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A PR disaster: Microsoft has lost trust with its users, and Windows Recall is the straw that broke the camel's back (www.windowscentral.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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It's a nightmare scenario for Microsoft. The headlining feature of its new Copilot+ PC initiative, which is supposed to drive millions of PC sales over the next couple of years, is under significant fire for being what many say is a major breach of privacy and security on Windows. That feature in question is Windows Recall, a new AI tool designed to remember everything you do on Windows. The feature that we never asked and never wanted it.

Microsoft, has done a lot to degrade the Windows user experience over the last few years. Everything from obtrusive advertisements to full-screen popups, ignoring app defaults, forcing a Microsoft Account, and more have eroded the trust relationship between Windows users and Microsoft.

It's no surprise that users are already assuming that Microsoft will eventually end up collecting that data and using it to shape advertisements for you. That really would be a huge invasion of privacy, and people fully expect Microsoft to do it, and it's those bad Windows practices that have led people to this conclusion.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

The only real limiting factor is that most computers that you just walk into a store and buy (and are not made by Apple) come with Windows, and people just use whatever comes with their computers.

People rarely switch even default settings, let alone the entire OS.

I'm sure if computers came with Linux, there wouldn't be that many complaints from casual users after they got used to it.

The hardest people to switch over are the Windows power users in my experience.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Most are not sure how to safely and properly install a new OS. If a computer came with Linux already pre-installed instead of Windows, count me in!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

There are plenty of vendors that ship with Linux preinstalled. Even Dell does this with select models.

And just for the record, the tone of this is meant to be encouraging. I love hearing that people are open to other options.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

There are vendors who sell laptops that come pre-installed with Linux. Only thing is that they're a bit more niche. Dell is probably the biggest name who sells computers with Linux as an optional OS on their website, but IIRC they brand it as "developer editions".

Otherwise, you get vendors like System76, Tuxedo, Purism, etc. (Maybe Framework, but IDR if they even install an OS)

I still don't think that you can walk into a store and buy any of the above.

Not that installing Linux is difficult; in fact, it's easier than installing Windows IMO. Most distros come with easy-to-use graphical installers with easy-to-understand language, even for newbies. They also come with a live environment that lets you try out the distro before installing it. Thing is, most people aren't even going to bother trying it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Thing is, most people aren't even going to bother trying it.

Here is to that changing. Society needs better options regular users will be able to just purchase and go, imo.