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Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

theregister.com

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Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#191

Post by eimrine »

bigger_inside wrote: post #85
JohnFen wrote: post #54

> As Microsoft puts it: “We are continuing the exploration of badging on the Start menu with several new treatments for users logging in with local user accounts to highlight the benefits of signing in with a Microsoft account (MSA).” What is Microsoft really thinking here? You have to go out of your way (and probably do a web search) in order to figure out how to install Win 11 without using a Microsoft Account. So…

I've never used linux. After a hundred frustrations with my new laptop that runs Win11, I'm now looking to install ubuntu. Windows pushed me there.

Debian-based distribs are very beginner-friendly and Ubuntu's forum is full of helpful users.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#193

Post by kayodelycaon »

belltaco wrote: post #47
websap wrote: post #15

It's outrageous that once a great OS builder, is now resorting to pushing it's subscription services through it's OS. Imagine MacOS and iOS showing in menu ads, I hope Apple never stoops to this level.

Mac OS is already there and arguably worse. It shows a fake red notification to make you sign into iCloud and doesn't go away till you do. https://i.stack.imgur.com/OqNzj.png

Iirc, you can click start using and then cancel it to clear the notification.

Also, if you signed in at some point and later sign out, the notification doesn’t appear. My work machine isn’t connected to an iCloud account.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#194

Post by justsomehnguy »

belter wrote: post #31
pwinnski wrote: post #24

Most people will sign up for a Microsoft account, or already have, and so won't even see these ads. But let's say you use Microsoft Windows, but don't want a Microsoft account. You're going to leave Windows over this? And go where? Wait, is 2023 the fabled Year of Linux on the Desktop, at long last? I haven't used Windows in many years, and I'm not trying to defend Microsoft here. Still, the framing of this piece see…

The Desktop Experience on Linux is years ahead of Windows. Only users who have to use apps non available on Mac or Linux use Windows.

> The Desktop Experience on Linux is years ahead of Windows

[citation needed]

And is also relevant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35325280

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#195

Post by wvenable »

blincoln wrote: post #154
ipcress_file wrote: post #82

One solution is to use Open-Shell instead of Microsoft's start menu: https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/ Stardock usually makes a replacement start menu too.

How well-supported is it? Looks like the last release was almost a year ago. Replacing the Windows shell, especially in Windows 10/11, with their constant updates, isn't something I'd recommend for non-experts, but I don't even do it myself anymore because it seems like none of the replacements are ever consistently supported in the long term.

Open Shell has been around for a long time -- it's basically done so it doesn't need many updates. That being said, it actually isn't designed to work with Windows 11 (as the entire Taskbar has been re-written) but it does it actually work with it. Requires some extra customization of the settings to get it to look right.

I've used Classic/Open Shell since Windows 7.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#196

Post by test1235 »

whoopdedo wrote: post #166
JCWasmx86 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Companies should really accept a "No" from their users. No I don't want to use a microsoft account just to use my computer. (Without jumping through hoops) Don't ask me again the moment I say "No". You can see the same with all those dialogs that only have "Yes, do $THING" and "Remind me later".

It's what the phrase "the customer is always right" originally meant. It means you can do all the market research, development, testing, polling, and seeding to sell a product. But the ultimate decider of whether the product is "good" is whether or not the people buy it. If your sales plan flops don't say "it's not the product's fault, I just need to do a better job marketing it." No, the product is wrong, the custom…

I think the original saying was longer, and something along the lines of, "the customer is always right when it comes to taste".

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#197

Post by handity »

JCWasmx86 wrote: post #68
JohnFen wrote: post #54

> As Microsoft puts it: “We are continuing the exploration of badging on the Start menu with several new treatments for users logging in with local user accounts to highlight the benefits of signing in with a Microsoft account (MSA).” What is Microsoft really thinking here? You have to go out of your way (and probably do a web search) in order to figure out how to install Win 11 without using a Microsoft Account. So…

Companies should really accept a "No" from their users. No I don't want to use a microsoft account just to use my computer. (Without jumping through hoops) Don't ask me again the moment I say "No". You can see the same with all those dialogs that only have "Yes, do $THING" and "Remind me later".

Users should learn to say "no" to companies. The surveillance advertising economy is not some hapless mistake that companies will suddenly wake up to one day and realize the error of their ways. Whatever Microsoft "should" do is just wishful thinking. Change will come from users or regulation, and regulation seems unlikely.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#198

Post by Marsymars »

antiframe wrote: post #63
Marsymars wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those points are both matters of opinion, with which I do not agree. (The first one doesn't particularly matter, because I'm forced to use the iOS App Store regardless of how you classify it, the second of which I forcefully disagree with - I am opposed to any ads that I cannot opt out of seeing. I don't go to the store to see ads, I go to download exactly the apps I want, and to update apps I already have installed…

So in your opinion seeing an advertisement for an app on an app store is much worse than seeing an ad in your app launcher UI that you click on every time you go to launch an app?

Devoid of additional context, the latter would be worse, but in this context, I cannot avoid the former while using iOS, while I pretty easily avoid the latter while using Windows. (At least, to date. I don't run preview/insider builds of Windows.)

Maybe there's some MDM that can be practically used to manage personal/household iOS app installs without the App Store? Happy to take suggestions there.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#199

Post by MikusR »

JohnFen wrote: post #54

> As Microsoft puts it: “We are continuing the exploration of badging on the Start menu with several new treatments for users logging in with local user accounts to highlight the benefits of signing in with a Microsoft account (MSA).” What is Microsoft really thinking here? You have to go out of your way (and probably do a web search) in order to figure out how to install Win 11 without using a Microsoft Account. So…

They saw that Apple was doing it and nobody complained.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#200

Post by anigbrowl »

irrational wrote: post #119
JohnFen wrote: post #54

> As Microsoft puts it: “We are continuing the exploration of badging on the Start menu with several new treatments for users logging in with local user accounts to highlight the benefits of signing in with a Microsoft account (MSA).” What is Microsoft really thinking here? You have to go out of your way (and probably do a web search) in order to figure out how to install Win 11 without using a Microsoft Account. So…

Apple has a similar problem. On setup it wants me to set up siri, payment, etc. My options are to setup now or do it later. There needs to be a third option that I will never setup these things and never ask me again.

That has not been my experience. I got my first Mac last year because it was an irresistible used price, and I expected to hate MacOS. To my surprise, it's actually been very pleasant, inviting me to set up an Apple ID when I first set it up but otherwise staying out of my way.
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