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Samsung disabling Windows Update?

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Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#101

Post by nathankleyn »

galfarragem wrote: post #92

Is it safe/efficient to uninstall all bloatware from a laptop? I own a Samsung and over the years I've unninstalled the obvious bloatware without any problem. I wonder if I can delete all of them.

First thing I do when I get a new laptop is wipe it completely and do a fresh install. You can selectively restore the drivers/software you actually need.

Of course it goes without saying that this isn't something most of the millions of unknowing Samsung customers are likely to be able to do themselves, let alone be aware it's even a good idea.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#102

Post by tracker1 »

userbinator wrote: post #28
smaili wrote: post #2

Fantastic discovery! Kind of makes me wonder if there are other OEMs doing the same kind of thing and we just never noticed it.

we just never noticed it. Quite likely if those who would have the knowledge to look into such things are also those who would just reformat the drive and install a fresh copy of the OS.

It's funny, but that's usually the first thing I do with new hardware... though it's also because in general I put in more RAM, and an SSD. Discovering my new rMBP (from August) can't have the memory upgraded and wasn't using the same msata interface as everyone else was disappointing. I typically DIY my own desktop builds, but laptops are getting way too locked down for my taste... I would expect memory, storage and battery to be user servicable on a > $1k laptop.

Between Sony, Lenovo and now Samsung... I'm getting really sick of this kind of crap.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#103

Post by pjc50 »

pilif wrote: post #25
tantalor wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet, Microsoft is responsible for allowing such software to run in the background with no notification or authorization by the user or means to disable it.

It's really hard to find the correct middle-ground. Would you prefer if Windows worked like iOS where there are serious limitations on what apps can do in the background and where every application has to go through a central authority for vetting? Or do you propose a solution that gives both freedom to the user while also not allowing something like this to happen? Yes, there are whitelisting solutions (built into t…

In the early days of multi-user OS security, applications were trusted because they were installed by the admin and users were untrusted.

Today, we have systems which are mostly single-user, but where the applications are incredibly untrustworthy. Hence the popularity of jails and app-store systems. You can't easily retrofit this on Windows because there is very little security between windows running on the same desktop, but what I think we'll end up with is each application having its own SID and a default-restricted view of the user profile.

But in this case it's a hostile OEM, and there really isn't much that can be done in software against that.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#104

Post by orestisfl »

monochromatic wrote: post #20
tantalor wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet, Microsoft is responsible for allowing such software to run in the background with no notification or authorization by the user or means to disable it.

Yes, it's almost as if executable code is... executable.

intel's fault for developing x86

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#105

Post by nitramnitram »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #55
nitramnitram wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait a sec.. Apple has like 8% market share for desktops while Windows has ~80%. And Linux has just a few percents.

If you look at market share for consumers, Apple is doing much better. HP, Lenovo and Dell still rule the enterprise, but Apple does very well with consumers. And more and more enterprises are moving to cloud based solutions, buying tablets and negating the 'need' for PCs, even if for the time being they're still buying cheap PCs.

If we limit the scoop to consumer computers, including Linux seems odd. At least in Sweden extremely few people are using Linux on their computers. Even with Macs it's less than 30%.

Can you clarify why big brands should switch to Linux for their consumer PCs considering that few consumers wants it?

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#106

Post by eveningcoffee »

nivla wrote: post #13

I don't understand, why is Samsung pulling stunts like this all the time? It would make sense if they were trying to get up the ladder but they are already there, they hold an unquestionably large market share of Android. Things like these won't do any good in the long run but only prompt consumers to actively avoid the brand. Some of the things that really surprises me: [1] http://gizmodo.com/samsung-rigged-the-s4-t…

I think that they believe that they own the hardware customer bought and not the customers.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#107

Post by na85 »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #3

If this is true (and frankly I know for a fact it is, as I just downloaded the linked file containing Disable_Windowsupdate.exe, which is signed by Samsung Electronics CO and downloaded from Samsung's own servers) then Microsoft should pick up the phone and threaten the heck out of Samsung, Microsoft while somewhat neutered by anti-trust still has a great deal of power over OEMs and stuff like this is a perfect time…

Ultimately it's just another item on the long long list of why anyone should not buy Microsoft and Samsung products.

Samsung's terrible engineers coupled with a proprietary OS means users lose.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#108

Post by crdoconnor »

SmellyGeekBoy wrote: post #98
crdoconnor wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's possible that Microsoft have been covertly throttling the WHQL process to punish Samsung somehow. They are competing head on with Microsoft in a number of other markets (tablets, etc.), and WHQL is not really subject to much, if any, legal scrutiny.

Yes, I hear 9/11 was an inside job as well...

Somebody clearly wasn't around in the 90s.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#109

Post by roblev »

stinos wrote: post #85
crdoconnor wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, as a Linux user this kind of makes me chuckle. Microsoft has spent so much time abusing their market dominance, trying to cripple linux on the desktop that it's kind of funny for once to see a company which they can't strong-arm doing the same thing back to them.

trying to cripple linux on the desktop according to what I hear year after year again ('still not the year of desktop linux') they even succeeded. lol.

linux on the desktop failed for the same basic reasons many startups fail. They didn't listen to their users or focus on making a product that their users wanted.

By users I mean the core market of Windows - the business desktop. How often did linux outreach staff come to a large business and listen to the concerns of the customers? Never (in my experience). How often did Microsoft do this? Often (again in my experience).

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#110

Post by tracker1 »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #55
nitramnitram wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait a sec.. Apple has like 8% market share for desktops while Windows has ~80%. And Linux has just a few percents.

If you look at market share for consumers, Apple is doing much better. HP, Lenovo and Dell still rule the enterprise, but Apple does very well with consumers. And more and more enterprises are moving to cloud based solutions, buying tablets and negating the 'need' for PCs, even if for the time being they're still buying cheap PCs.

I can't imagine a company pushing for tablets as general purpose devices for a lot of things... as a POS (point of sale) terminal, or even for standing sales reps, sure...

But real productivity is so much worse in line of business applications on a tablet vs. desktop. Screen size/space is king, and nobody is going to work on a 20" tablet... or give up half the screen to a keyboard. Let alone how tired will your arms be by the end of a day without a mouse for anything.

I know you can tap a keyboard/mouse to a tablet, but at that point, you've spent more money than a low end laptop or desktop, with worse productivity and output.

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