computer as well.

The risk that ads will appear on Chromebooks is quite high though.

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#225

Post by simion314 »

dc3k wrote: post #40
grawlinson wrote: post #2

Here's a better idea - show Microsoft that you don't accept this type of behaviour by switching products/services. I'm aware that Windows 10 is a "free" OS, but trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs.

> trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs. Last time I used Linux (well, Ubuntu specifically) every time I searched for anything in the file system I would see at least half a dozen ads for products on Amazon. Significantly worse than anything I've ever seen in Windows 10 personally. Uni…

There was just 1 checkbox to turn it off, not lots of checkboxes and hidden registry entries like in Windows and I think not all telemetry can be turned off on normal Windows, you need Enterprise

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#226

Post by [deleted] »

grawlinson wrote: post #2

Here's a better idea - show Microsoft that you don't accept this type of behaviour by switching products/services. I'm aware that Windows 10 is a "free" OS, but trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs.

[deleted]

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#227

Post by laumars »

bradgessler wrote: post #223
grawlinson wrote: post #2

Here's a better idea - show Microsoft that you don't accept this type of behaviour by switching products/services. I'm aware that Windows 10 is a "free" OS, but trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs.

Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a... A while back. Not sure where that stands today. Firefox was paid by Google in the past and I believe Yahoo these days. macOS had a connection with Bing in Spotlight. The current incarnation is just a dog with different fleas.

> Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a.... A while back. Not sure where that stands today.

This is the most relevant of your 3 examples and Canonical got heavily criticised for it. They ended up reversing their decision. Which makes it all the more important that people take this example not as "It's ok for Microsoft to do it as well" but rather "We also shouldn't allow Microsoft to get away with this".

>Firefox was paid by Google In the last and I believe Yahoo these days.

The thing here is that when you type something in the search bar you are actually wanting to search for something online - given that it's a "search" bar. It kind of made sense for Google to be the default search engine as that is the most popular search engine in the west (ie what most people would prefer to default to) so even without Google's investment I can see the logic of having a Google search bar. In fact I would go further and say that's a well received productivity tool.

However It's also very easy to change which online service is used in the search bar - or even to remove it entirely. So the Google investment does not lock you into using Google services on Firefox.

Thus I see no conflict of interest with regards to Google's donations to Firefox.

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#228

Post by [deleted] »

bradgessler wrote: post #223
grawlinson wrote: post #2

Here's a better idea - show Microsoft that you don't accept this type of behaviour by switching products/services. I'm aware that Windows 10 is a "free" OS, but trying to ram this type of behaviour down my throat is despicable unethical behaviour and I don't condone it. It is why I've switched to Linux for my daily computing needs.

Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a... A while back. Not sure where that stands today. Firefox was paid by Google in the past and I believe Yahoo these days. macOS had a connection with Bing in Spotlight. The current incarnation is just a dog with different fleas.

[deleted]

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#229

Post by bradgessler »

laumars wrote: post #227
bradgessler wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a... A while back. Not sure where that stands today. Firefox was paid by Google in the past and I believe Yahoo these days. macOS had a connection with Bing in Spotlight. The current incarnation is just a dog with different fleas.

> Linux isn't entirely immune to this. Ubuntu had Amazon search integration https://www.howtogeek.com/188589/5-things-you-need-to-know-a... . A while back. Not sure where that stands today. This is the most relevant of your 3 examples and Canonical got heavily criticised for it. They ended up reversing their decision. Which makes it all the more important that people take this example not as " It's ok for Microsoft t…

Re: Ubuntu's decision to reverse ad integration, perhaps there's hope that with enough criticism Microsoft may re-evaluate integrating ads into explorer?

Re: Windows 10 is bringing ads to File Explorer – how to turn them off

#230

Post by smcl »

Is this on Pro as well? I was tempted to get a dedicated windows laptop but if even Windows 10 Pro contains this nonsense then I may have to reconsider.

Also - I know an OS is different from a webpage, but slamming a company for having "shitty" ads when you've got some obnoxious full-screen ads of your own is pretty funny: http://imgur.com/a/3eJ4H

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