Well, the problem with that is that it isn't "the bad guys" forcing telemetry, Edge, Onedrive, unwanted features, It's MS doing this Bill.
And where did I ever say otherwise? I didn't. In fact, I clearly chastised Microsoft over and over again (and have for years) for forcing "unwanted" (at least IMO) changes and features on us.
The issue I keep bringing up because others keep ignoring or simply can't get it through their thick, even biased heads is collecting telemetry data is NOT the same as compromising security.
When 64K says he visits Pornhub, all Microsoft knows is someone from his ISP assigned IP address visited Pornhub. That's telemetry. They do NOT know it was him, his real name, street address, billing and tax information or other personally identifiable information. That's security. And instead of trying to compromise it, they protect it.
We MUST remember the lessons learned in history.
Microsoft wanted to put anti-virus code in XP. But Norton, McAfee and the others cried and whined to Congress and the EU that it was their job to rid the world of malware and that Microsoft was trying to rule the world. They were but not the point. Congress and the EU agreed. Norton and McAfee got their way and now we see how well that went. But who did 64K, those in the IT media and other MS haters blame for the security mess Norton and McAfee failed to prevent? Microsoft.
Have you not wondered why Congress, the EU, Norton, McAfee and the MS haters in the IT media kept their traps shut about MS putting anti-malware code in W8/10/11? Think about it for a second.
Have you not noticed how many security and malware removal sites and forums have shut down since W10? Why do you suppose that is? As a member of the staff on several of those sites in the past 20 years or so, plus as the owner of my own PC repair shop, I can tell you it is because infections among personal home computers systems running the latest versions of Windows have dwindled to tiny numbers BECAUSE -
when defaults are left alone - these systems are and remain secure in part because the OS and its security stay current through regular updates via Windows Update!!!!!
I fail to see your point about Edge. Would you rather they kept Internet Explorer in there? I loved IE, never buying into the biased hype spewed by FF fanboys. But it's time had passed. And MS did not force Edge on us. From the very start after the first full boot, users are able to easily change the default browser to a different one. So that point is invalid. OF COURSE there must be a browser in Windows from the start and that is Edge. But how are users supposed to go out and download their favorite browser if there were not already a browser app in Windows to do just that?
Yes, they want us to use OneDrive - a bit too aggressively IMO. I hate the idea of all my data being out in "the cloud". So I don't use it. Point is, you don't have to either.
constant pointless OS upgrades that get more stringent with requirements and send perfectly good hardware to the landfill.
This is a perfect example of the "blown out of proportion",
biased comments being spewed in this thread and elsewhere. "
Constant?" No. "
Pointless?" No. Just because you don't understand the point (or don't like it) does not make it pointless.
"
Perfectly good hardware to the landfill."
Now I sincerely mean this with no disrespect towards you personally, but that is just pure, naïve ignorance!
Perfectly good hardware going obsolete is just a fact of life - and NOT Microsoft's fault. Did Microsoft send perfectly good CRT TVs and monitors to the landfill? What about 8-Track and cassette players? 2-channel (stereo) sound systems? Hand held calculators? ATA hard drives? Dot matrix and thermal printers? AT form factor PSUs, motherboards and cases? What about AGP, VGA and DVI graphics cards? DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and now DDR4 RAM? Did MS force RAM makers to develop those and now DDR5 technologies? Did MS force you to toss those perfectly good, but obsolete RAM sticks? Did MS force you to get rid of your perfectly good Pentium IV CPU? No, no, no and no!
Ever heard of CP/M and the uproar caused when companies decided to migrate to DOS and then discovered they had to retool (send perfectly good hardware to the landfill)? And again when Windows 3.x came?
Do you not understand that advances in the state-of-the-art in hardware technologies are being driven
by the hardware industry?
Do you not understand that one of the reasons for the HUGE security mess was because corporations demanded XP support their existing [and
insecure] legacy HW and SW so they would not have to retool yet again?
And most importantly, do you not understand it is the hardware manufacturers responsibility to develop the necessary drivers to ensure their hardware stays current? If your HP laser printer is not supported by W11, blame HP! They are the ones who refused to develop W11 drivers for their legacy printers. HP (and Epson, Brother, etc.) are the ones who want us to buy their new printers instead. Do you not understand it is NOT Microsoft who develops the latest printer protocols?
Do you not understand that UEFI was developed by a consortium of mostly hardware manufacturers called the "Unified EFI Forum" whose primary
member list consists primarily of OEM makers?
Microsoft has done plenty in the past to warrant criticisms. NO ARGUEMENT there from me. I am just saying to criticize them for what they have done, not what they have not, or have no control over.
Now this thread is supposed to be about which version of Windows you feel
is best for you. Not why you hate Windows and Microsoft, or why you blame them for everything wrong in the world.
I say we get back on topic.