Live data from Hacker News

Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

news.ycombinator.com

131–140 of 470 posts

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#131
post #117
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yeah, the answer is to simply not use Windows. Yeah, no. You either switch to Mac and lose 99% of your applications and some of your hardware. Or you switch to Linux and lose 90% of your applications and latest hardware; And enjoy random problems and figuring out which of hundred answers online is right. Answer could be none, because for example Wayland support for multiple monitors sucks.

If you don't like to get raped by $megacorp1 buy $megacorp2 instead! After all, consoom you must, right?

What?!

It's just there isn't a good path. So might as well remain on current thing that works.

In my case the $15 Windows.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been using Linux since Redhat 6.2 back in 1998. I have had my share of xconfig edits, bash scripts, etc explorations. I am now reaching 36, I just like 'things that work' - like Windows. Windows works with all my hardware, with all my 7 laptops, with all my 2 towers, I can install Visual Studio 2022 on it, I can install Ubuntu in WSL2 and I can play Dota2/Civ/Baldur's Gate/Warhammer 40k Insquisitor Martyr/list…

> Windows just works. I use Windows for audio recording, mixing, mastering and gaming, here are my examples of Windows not "just work"ing: My Windows bluescreens immediately after booting on my Threadripper build with an MSI MEG x399 if I don't have the wifi driver installed. On a new install I have to deactivate it in UEFI settings, then boot/install windows, then install the driver before reactivating it. Windows U…

[deleted]

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#133
post #4

> How do you deal with Microsoft's crap on a daily basis? I don't; I develop on Linux. Ignoring this, within my very limited usage of Windows, it seems to me that MS has become increasingly more hostile over the last few years or so. To answer with something actionable: I discourage people from upgrading to Windows 11.

Same here. I gave up on Windows years ago, switched to Linux and have been happy with it ever since.

Sure, there are some sharp corners here and there, but at least the operating system doesn't get out of it's way to stop you from fixing things. And since you have these sharp corners with any operating system, to the end user it doesn't really matter as long as they have any kind of informal support system (you know, the person in their extended family that 'knows' computers)

I offer tech support for my extended family and was able to slowly migrate most of them to Linux over the years. I'm much less inclined to angrily yell at people nowadays. I've also grown back much of my hair.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#134
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> WSL2, running Linux on Windows, VS Code, VS 2022, it's all good. As someone who also has a Linux desktop and laptops in addition to the Windows machine, WSL is terrible next to the real thing. Unless you need software that only runs on Windows, I advise against using it as a reason to stay on Windows.

I have been using Linux since Redhat 6.2 back in 1998. I have had my share of xconfig edits, bash scripts, etc explorations. I am now reaching 36, I just like 'things that work' - like Windows. Windows works with all my hardware, with all my 7 laptops, with all my 2 towers, I can install Visual Studio 2022 on it, I can install Ubuntu in WSL2 and I can play Dota2/Civ/Baldur's Gate/Warhammer 40k Insquisitor Martyr/list…

Unrelated question – being a .NET developer, would you be interested to try out ASPSecurityKit specifically it's activity data authorization [1] feature? Pl share your email if yes. Mine is varun at ASPSecurityKit

looking for some beta users, to get feedback as we're thinking a cross-platform component on similar lines.

1: https://aspsecuritykit.net/guides/aspnet-policy-authorizatio...

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#135
post #4

> How do you deal with Microsoft's crap on a daily basis? I don't; I develop on Linux. Ignoring this, within my very limited usage of Windows, it seems to me that MS has become increasingly more hostile over the last few years or so. To answer with something actionable: I discourage people from upgrading to Windows 11.

Windows is pretty much alive and kicking. The best it has been since Windows XP. WSL2, running Linux on Windows, VS Code, VS 2022, it's all good. Windows 11 is VERY solid and you can play lots of games on it too :) I am dead serious. I have been using Windows since 3, using betas of Microsoft products since Longhorn - right now, Windows is reaching it's PEAK in terms of performance, ecosystem. Sure, they will need 2-…

> I am dead serious.

Thanks for adding this, as I thought you made a joke.

Ads, spyware, NSA backdoors, who still trusts them?

Also alternatives are just too readily available these days.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#136

Windows Update uses all disk space on space limited VMs hosting various services, disabling it has become more difficult (Disabling the service doesn't work anymore, recently a helper service to restart it was released) Which has led to something a bit drastic but I haven't looked back - blocking all Windows IP's on router level for the VM address space. I still run updates every few months. Edit: If anyone want's a…

Oh, that's nothing.

Windows Update can forcefully power-on a sleeping laptop, and then do 100% CPU load for a decent chunk of an hour whether you like it or not...

... while your laptop is in your laptop bag.

This destroyed one laptop for me already. It very nearly caught fire on a crowded train with no way to even throw it off for safety.

I keep saying: Microsoft will keep ramming this crap down people's throats until a laptop catches fire on a plane and a safety agency or two gets involved.

PS: Speaking of VMs and Windows Update -- the most hilarious thing ever is when 40,000 virtual desktop VMs forcefully run Windows Update all at the same time on a shared storage array. And then reboot to the golden image, resetting them to the previous state, from which they dutifully try to patch themselves. Again, and again, and again...

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows is pretty much alive and kicking. The best it has been since Windows XP. WSL2, running Linux on Windows, VS Code, VS 2022, it's all good. Windows 11 is VERY solid and you can play lots of games on it too :) I am dead serious. I have been using Windows since 3, using betas of Microsoft products since Longhorn - right now, Windows is reaching it's PEAK in terms of performance, ecosystem. Sure, they will need 2-…

> WSL2, running Linux on Windows, VS Code, VS 2022, it's all good. Actually, I decided to downgrade to WSL from WSL2. I often need to do some quick work in a Linux environment, and sometimes this even involves some files on my Windows machine, so WSL comes in handy. The problem is, WSL2 startup time is terribly long when compared to WSL. With WSL, i type wsl and a second later I run a couple of commands. With WSL2, o…

I've got a wsl2 shell in startup and never close it; it consumes relatively little memory (<1GB) and 0% cpu when idle.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#138
I'm always stunned that stories like this happen on HN. Like maybe I'm blessed personally by Bill Gates but nothing ever like this happens with my Windows installs, they just work. And I'm on Windows 11 Insider Preview build. _It did ask me_ to change the default browser, I clicked on no and that's all.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Advertisements in the start menu around Windows 8 was my tipping point. It's just a trashy thing to see candy crush and other crap in there that I never asked for, never could remove, etc. I went to Ubuntu and now PopOS and haven't looked back in almost 10 years. Maybe they've cleaned things up and removed the crap in later Windows but the damage is done and I'm never going back.

I doubt it, given that Microsoft now actually owns the Candy Crush IP.

not yet, the deal has to pass through a lot of regulatory bodies to become a thing.

Re: Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge

#140
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly, why would anyone prefer Chrome to Edge? They both are built on the same Chromium core but Google adds a bunch tracking with merging your website logging together with your browser account.

>>Exactly, why would anyone prefer Chrome to Edge? Is this....a real question? I'll bite - because Chrome signs into my google account and it seemlessly remembers everything I do between my PC, my laptop and my phone. I literally couldn't care any less what core it uses, the usability aspect is just better than in Edge.

> it seemlessly remembers everything I do between my PC, my laptop and my phone

That is not a feature, unless you are OK with Google spying on you.

Post reply on HN