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Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

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201–210 of 433 posts

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#201
post #194

Back when Edgeium was new and just Chrome but with a lot of Google cruft removed, I actually used Edge instead of Chrome when I was on Windows. It was the same browser with some additional tweaks that I quite liked. Then Microsoft started this aggressive, disruptive push to bring it to iOS Safari's level as the only browser people should use. I don't know any good operating systems for normal people anymore. Windows…

> macOS only runs on very expensive hardware and doesn't run most programs people need (because the business world is still Windows oriented) What programs won't run on macOS that "normal people" are going to need? In my experience most "normal people" use a web browser, the Office suite, and maybe some Adobe programs.

Accounting software perhaps?

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#202
post #42

Humorously, using tools built into Windows 10 and 11 now, you can open a PowerShell window, type winget install Google.Chrome, and never open Edge once if you don't want to.

That is exactly what I love about Windows 11 particularly. I don't have to deal the abdominations like Microsoft News, just a winget away. Don't like Edge? winget uninstall -e "Microsoft.Edge"

Can winget also uninstall the Microsoft Store and all their spyware/telemetry/advertising BS?

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The substantial difference that I experience is that it is incapable of utilizing hardware acceleration for youtube videos using an nvidia graphics card in a linux environment, and that I don't get tab-to-complete search in the bar.

Seems more useful than Chromes search bar which has tab-to-go-to-google-search-and-generate-ad-revenue. At least Firefox has down-to-find-what-I-actually-want-from-my-bookmarks-and-history.

"You shouldn't want that thing that you want."

No.

If I type eba{Tab}query, firefox should search ebay for query. If I have to go to settings once and tick a box to enable this functionality, I will. I won't stop wanting what I want.

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What faults to you find in Firefox, when compared to Chrome? I switched a year ago and I was emotionally prepared to fight a rough battle with problematic websites, incompatible apps and so on. I was very positively surprised. The only major PITA was the fact that I had to define MIME types for downloadable documents that I wanted to save by default - the usual box "remember this option" was missing for .mkv and the…

Breaking Addons to be more compliant with a standard between other browsers - making things like TabTreeStyles not work. Putting ads in the address bar: https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/7/22715179/firefox-suggest-... Recording what you type in the address bar: https://today.in-24.com/technology/450296.html Putting ads on the New Tab Page: https://www.ghacks.net/2018/12/31/firefox-with-ads-on-new-ta... Randomly instal…

FF's behavior over the last decade or so makes it seem like about three different and totally unrelated factions/departments/people that should never have been given any power have been given lots of power.

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#206

As pointed out by the original Neowin article [0], Google has been abusing its power for years in basically the same way. Two wrongs don't make a right, but Google is far from the "good guy" here. [0] https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-its-own-edge-brow...

That dialog is only on Google websites, I'm not sure how that is abusing its power as you can choose not to use Google products (hard but doable). Regardless Microsoft are already doing that to push Edge as well, try going to microsoft.com using a non-Edge browser and you'll see a banner appear. But this goes much further and actively bakes those prompts into the OS and browser, you wonder how far they'll take it?

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#207

Back when Edgeium was new and just Chrome but with a lot of Google cruft removed, I actually used Edge instead of Chrome when I was on Windows. It was the same browser with some additional tweaks that I quite liked. Then Microsoft started this aggressive, disruptive push to bring it to iOS Safari's level as the only browser people should use. I don't know any good operating systems for normal people anymore. Windows…

> macOS only runs on very expensive hardware and doesn't run most programs people need (because the business world is still Windows oriented)

This is an outdated take - it's functionally untrue in most business settings.

Gaming on the other hand, is very much still mostly Windows only.

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#208
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mozilla ... has introduced a lot more dark patterns than Chrome has What are you referring to?

Stuff like this (not my post): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29416956 I just remember that every time I reopen Firefox (to test it for something), some new annoying thing like Pocket or some other trendy extension I didn't ask for has suddenly appeared. And it's always bugging me with CHECK OUT WHAT WE ADDED popups. I don't CARE about your new features, just let me browse the web and stay outta the way, damn i…

That's not a dark pattern, it's just obnoxious advertising garbage. Which is still bad, but a different thing.

FWIW this is also one of my least favorite things about FF. What the fuck is the point of unobtrusive background auto-updating if you're also going to annoy me with ads every single time you do it?

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#209

For people complaining about "Evilz M$"--isnt this roughly the same strategy Chrome used? My question is: Do you see these prompts when downloading Firefox?

I’m not sure what you mean- Chrome never tried to prevent me from downloading any other browser.

Re: Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome

#210
post #49

Microsoft has had a good few years of building up their reputation after their self inflicted blemishes from the IE integration fiasco as well as their EEE mode of operation. Now they are throwing away their good will with smarmy tactics --why? for some short term gains? They were passing Google reputation-wise, of late, but these moves undercut their work of the last few years. It seems they see Google, FB, even App…

> Microsoft has had a good few years of building up their reputation after their self inflicted blemishes from the IE integration fiasco as well as their EEE mode of operation.

Microsoft never changed. There was never a "new Microsoft". Only a new strategy with the same goals as ever: anti competitive behavior, bullying "partners", and what not. Just because they made this or that opensource changes nothing to the nature of that company. Windows 11 is basically just adware at that point.

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