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Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

windowscentral.com

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Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#21

Post by aejnsn »

MeinBlutIstBlau wrote: post #11

This just means that if these laptops are going to have Windows 11, they need to have a camera. It's not that the OS will not work without it. It's just MS saying, "You need a camera on your laptop." It's no different than all Macbooks having a camera, except Microsoft is dictating the OEM market needs to adhere to that standard.

You’re exactly right in your statement. But of all the experiences they could control, the most important is a webcam?

That webcam is placed on an OS known for intrusive advertising and data collection, with OEMs known for pushing pre-installed software that’s invasive, if not full-blown malware.

You’re exactly right about the facts. The problem is the perception of the theme here.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#22

Post by MeinBlutIstBlau »

aejnsn wrote: post #21
MeinBlutIstBlau wrote: post #11

This just means that if these laptops are going to have Windows 11, they need to have a camera. It's not that the OS will not work without it. It's just MS saying, "You need a camera on your laptop." It's no different than all Macbooks having a camera, except Microsoft is dictating the OEM market needs to adhere to that standard.

You’re exactly right in your statement. But of all the experiences they could control, the most important is a webcam? That webcam is placed on an OS known for intrusive advertising and data collection, with OEMs known for pushing pre-installed software that’s invasive, if not full-blown malware. You’re exactly right about the facts. The problem is the perception of the theme here.

I'm fairly certain that the reason for it has more to do with standardizing laptops to always have webcams and that it's expected now that work from home is a more commonly accepted thing. Also every phone has a camera. It's not like this is a new concept in hardware requirements.

Requiring cameras to laptops sounds like a better feature than having to waste time finding out "does it have a camera." Especially ensuring they have to be hi-res. Phones have had cameras forever. I don't get how the expectation that a laptop should not have a camera. It's not like it's any more invasive than the geolocation data google siphons constantly.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#23

Post by kungito »

squarefoot wrote: post #19

Thank you, Microsoft! Thousands, potentially millions, of users will be motivated to migrate to other OSes, also thanks to Windows 11 insane hardware requirements they will find tons of essentially free hardware that will run their new OS with no issues.

Sometimes I laugh at arguments like this, sometimes I get pissed of. You are seriously disconnected from reality if you think this will change anything except all laptops having a front webcam. I haven't seen one without it ever anyways

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#24

Post by bluerival »

aejnsn wrote: post #21
MeinBlutIstBlau wrote: post #11

This just means that if these laptops are going to have Windows 11, they need to have a camera. It's not that the OS will not work without it. It's just MS saying, "You need a camera on your laptop." It's no different than all Macbooks having a camera, except Microsoft is dictating the OEM market needs to adhere to that standard.

You’re exactly right in your statement. But of all the experiences they could control, the most important is a webcam? That webcam is placed on an OS known for intrusive advertising and data collection, with OEMs known for pushing pre-installed software that’s invasive, if not full-blown malware. You’re exactly right about the facts. The problem is the perception of the theme here.

This is most certainly a security initiative to standardise biometrics (Windows Hello). Windows wants everyone to use their “FaceID” because it’s more secure.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#25

Post by hans-moleman »

kungito wrote: post #23
squarefoot wrote: post #19

Thank you, Microsoft! Thousands, potentially millions, of users will be motivated to migrate to other OSes, also thanks to Windows 11 insane hardware requirements they will find tons of essentially free hardware that will run their new OS with no issues.

Sometimes I laugh at arguments like this, sometimes I get pissed of. You are seriously disconnected from reality if you think this will change anything except all laptops having a front webcam. I haven't seen one without it ever anyways

This website is an echo chamber many times more niche than other social websites. It’s mainly tech nerds with very similar beliefs and backgrounds. Opinons here, as with most websites, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#26

Post by lb1lf »

endemic wrote: post #3
mhoad wrote: post #2

WTAF? Was this supposed to be some kind of security thing? This misreads the room so badly on where people are at in 2021 when it comes to the idea of tech companies and consumer privacy.

The article is light on details, but of course there's always this: > For those concerned with privacy, this means a trip to the office supply store to grab more tape with which to cover up the pesky little lenses.

-I am surprised not more vendors of laptops have done like Lenovo does (at least on the X1 series) - there's a plastic slider which goes over the lens, showing a bright orange dot when it has disabled the camera.

Seems so cheap, simple and useful that there probably is a patent keeping others from doing it. Sigh.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#27

Post by _-david-_ »

squarefoot wrote: post #19

Thank you, Microsoft! Thousands, potentially millions, of users will be motivated to migrate to other OSes, also thanks to Windows 11 insane hardware requirements they will find tons of essentially free hardware that will run their new OS with no issues.

What laptop doesn't have a front webcam especially one that is at least 720p (I assume that is what is considered hd)? You can buy a $150 laptop and it likely would work.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#28

Post by dagw »

_-david-_ wrote: post #27
squarefoot wrote: post #19

Thank you, Microsoft! Thousands, potentially millions, of users will be motivated to migrate to other OSes, also thanks to Windows 11 insane hardware requirements they will find tons of essentially free hardware that will run their new OS with no issues.

What laptop doesn't have a front webcam especially one that is at least 720p (I assume that is what is considered hd)? You can buy a $150 laptop and it likely would work.

Some so called gaming laptops don't. The Asus G14 for example was a series of extremely popular and well reviewed laptops without a front webcam. They where even quite popular with developers since they offered class leading CPU and GPU performance in a relatively lightweight package.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#29

Post by dagw »

oarsinsync wrote: post #10
mhoad wrote: post #2

WTAF? Was this supposed to be some kind of security thing? This misreads the room so badly on where people are at in 2021 when it comes to the idea of tech companies and consumer privacy.

> This misreads the room so badly on where people are at in 2021 when it comes to the idea of tech companies and consumer privacy. (Some) Tech people, politicians, and politicos, sure. The average person still uses Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Twitter, Google services, and/or believes Apple's marketing on respecting user privacy. Also, this is 2 years out. Either there will be major changes between now and then whi…

I know several pretty 'average' computer users with a piece of tape in front of their laptop camera.

Re: Starting in 2023, Windows 11 will require new laptops to have a front webcam

#30

Post by _-david-_ »

dagw wrote: post #28
_-david-_ wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What laptop doesn't have a front webcam especially one that is at least 720p (I assume that is what is considered hd)? You can buy a $150 laptop and it likely would work.

Some so called gaming laptops don't. The Asus G14 for example was a series of extremely popular and well reviewed laptops without a front webcam. They where even quite popular with developers since they offered class leading CPU and GPU performance in a relatively lightweight package.

Thanks. I didn't realize that. I assumed with the size of gaming laptops they would all have webcams.
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