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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

#391

Post by faluzure »

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".

cough Reddit Mobile Web cough

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#392

Post by mdavidn »

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 wonder the same thing about the regular prompts to change my default search back to Bing, all disguised in language about optimizing Edge with recommended settings.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#393

Post by pjs_ »

I like the ads. They spice up my day and give me something fun and interesting to look at when I'm bored at work. Plus I find it positive to see adverts for useful and enjoyable products and services. Thanks Microsoft for putting these ads in my Start Menu where they are handy and easy to find.

Maybe they could also put some adverts for products and services that are relevant to my interests into other parts of the operating system. I would personally enjoy the opportunity to see exciting new products in Explorer search results, or while making changes in the Registry Editor, for example. Just my 2c!

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#394

Post by mixmastamyk »

MichaelZuo wrote: post #237
sodapopcan wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

XP was the best OS and I miss it. You had to switch it to use the classic 95/97/2000 skin, of course :) I haven't used Windows since.

What made you dislike Windows 7?

That's when the Explorer and task bar started getting convoluted, hiding things, and becoming abstract instead of concrete. It's done in the spirit of helping newbies of course but it actively harms folks who do understand, as well as crippling the newbies who might learn, to always be dependent.

Also, the transparent effects didn't help anything and look silly in hindsight. They also took out color customization and you couldn't have a dark theme for the next ten years!

Of course the type ahead search in the Start menu was a big improvement, and elevation for security. But as always one step forward, two steps back with modern Windows.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#395

Post by umvi »

pjs_ wrote: post #393

I like the ads. They spice up my day and give me something fun and interesting to look at when I'm bored at work. Plus I find it positive to see adverts for useful and enjoyable products and services. Thanks Microsoft for putting these ads in my Start Menu where they are handy and easy to find. Maybe they could also put some adverts for products and services that are relevant to my interests into other parts of the o…

Same, hopefully they can even figure out how to inject video adverts into Windows Media Player, i.e. when you double click one of your mp4s to play. That way it's almost like having an offline YouTube experience right there in your native OS

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#396

Post by gnulinux »

jonathantf2 wrote: post #277
pengaru wrote: post #96

MS Windows is the daytime television of operating systems: If you're still using it in 2023 you have only yourself to blame. It's not like there aren't better options at your disposal...

I tried to use Linux on my desktop for a year but ended up switching back to Windows for various reasons: - Work apps that weren't compatible - Awful screen tearing issues - Bluetooth dropping out (mouse) and glitching (audio) all the time - Games didn't work (and you can't screenshare with audio on Linux in Discord) I'm sure I could have fixed these but after getting to the third page of Google looking how to solve…

It's truly incredible how we as humans can exist in the same world but have entirely different experiences. I never had the issues you listed in Linux, and my experience has been mostly stable (not saying no bugs, all software has bugs in 2023). But, oh my god, the few times I used Windows, I was continuously tortured by the unbelievable instability. On my Thinkpad X1 Carbon, Windows still displays the wrong time with Google searches leading to no solution. I used Windows for very specific reasons and I was hit with "hooly crap never fucking again". Now, if I need to use a program that doesn't work in WINE, I just explain to the person "I'm unable to do that because I have no interest in working with Windows". Recently, the US tax CPA I'm working with asked me to use a program to sign something that only works in Windows. After telling that, they insisted I must otherwise they can't file my taxes, so I had to say "no, I'm unable to use Windows, I have no access to it", so they found another way to do it.

It boggles my mind how someone can have the opposite experience.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#397

Post by Zak »

snvzz wrote: post #290
bigger_inside wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Arch Linux. Great community and excellent documentation wiki that'll hold your hand every step of the way.

Arch Linux is a great choice for someone who wants to know Linux. I am writing this comment from Arch Linux.

Arch Linux is not a great choice for someone who just wants to use Linux. There's a lot of learning just to install it, while less expert-oriented distributions can have a system up and running in 20 minutes with very little expertise on the part of the user.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#398

Post by Marsymars »

orev wrote: post #389
Marsymars wrote: post #363

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, it makes sense. They’re still intrusive, unavoidable, unwanted, and make the experience worse. It would also “make sense” for “sudo apt install firefox” to show me an Google-sponsored ad to instead consider Chrome.

This topic is not about ads in app stores, it’s about ads in unavoidable interfaces that you must interact with on a daily basis, like the Start Menu, security icons, explorer windows, etc. the App Store in iOS can easily be moved into a folder and never looked at again unless you want to install a new app. Nobody is saying the App Store ads aren’t annoying, but I am saying that it’s nowhere near the same level of in…

I understand what this topic is about; the App Store is an unavoidable interface that I have to regularly interact with.

I would love it if Apple provided an alternate method to install and update apps on iOS that didn’t involve the App Store.

The relative intrusiveness of start menu ads is, for me, much lower than the App Store ads, as the start menu ads (and its connectivity to the web in general) can easily be toggled off.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#399

Post by Twisell »

devmor wrote: post #145
dotty- wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Apple recurringly hounds you to sign in when you hit "Do it later" though. I read "Do it later" here as a subtle reminder that "the option is not gone. You can do it later on your own in your system settings if you want", as opposed to "ok we'll ask you again later unprompted :)"

Its not as bad as windows, but it will constantly give you a badge on the settings app to notify you that you didn't finish setting up siri.

Nope just click on the notification to start the setup then decline by opting for "do it latter" poof notification badge is gone. It might popup again after major update if there are "new features" but the same step will dismiss the badge/notif.

Re: Microsoft plugging more ads into Windows 11 Start Menu

#400

Post by booleandilemma »

BrotherBisquick wrote: post #205
StrangeATractor wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody with taste would have allowed the Zune.

This is the first time I've heard all opinion about the Zune other than "it was actually pretty good! It was a hidden gem!"

I had a Zune back in the day and I loved it. It had FM radio! And I was able to write software for it!
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