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Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

toastytech.com

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Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#61
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

How is disabling OS updates a sensible decision?

It gives me a known, unchanging environment that I can rely on to serve my needs day in and day out. My computers are tools, and the operating system is subservient to its administrator who is absolutely not Microsoft. I do not appreciate my computers reinstalling their operating systems every damn week without my knowledge nor permission.

Been working this way since Windows Update has been a thing, and I've never been let down. Judging by the many tales of people getting grief from Windows Update, I'm perfectly content to continue as I have. I will run system updates when it pleases me, and no sooner.

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#62
Those who refuse to learn from history...

So today, instead of building their own infrastructure, and using free (as in freedom) OSS for their organizational software needs, governments and public agencies pay massive amounts of taxpayer money, that could be put to use elsewhere, in licensing fees.

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#63
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Helping accelerate the death of Flash was probably Steve Jobs' most important contribution to computing. That said, it's appalling that Apple is getting away with banning 3rd party browser engines on iOS.

Then again, iOS is a better OS because it can get away with supporting no third party browser engines.

Why is it a better OS because of that? Not really seeing the logical connection here.

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#64
post #56

It's so much worse now. Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Edge tries to dark pattern all your info with 10 sneaky popups when you first open it. Then on Chrome's website Edge will show a popup indicating that Edge is better, and you should use Edge instead. Then setting Chrome to be default is also a pain, as you have to do that manually for each file type and protocol now.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

IMHO, I haven't tried Windows 11 yet but having to disable system updates for being able to preserve user configuration says all I need to know about the quality and moral behind that OS. Also, with the due respect, unless you have other measures in place for covering security, I think disabiling system updates is a terrible choice from a user perspective.

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#65
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is disabling OS updates a sensible decision?

It gives me a known, unchanging environment that I can rely on to serve my needs day in and day out. My computers are tools, and the operating system is subservient to its administrator who is absolutely not Microsoft. I do not appreciate my computers reinstalling their operating systems every damn week without my knowledge nor permission. Been working this way since Windows Update has been a thing, and I've never be…

What locks you in to windows? Programs? Corporate compliance? Familiarity?

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#66
post #56

It's so much worse now. Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Edge tries to dark pattern all your info with 10 sneaky popups when you first open it. Then on Chrome's website Edge will show a popup indicating that Edge is better, and you should use Edge instead. Then setting Chrome to be default is also a pain, as you have to do that manually for each file type and protocol now.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

>I will note that I have Windows Update completely blocked and disabled via Group Policy, which means my system settings never get reset under the guise of "updates" every month unlike most people's setups. In fact, I'm still running 21H2, NT kernel version 10.0.22000.1281.

What is your plan here? Do you manually update after some time, or do you plan on running that version until you reinstall Windows 11? Do you reinstall with an updated ISO?

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#67
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

IMHO, I haven't tried Windows 11 yet but having to disable system updates for being able to preserve user configuration says all I need to know about the quality and moral behind that OS. Also, with the due respect, unless you have other measures in place for covering security, I think disabiling system updates is a terrible choice from a user perspective.

The only attack surface I care about are web browsers thanks to JavaShit becoming a practical necessity, but fortunately those are much simpler to update compared to an entire operating system. Even Edge keeps itself updated since it handles its updates separately from Windows Update.

Everyone's threat models are different, mine simply doesn't care about most system-level vulnerabilities. I have had far more of my time and nerves wasted in the past by Windows Update compared to the supposed threats those updates protect against; the cure is worse than the disease.

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#68

Those who refuse to learn from history... So today, instead of building their own infrastructure, and using free (as in freedom) OSS for their organizational software needs, governments and public agencies pay massive amounts of taxpayer money, that could be put to use elsewhere, in licensing fees.

[dead]

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#69
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

>I will note that I have Windows Update completely blocked and disabled via Group Policy, which means my system settings never get reset under the guise of "updates" every month unlike most people's setups. In fact, I'm still running 21H2, NT kernel version 10.0.22000.1281. What is your plan here? Do you manually update after some time, or do you plan on running that version until you reinstall Windows 11? Do you rei…

I update when I feel like the endeavour is worth doing (eg: specific kernel or DirectX updates I want/need) and I can allocate sufficient time and energy to address inevitable downtimes stemming from borkages and unwanted setting resets.

Generally I don't reinstall Windows as I don't mistreat my Windows installations. As we speak, I've got a 15-year old XP install and an 11-year old Windows 7 install running perfectly fine on their machines (a Pentium 4 and i7-2700K machine respectively).

Re: Microsoft forced people to install their browser (2010)

#70
post #56

It's so much worse now. Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Edge tries to dark pattern all your info with 10 sneaky popups when you first open it. Then on Chrome's website Edge will show a popup indicating that Edge is better, and you should use Edge instead. Then setting Chrome to be default is also a pain, as you have to do that manually for each file type and protocol now.

>Ever tried installing a different browser on Win11 now? Yes. Running Windows 11, I use Chromium for my daily usage and Pale Moon for specific tasks, along with Edge for things I want to cordon in another browser altogether. Windows 11 hasn't given me grief in my so far ~1.5 years of daily driving it, and I don't necessarily hold Edge's nagging against it since it's browsers catfighting each other. Chrome and Firefox…

That is quite frankly horrible advice.
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