Recently had to install some stuff on a Windows laptop, test it, then ship it out to a customer, and my god the culture shock coming from Mac (and previously Linux and before that Windows)! Randomly selected (and not particularly good at that) rotating wallpapers, random unrelated facts on the log in page. Had to nuke as many of them as possible, but they don't make it easy.
Even after disabling the crap wallpapers and setting my own, by default windows heavily compresses wallpapers to the point where the artefacts are very noticeable on a 4K display, requiring a registry edit to fix.
heaven forbid you leave the "stories" toggled on, it will just blast you in the face with the most garbage political stories ever written every single day. Edge is the worst offender, should be illegal and everyone involved with implementing and approving it should be in prison.
Was fixing something on my dad’s computer and the start menu was featuring some story like “10 children swept away by floodwaters to their deaths” in some faraway country. What a terrible vibe to start the day with. Sensational news has no place in an operating system.
A glacial collapse did indeed cause wild flash flooding in Tibet and Nepal and many people were killed including people from around the world and many locals, it reaches back home in USAID cuts eliminated a program to detect and warn about this very thing.
It's not particularly "sensational" news but a tragedy with many global connections.
I had these features off on Windows where possible. However I can’t imagine using Windows these days. The only time I switch to Windows is to play Marathon/Destiny these days. Other than that, I have no reason to use it. I imagine so many others would have a similar experience.
> Why this level of nickel and diming. This is atrocious UX, its ad over entire screen, For a moment I thought I installed some adware malware.
Our definition of 'malware' has really drifted, then. This is absolutely, positively, 100% malware. Just because it comes with your OS doesn't mean it's not.
Microsoft has zero pride in their operating system and no respect for their users.
Ads on install, ads in the start menu, ads in the toolbar, ads in wallpaper, ads in notifications, ads on the lockscreen, ads in widgets, ads in file explorer...
I’ve used this for many years on a random windows box, and it’s usually very nice. This is the first time I’ve seen this. And man, give me a fucking break. What’s the argument, Microsoft needs the money? Get a grip guys, it’s ok to do things for goodwill or because it’s cool. Not every last dollar is worth chasing. This is like watching Elon Musk rooting around in a summer festival port a potty for loose change.
Maybe surgeons and dentists should tattoo ads onto bigcorp execs faces unless they spot and correctly fill out the quintuple negated opt out hidden on page 97 of their medical care clickwrap agreements.
Edit: And of course now the playbook: if the backlash is strong enough the mea culpa, then 6 months later kill it out of spite.
It's been years since Microsoft has went from OS to advert ridden surveillance OS.
If you have been abused by Microsoft for years, recognize the abusive actions against you, know you have Linux alternatives, and you still choose abuse... Well, this is a YOU problem.
You can choose Linux. Works super well these days. But this is a YOU problem if you keep choosing MS Windows and their ongoing abuse and enshittification.
Recently had to install some stuff on a Windows laptop, test it, then ship it out to a customer, and my god the culture shock coming from Mac (and previously Linux and before that Windows)! Randomly selected (and not particularly good at that) rotating wallpapers, random unrelated facts on the log in page. Had to nuke as many of them as possible, but they don't make it easy.
Even after disabling the crap wallpapers and setting my own, by default windows heavily compresses wallpapers to the point where the artefacts are very noticeable on a 4K display, requiring a registry edit to fix.
heaven forbid you leave the "stories" toggled on, it will just blast you in the face with the most garbage political stories ever written every single day. Edge is the worst offender, should be illegal and everyone involved with implementing and approving it should be in prison.
Was fixing something on my dad’s computer and the start menu was featuring some story like “10 children swept away by floodwaters to their deaths” in some faraway country. What a terrible vibe to start the day with. Sensational news has no place in an operating system.
A glacial collapse did indeed cause wild flash flooding in Tibet and Nepal and many people were killed including people from around the world and many locals, it reaches back home in USAID cuts eliminated a program to detect and warn about this very thing.
It's not particularly "sensational" news but a tragedy with many global connections.
I had these features off on Windows where possible. However I can’t imagine using Windows these days. The only time I switch to Windows is to play Marathon/Destiny these days. Other than that, I have no reason to use it. I imagine so many others would have a similar experience.
I'd be more surprised if this was the first time Microsoft did this.
I checked the download page[0] and next to the download button they say they will do this
>You will also receive in-app notifications with promotional offers from Microsoft
[0] https://www.bing.com/apps/wallpaper?pc=w011&brand=bing
> in-app notifications
I would not describe a full-screen wallpaper, that is, the entire functionality of the software, to be a "notification".
Microsoft seems determined to destroy every bit of remaining customer goodwill. Who approved this ad?
Is it clickable? As in do they get Click-through rate (CTR)? Otherwise it is really hard to calculate any value for these.
I have never seen a person walk up to a billboard and click it.
I've never seen a person click on an ad.
No, no, no. Guise. You’ve got it all wrong. Microsoft cares about Windows and its customers again. Don’t trust your lying eyes.
It’s a big initiative and you know Microsoft is always serious about those.
https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/what-is-...
Meanwhile, this site is covered with ads that are impossible to close
> Why this level of nickel and diming. This is atrocious UX, its ad over entire screen, For a moment I thought I installed some adware malware.
Our definition of 'malware' has really drifted, then. This is absolutely, positively, 100% malware. Just because it comes with your OS doesn't mean it's not.
There's 11 Fantastic Beasts films?
I think it's 8 Harry Potter and 3 Fantastic Beasts films.
Microsoft has zero pride in their operating system and no respect for their users.
Ads on install, ads in the start menu, ads in the toolbar, ads in wallpaper, ads in notifications, ads on the lockscreen, ads in widgets, ads in file explorer...
I’ve used this for many years on a random windows box, and it’s usually very nice. This is the first time I’ve seen this. And man, give me a fucking break. What’s the argument, Microsoft needs the money? Get a grip guys, it’s ok to do things for goodwill or because it’s cool. Not every last dollar is worth chasing. This is like watching Elon Musk rooting around in a summer festival port a potty for loose change.
Maybe surgeons and dentists should tattoo ads onto bigcorp execs faces unless they spot and correctly fill out the quintuple negated opt out hidden on page 97 of their medical care clickwrap agreements.
Edit: And of course now the playbook: if the backlash is strong enough the mea culpa, then 6 months later kill it out of spite.
Business as usual. Just wait until the start-menu icon is a Coca-Cola logo :D
Bro, look at the immersion! My keycaps and fans change color with the commercials! That's attention to detail!
Cry me alligator tears.
It's been years since Microsoft has went from OS to advert ridden surveillance OS.
If you have been abused by Microsoft for years, recognize the abusive actions against you, know you have Linux alternatives, and you still choose abuse... Well, this is a YOU problem.
You can choose Linux. Works super well these days. But this is a YOU problem if you keep choosing MS Windows and their ongoing abuse and enshittification.
Oh boy will this not go down well with the local queer groups. Let's stuff a culture war trigger in people's faces.