"Yesterday my desktop died, and so I went ahead and got a brand new Windows 8 laptop. It's always been my feeling that as years go on, user experience has been going down for people who use a computer and the Internet, because of decisions all companies make that are clearly anti-user, either because they think they know best, or in many cases, for financial gains. But from spending all night reinstalling everything and customizing the laptop, I realized just how bad it has become." Probably the biggest reason to go Mac or Linux. Such a shame Microsoft found it more important to pressure OEMs into silly Secure Boot nonsense instead of doing something about the anti-user crapware disaster. Goes to show who Microsoft cares about. Hint: it ain't you.
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Member since:2006-02-15
Well, to be precise, the blog post wasn't written by Thom Holwerda. Thom only latched onto it to get a few cheap shots at Microsoft specifically, whereas the blog post itself is talking about a much broader thing.
Member since:2005-06-29
While I am somewhat in line with Thom's overall sentiment towards Microsoft, I have to say I agree with you here. Sorry Thom, but you are really reaching.
For my part, I'm leaning much more heavily on GNU/Linux lately, especially since I found the awesomeness that is Manjaro Linux*; I'm almost ready to shelve Windows 7. The only thing holding me back is my WP7 phone, and given that Sprint has yet to commit to WP8, I may end up going back to the Nexus S by default. When that happens (and whenever my Xbox finally sells) I'll have a Microsoft-free computing environment again.
All that said, it's not because I don't like Windows 7; rather, I think it's the best thing they've ever produced. But if I don't need it, if my laptop runs better with GNU/Linux, and if it gets a truncated support cycle as has been hinted at, then I won't bother keeping it around. BUT, I'm not going to go on a tirade about how bad Windows 8 is or how much crap is on PCs made by companies with a reputation for loading crapware. Most people know that if you buy a computer from HP, Toshiba or Sony you're going to get a ton of software you'll never use.
One thing I do know for sure: I will never own Windows 8. Not because of the content of this article or in these discussions, but simply because I don't like the direction the OS is going. I feel the same about OS X; Snow Leopard is on my Mac mini and that's as far as I'm going in that camp.
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*Arch based but with custom repos so no elitist Arch admin shenanigans can ruin the OS for those of us who actually use our computers to get shit done, instead of squealing like a schoolgirl whenever there's a kernel commit.
Member since:2005-06-29
Right. Because if something stupid goes on long enough, we should just bend over, smile, and ask for more once it's done.
Edited 2012-11-12 08:58 UTC
Member since:2005-11-15
Even though I agree with many others that this is not a new problem and actually think things are improving I had to mod you up. Your answer was just too good.
Besides, we are using our computers now more than ever to sync, work, play and even socialize. The greater the exposure, the greater the burns.
Member since:2009-08-18
Well you know, consumers have had cheaper kit because of these crappy OEM deals.
TBH most of the stuff that gets installed it isn't that bad these days, except for McAfee which makes everything run at a crawl.
Anyway the shit stirring with the FOSS crowd is your favorite past time.
The third and final WWDC product I want to talk about is - of course - OS X 10.9 Mavericks. While iOS 7 was clearly the focus of this year's WWDC, its venerable desktop counterpart certainly wasn't left behind. Apple announced OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the first OS X release not to carry the name of a big cat.
We already talked about iOS 7 yesterday (after a night of sleep, it's only looking worse and worse - look at this, for Fiona's sake!), so now it's time to talk about the downright stunning and belly flutters-inducing new Mac Pro. As former owner and huge, huge, huge fan of the PowerMac G4 Cube - I haven't been this excited about an Apple product since, well, I would say the iMac G4. This is the Apple I used to love.
Apple held its big keynote event thing at WWDC earlier this evening, but since I was away with friends I've had to read up on it later in the evening. The company announced iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and they gave a preview of the new Mac Pro. Especially the Mac Pro impressed me, and while iOS 7's new Holo/Metro-inspired theme looks messy and garish to me, I do commend Apple for finally breaking the mold. This news item will focus on iOS 7 - I'll dive into the Mac Pro and OS X 10.9 tomorrow (it's late here now).
And yes, the PRISM scandal is far, far from over. More and more information keeps leaking out, and the more gets out, the worse it gets. The companies involved have sent out official statements - often by mouth of their CEOs - and what's interesting is that not only are these official statements eerily similar to each other, using the same terms clearly designed by lawyers, they also directly contradict new reports from The New York Times. So, who is lying?This story is getting bigger and bigger. Even though most Americans probably already knew, it is now official: the United States government, through its National Security Agency, is collecting the communications and data of all American citizens, and of non-Americans using American services, through a wide collaboration with the large companies in technology, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and so on. Interestingly enough, the NSA itself, as well as the US government, have repeatedly and firmly denied this massive spying on Americans and non-Americans took place at all.Ah, patents - the never-ending scourge of the technology industry. Whether wielded by companies who don't actually make any products, or large corporations who abuse them because they can't compete in the market place or because they're simply jerks, they do the industry a huge disservice and are simply plain dangerous. According to The Wall Street Journal (circumvention link), president Obama is about to take several executive actions to address patent trolls - which may seem like a good idea, but I am very worried that all this will do is strengthen the positions of notorious patent system abusers such as Apple and Microsoft.
With version 13.05, the developers of the Genode OS Framework take measures to ensure that Genode continues to scale well with a growing number of users and the steadily broadening platform coverage. Further highlights are the improved SoC support for Exynos 5, OMAP4, Raspberry Pi, i.MX, and new components for realizing headless systems.At the D11 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again took the stage to be interviewed by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. While most of the interview can be replicated by picking and reading 10 random Apple fanblog stories - there were still a number of very interesting things that warrant some closer scrutiny.
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Member since:
2007-12-17
Nita nails it again...and I'm no apologist for Microsoft, its products or the kinds of 'relationships' its cultured with its partners and OEMs.
But this happens to the best of Writers; their tired, something annoys them, there's a ridiculous 'personal enrichment experience' in getting from A to B and it ends up being a story.
This story however as the WereCatf points out not only isn't new it's business as usual... More then anything I'm surprise that Thom seems surprised.